PM Kvirikashvili: Estonia Serves as Role Model for Georgia

“Estonia is one of the steadfast supporters of Georgia's European integration,” said Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili while in Tallinn paying an official visit to Estonia over the weekend.

At a press conference, held after the meeting with his Estonian counterpart, Juri Ratas, Kvirikashvili congratulated Ratas on his upcoming European Union Council Presidency. “We welcome Estonia's support for the Eastern Partnership, which will be one of the priorities of its presidency. We all look forward to the Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels in November, which we expect will ensure practical deliverables but also set a forward-looking vision for progressive development of our relations,” he said.

Kvirikashvili noted that this year Georgia and Estonia celebrate 25 years of diplomatic relations.

“We are proud that our relations are flourishing in every direction, and as a consequence our economic relations and trade figures are expanding; we welcome increased Estonian investments, especially in the energy sector and increased export of Georgian wine to Estonia; we are glad that the number of Estonian visitors is growing every year. I am confident that the visa-free travel recently introduced for Georgian citizens will further intensify people-to-people contacts,” he added.

The Georgian PM said that the cooperation between the two countries is in line with the Georgian Government's four-point reform agenda, including tax reform based on the Estonian model, promotion of entrepreneurship, e-governance and education reform. “I would like to once again emphasize that Estonia serves as a role model for Georgia. I would like to offer our most heartfelt gratitude for being our friend and partner all over these years and being supportive of our efforts, including our NATO integration agenda,” he said.

Jury Ratas stated that bilateral relations between Estonia and Georgia are excellent. “I encourage my colleague to use tailor-made solutions provided by the Eastern Partnership Estonian Center, especially in advancing reforms in Georgia. Our cooperation in the areas of defense, education, e-governance, and on EU-related issues is excellent,” he said, adding that the adoption of the Estonian tax system by Georgia is a good example of this cooperation.

“Yet we need to increase mutual investments, too,” he said.

After meeting the Estonian PM, Kvirikashvili met Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid. The leaders praised the two countries' cooperation in the area of education and pointed out that a growing number of Georgian students choose Estonia as a study and research destination.

Met Kersti Kaljulaid.Discussed different fields of bilateral cooperation btwn #Georgia & #Estonia, rltns w/ #EU&ways to strengthen #EaP pic.twitter.com/0tPErRd5P5

— Giorgi Kvirikashvili (@KvirikashviliGi) May 12, 2017

The recent developments in Georgia’s occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia were discussed at a meeting between Kvirikashvili and Eiki Nestor, the Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Estonia.

Eiki Nestor recalled his stay in Georgia during a parliamentary delegation visit of the Nordic-Baltic Eight, and thanked Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili for visiting Tallinn. 

Met Eiki Nestor. Wishing success to #Estonia during its upcoming Presidency of the @EUCouncil https://t.co/ONALdmhVu5 pic.twitter.com/5DZZMFLjcX

— Giorgi Kvirikashvili (@KvirikashviliGi) May 13, 2017

By Thea Morrison