Georgian Foreign Minister Meets High-Rank Officials in Cyprus
Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze held several meetings with high-rank officials within the frames of the 127th Session of the Council of Europe (CoE) Committee of Ministers, Held in Nicosia, Cyprus on May 18-19.
Janelidze met the CoE Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland and thanked him for his consolidated reports on Conflict in Georgia that give information on the human rights situation in the Russian occupied regions of Georgia – Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
The officials also spoke about the progress Georgia has made through its reforms aimed at democratic consolidation.
Georgia’s impressive reforms and Euro-Atlantic aspirations were the main topics of the meeting held between the Georgian Foreign Minister and his Latvian counterpart, Edgars Rinkevics.
Augusto Santos Silva, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal and Janelidze underlined the friendly relationship between the two states that marks 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties.
The Portuguese Foreign Minister expressed satisfaction over the growing interest towards the Portuguese language and culture in Georgia and thanked the Georgian side for successful cooperation in the field of culture and intercultural relations.
The officials also discussed prospects of cooperation in various fields, with Silva reaffirming Portugal's unwavering support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Mikheil Janelidze also met his Cyprian counterpart, Ioannis Kasoulides.
The two Ministers highlighted the friendly relations that have become particularly dynamic in the recent period and reaffirmed their readiness to promote bilateral political, economic and sectoral co-operation and people-to-people contacts.
The sides spoke about the importance of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and large-scale cultural activities that will be conducted on the occasion of this date, under the aegis of the Georgian Embassy to Cyprus.
Special attention was paid to the great potential of trade-economic relations. The sides welcomed the operation of direct flights between the two countries that have increased tourist flows to both countries and has also contribute to the development of co-operation in tourism.
The sides paid special attention to high-level co-operation in the areas of culture and tourism. The Georgian delegation expressed its satisfaction at the effective implementation of a number of successful and unprecedented projects with the Cyprian Department of Antiquities. One such project resulted in the discovery of a Georgian temple on the territory of Cyprus.
Preparation for the Eastern Partnership Summit, scheduled to be held in Brussels on 24 November, was mentioned and the parties exchanged views over Georgia’s expectations with respect to this Summit. The Ministers expressed the hope that the Summit will be oriented towards the future and will set forth plans and initiatives for further integration with the EU.
Within the framework of the CoE ministerial, the Georgian Foreign Minister presented the instruments of ratification of the Istanbul Convention to the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni.
Georgia acceded to the Istanbul Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, in 2014. The Istanbul Convention ratification package was adopted by the Parliament of Georgia this month with amendments made to the laws of Georgia, as well as to the Criminal Code of Georgia, in order to bring Georgian legislation into compliance with Convention standards.
Prior to holding the official meetings, the Georgian delegation led by Janelidze participated in the CoE Ministerial session at which the Georgian FM reaffirmed Georgia’s commitment to the CoE’s main principles. “Ensuring the democratic development of Georgia is one of the government’s key priorities,” he said, going on to highlight the Russia-Georgia conflict, as well as the difficult security, humanitarian and human rights situation in Georgia’s occupied territories.
The Foreign Ministers of the Council of Europe Member States reconfirmed their support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally-recognized borders.
Thea Morrison