Ambassadorial 2017 Opens in Tbilisi
Ambassadorial 2017, an annual event that brings together the heads of Georgian Diplomatic Missions abroad as well as Georgian leaders, has been officially opened today.
This year’s event will last until July 21, and its participants will summarize the last year and exchange views on Georgia’s domestic and foreign policies.
In his opening statement at the forum, Foreign Affairs Minister and Vice-Premier Mikheil Janelidze said Georgia’s main diplomacy aims are maintaining the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, Euro-Atlantic integration and strengthening regional ties, as well as supporting and protecting Georgian citizens abroad.
The minister said that the last year was busy was a busy one, with many international ties and significant events for Georgia. He thanked the diplomatic corps for their work, which led to the tangible results of Georgia's foreign policy.
“Georgia has never had such confidence and support from the international community …We have worked very hard for Georgia to be viewed as a democratic and stable country, with the aim of ensuring the rule of law, protection of human rights, dealing with Russian aggression, ending occupation and uniting divided societies by peaceful and legal ways,” Janelidze stated.
The Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, said that the initiation of the visa-free regime for Georgia with the EU on March 28 was one of the most important foreign policy events in the history of the country.
He said that Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration is irreversible and it is supported by the vast majority of Georgians.
“Further deepening of ties with the EU is one of the top priorities of the government and the task given to us by our society,” he added.
Furthermore, the PM talked about his recent visit to the United States and noted that the US is the main strategic partner of Georgia, which firmly supports Georgia's foreign policy aspirations.
Kvirikashvili stressed that each step made to integrate with the west further increases Russia’s aggressive activities.
“The occupation of 20 percent of our territory still remains the most significant challenge for Georgia’s development process. Unfortunately, the situation is very complicated within the occupied territories. The Russian Federation continues to illegally install barbed wires and banners,” he said.
Grateful to our diplomats who work tirelessly both at home&abroad to build #Georgia ‘s better future #Ambassadorial2017 pic.twitter.com/HJbPq9oFOi
— Giorgi Kvirikashvili (@KvirikashviliGi) July 18, 2017
“We would like to thank the international community and our main political partners for their support,” the PM added.
Georgian President, Giorgi Margvelashvili, Parliament Speaker, Irakli Kobakhidze and other officials and diplomats also delivered talks at the event.
By Thea Morrison