Danish Foreign Minister visits Georgia

Politics, economic trade and regional security were on the agenda of a dual country meeting between Georgia and Denmark.

Danish politician Martin Lidegaard, who took up the role of Denmark’s Foreign Minister in February this year, is in Georgia today to meet his Georgian counterpart Maia Panjikidze at the country’s Foreign Ministry.

Today he also met Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and is scheduled to meet President Giorgi Margvelashvili later today.

At his first meeting with Minister Panjikidze, the sides discussed the current political situation in Georgia and the prospects of further development of bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Georgia and Denmark.

The Danish Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of improving trade and economic relations between the countries.

At the meeting, Lidegaard reaffirmed Denmark’s support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and he expressed support to Georgia’s European and Atlantic integration.

"The reason of my visit to Georgia is to emphasize and express our support, especially in light of the European Union Association Agreement (AA), which will be signed in a few months. It will be very good for Georgia as well as for the EU. We will do our best to have the AA be signed and completed,” Lidegaard said.

The ongoing crisis in Ukraine and security in the wider region were mentioned between Panjikidze and Lidegaard. The current situation in Georgia’s breakaway regions and the importance of the Geneva Discussions were also noted.

"When the Eastern Partnership Countries face pressure from Russia, support of the EU is critically important,” Panjikidze believed.

After the meeting, the two Ministers laid a wreath at the April 9 Memorial, in remembrance of those who died 25 years ago following Russian aggression during a peaceful demonstration.

Meanwhile, at his meeting with Prime Minister Garibashvili, the Georgian leader expressed hope for further cooperation with Denmark. He particularly noted the importance of Danish assistance in the protection of Human Rights, in the issue of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and support of media freedom and economic development.

Later this afternoon, as well as meeting President Margvelashvili the Danish Foreign Minister is scheduled to meet IDPs living at the Tserovani settlement near Tbilisi.