Georgia, Slovenia simplify business visa rules

Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration, the Parliamentary Elections in October and the tense situation in Turkey were some of the topics discussed by the Georgian and Slovenian Presidents at today’s joint press conference in Ljubljana.

Today marked the first time in the history of independent Georgia when the country’s President travelled to Slovenia for an official visit.

Georgia’s Giorgi Margvelashvili met Slovenia’s Borut Pahor at the Presidential Palace in Ljubljana.

The two leaders spoke about the importance of deepening economic and political ties between the two countries. They spoke about Georgia’s visa liberalisation too and Margvelashvili said he assumed this would happen "before the October elections”.

Speaking of the elections, the Georgian President asked his Slovenian counterpart to send observers to Georgia to monitor the election process.

Margvelashvili was asked about his country’s relations with Russia. He said relations between Georgia and Russia could normalise only after Russian politicians engaged in "rational” dialogue where the rights of both sides were equally respected.

Photo by the Georgian President's press office

Meanwhile also today Georgia and Slovenia signed corresponding deals to simplify procedures for obtaining work visas. This would contribute to strengthening economic relations, said the leaders.

The Chambers of Commerce of the two countries also signed a Memorandum of Cooperation and within this deal, a Slovenian business delegation will come to Tbilisi in September to participate in the Georgia-Slovenia business forum.

Photo source: Ketevan Kardava/Facebook

Margvelashvili was accompanied to Slovenia by his wife, First Lady Maka Chicua. This afternoon the Presidential couples of the two countries opened a Georgia-Slovenia friendship bench on Tbilisi Street in Slovenia’s capital city.

The recent unrest in Turkey was also a topic heavily discussed by Margvelashvili and Pahor. Both officials stressed military servants did not have the right to define a country’s political vector.

Margvelashvili also invited his Slovenian counterpart to Georgia.

Tomorrow, on the second and final day of Margvelashvili’s visit he will meet Slovenia’s Prime Minister, the President of the National Assembly and the Mayors of Ljubljana and Piran.