German Foreign Minister:
“I will do what I can“ for Georgia’s visa liberalisation

Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has declared his continued support for Georgia’s visa liberalisation with the European Union (EU) and hopes it will be finalised "soon", following his successful visit to Georgia.

Having visited Tbilisi on a two-day jaunt earlier this summer, Steinmeier shared his impressions on Georgia's "successful economic initiatives" to Georgia's Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili via an official letter upon his return to Germany.

In the letter Steinmeier also mentioned Georgia’s ongoing efforts to gain a visa waiver to the EU, and said he wholeheartedly supported this process.

Be assured that I will continue to do what I can within Germany and the European Union to advocate that political, economic and cultural ties with Georgia be strengthened and visa liberalisation be brought about soon," said the German high official in his address to Kvirikashvili.

Steinmeier (L) and his Georgian counterpart Mikheil Janelidze photographed during the former's visit to Georgia. Photo from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia.

Steinmeier also commented on Georgia’s visa liberalisation efforts at a press conference with Georgia's Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze when he visited on June 30 and July 1. 

At the time he said:

There is no question whether Georgia will get visa-free travel or not, the question is when this will happen."

The German politician's letter to Kvirikashvili also praised the Georgian PM's "far-sightedness [in] foreign policy and the constructive stance […] in dealing with the separatist areas", referring to occupied Abkhazia and Tskkhinvali (South Ossetia) region. He reiterated Germany supported Georgia’s stance on this.

Finally, Steinmeier praised the intercultural ties between the two countries and noted preparations for the Georgian-German Year of 2017 and Georgia's participation in the upcoming 2018 Frankfurt Book Fair.