Belarus’ Foreign Minister on first visit to Georgia, opens Embassy

A Belarus Embassy has opened in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi today during the inaugural visit of Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei to Georgia.

The Belarusian top diplomat is in Tbilisi for a two-day official visit. His Georgian counterpart Mikheil Janelidze hosted him before the two officials opened the new Belarus Embassy on Megrelidze St in Tbilisi’s Saburtalo district.

Honor 2host my friend&colleague FM #Makei 4his 1st Official Visit 2 GEO-Fresh impulse 2deepening existing close relations bw/our countries pic.twitter.com/aZXTTaMthD

— Mikheil Janelidze (@JanelidzeMkh) December 20, 2016

Janelidze assessed the opening of the Embassy as a "historic event”.

"This is a sign that both parties are motivated to further deepen our relations,” Janelidze said.

We welcome the celebration of this historic event together and I’m happy that I was given the opportunity to celebrate with my colleague and my friend.”

Belarus sent its first Ambassador to Tbilisi in August but at that time the Embassy wasn’t officially opened. The opening of Belarus’ official representation to Georgia first was announced when President Alexander Lukashenko visited the country in 2015. He said the idea would become reality during 2016.

Belarus' Foreign Minister visits the Russian occupation line in Georgia. Photo by Georgia's Foreign Ministry's press office.

Before opening the Embassy, Makei travelled to Khurvaleti village near the occupation line, separating breakaway Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia) from the rest of Georgia. This was a gesture reconfirming Belarus’ support for Georgia’s territorial integrity.

Belarusian Foreign Minister pays tribute to fallen Georgian soldiers at the national memorial. Photo by Georgia's Foreign Ministry's press office.

While in Tbilisi Makei also visited the national memorial at Heroes Square and paid tribute to those who died for the unity of Georgia before he lay a wreath at the memorial.