Georgia-France unite to tackle illegal migration, organised crime

Two Georgian high officials sat down with France’s Interior Minister in Paris yesterday to discuss illegal migration, international organised crime and other issues relating to both nations. 

France’s Interior Minister Minister Bernard Kazenev hosted Georgia’s Minister of Internal Affairs Giorgi Mgebrishvili and Georgia’s Minister of Justice Thea Tsulukiani in the French capital. 

Minister Mgebrishvili said the only way to combat illegal migration and organised crime was if law enforcement agencies of several countries united to tackle the problem.

He stressed Georgia had already signed international memorandums with 15 European Union (EU) states to jointly fight crime, and "very soon” Georgia will sign a deal with Europol (Europe’s police service) to establish an operative and strategic partnership.

Georgian and French official made focuses on illegal migration and organized crime. Photo by Ministry of Internal Affairs. 

The Georgian officials told Kazenev about the successful reforms Georgia had carried out and stressed the importance of completing its visa liberalisation obligations to allow visa-free travel to EU states for Georgian citizens.

Visa-free travel to the Schengen zone has huge strategic and political importance for Georgians,” said Mgebrishvili. He hoped the final decision by the European Parliament and Council of Europe would be made soon and the visa-free regime could be implemented in the near future. 

The meeting ended on a positive note as Mgebrishvili and Kazenev agreed to promote closer ties and cooperation between Georgian and French police structures. 

After the meeting in France, Mgebrishvili travelled to Germany earlier today for more official meetings. Already today he has held several meetings, including with Germany’s Federal Minister of Interior and vice premier of Bavaria, Joachim Herrmann. 

Mgebrishvili is due to return to Georgia on April 6.