Georgia’s Foreign Minister meets with high-ranking French officials

Georgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mikheil Janelidze is paying a three-day official state visit to France, where he has already met with French Secretary of State for European Affairs Harlem Desir.

Thank you, @harlemdesir for your personal support https://t.co/0qRVAmZ6nJ

— Mikheil Janelidze (@JanelidzeMkh) 6 February 2017

Janelidze briefed the French official on the Georgian Government’s plans to improve the business environment in the country and to further develop the country’s transit infrastructure.

A major part of the meeting was devoted to the process of Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration. Desir congratulated Janelidze on the European Parliament’s decision to grant Georgian citizens the right to visa-free travel within the European Union.

Talking points also included high-level co-operation in the areas of defence and security.

"The French Secretary of State reaffirmed the importance of Georgia’s participation in the peacekeeping operations in the Central African Republic and Mali and thanked the Georgian side for making its own contribution towards strengthening security in Europe and the region as a whole”, Georgia’s Foreign Ministry said in a press release.

We appreciate the friendly relations and partnership established between #Georgia & #France@elisabethguigoupic.twitter.com/Tc5hZSASa7

— Mikheil Janelidze (@JanelidzeMkh) 6 February 2017

While in Paris, Janelidze also met Elisabeth Guigou, the National Assembly’s Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Commission. Following the meeting it was announced that Janelidze will deliver a speech at the National Assembly of France before wrapping up his visit tomorrow.

The official visit to #France started with visiting Leuville. Grateful to #France for preserving the History of independent #Georgiapic.twitter.com/YkcfnM4PXX

— Mikheil Janelidze (@JanelidzeMkh) 6 February 2017

Before starting official meetings, the Georgian Foreign Minister visited the historic Leuville Estate where Georgia’s government in exile settled in 1921 after the Soviet Red Army invaded the country.