Swiss president wishes success to new Georgian PM, announces opening of new embassy building in Tbilisi
Swiss President Ueli Maurer says that he expects further strengthening of Swiss-Georgian relations under the new Georgian PM and the cabinet. Photo: AFP.
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Swiss President Ueli Maurer has sent kind wishes to the new Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia on his appointment in the post and announced the opening of a new embassy building in Tbilisi, which “will be opened in October.”
The construction and the opening of our new embassy building in Tbilisi once again points at our close and friendly relations. We are waiting for further strengthening of these relations,” Maurer wrote in his letter.
Maurer said that is an honour for his country to play the role of mediator between Georgia and Russia given the absence of diplomatic ties between the two countries. [Russia and Georgia broke diplomatic relations after the Russia-Georgia 2008 war and such issues are now solved with the involvement of Switzerland as the third country].
Maurer said that Switzerland remains devoted to the responsibility it for peace and dialogue in the region.
Gakharia replaced Mamuka Bakhtadze as PM on September 8.
The brand names and appellation of origin of Georgian wines, cheese and mineral waters in Switzerland will now be protected by a Georgain-Swiss agreement.
From October 1, Switzerland will add Georgia to its list of safe countries, joining the other 14 countries in the EU/Schengen zone to do the same.
The President of Swiss Confederation Doris Leuthard will pay an official visit to Georgia tomorrow. Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili will host Leuthard at an official welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace on December 4, which will be followed by a meeting between the two Presidents.
Georgia’s capital Tbilisi will host a Swiss senior official in September. President of the National Council, the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland Christa Marwalder announced her Georgia visit today.
President of the Parliament of the Swiss Confederation Marina Carobbio Guscetti has visited Georgia earlier today and met with Georgian PM, president and the parliament speaker.
Swiss citizens will be allowed to enter Georgia with their ID cards alone, a decree signed by Georgian PM Giorgi Gakharia reads.