President Margvelashvili’s foreign policy priorities

Strengthening international ties

Georgias fourth president Giorgi Margvelashvili in his fifteen minute speech in an oath-taking ceremony highlighted the foreign policy priorities pledged that he will promote the position of Georgia as a reliable partner on the international stage.

"Drawing closer to the European Union and furthering bilateral relations with European countries hold a special place in Georgias foreign policy, Margvelashvili noted.

Relations with neighbors

President believes that Georgia has a mission of historical significance of becoming hub for cooperation, dialogue, and concord between Europe and Asia thats why in his presidential period he will ascribe special importance to furthering relations with the countries of the Black Sea and Caspian Sea Regions and Central Asia.

"Georgias well-balanced regional policy must serve as a unifier of interests in the Caucasus. It is of vital importance to further economic and diplomatic relations with neighboring Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey, Margvelashvili noted.

Dialog with Russia

In his inauguration address new President underlined to maintain the pro-Western course but the readiness to deepen its dialogue with Russia in accordance with its own interests, "internationally recognized borders" and "respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty.  

"Despite the difficult situation we are facing today and in parallel with integrating into European and Euro-Atlantic structures, we reiterate our commitment to further dialogue with Russia and build confidence to solve the problems existing today, he noted.

Cooperation with international organizations

Margvelashvili named becoming a full member of the free world serves as a long-term guarantee of Georgias national security and sustainable development and promised Georgia will continue to make a significant contribution to ensuring international security.

"This, in turn, can be ultimately achieved by means of integration into the European Union and NATO. We are proud of our armed forces. Thanks to their professionalism, including participation in the ISAF missions, they not only ensure the security of their own country, but also contribute tremendously to security worldwide, he said.

Margvelashvili said that the country is paying special attention to cooperation with international organizations, such as UN, OSCE, and Council of Europe.

Moreover, presenting the priority of Georgias foreign policy, Margvelashvili stressed that furthering relations with the countries of Near East, the Arab world, Africa, Latin America, Asia, and Oceania, as well as development of global partnership in this context is countrys interest.

Cooperation with the U.S.  

In the speech Margvelashvili paid special interest to the deepening the full and comprehensive development of bilateral relations with the United States.

 "We are making an all-out effort to initiate negotiations on free trade between the United States of America and Georgia within the framework of the Charter on Strategic Partnership and cooperation in various formats, which will strengthen our strategic ties even further, he underlined.

EU integration  

Margvelashvili stressed that to execute the Association Agreement with the European Union will proof the irreversibility of Georgias European integration.

See the full version of President's inaugural speech below.