Tbilisi’s turn to host Georgia-UK Wardrop Dialogue

Cooperation between Georgia and the United Kingdom (UK) is being closely examined this week at the latest Wardrop Dialogue gathering, where officials from both countries are meeting and exploring ways to deepen the current relationship.

The intermediate round of the Wardrop Dialogue, held for the first time in Tbilisi on April 29-30, united three thematic groups of politics, economy and security.

The dialogue served as a venue where both sides could discuss a wide spectrum of Georgia-UK cooperation. The meetings are held once a year in a year, in London and Tbilisi alternatively. The inaugural session was held in November 19-20, 2014 in London.

British officials on the intermediate round of the Wardrop Dialogue held in Tbilisi. Photo by Foreign Ministry

The intermediate round held in Tbilisi today and yesterday is being led from the UK side by the director of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia Directorate of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Sarah Swinford, and by head of the European Issues Department of the Georgian Foreign Ministry Nino Baratashvili.

Already the sides have discussed bilateral relations, national security and defence, regional, economic, trade and energy issues, as well as Georgia –EU, Georgia –NATO, and Georgia – Russia relations.

The British side reaffirmed its readiness to continue actively supporting Georgia as it progressed towards European and NATO integration, as well as on the path of restoring territorial integrity.

The dialogue was also attended by representatives of Georgia’s Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Economy, Internal Affairs, Energy and the Crisis Management Council.

From the British side, guests included representatives from the Foreign and Commonwealth Department, the Trade and Investment Agency, the National Crime Agency and the British Embassy to Georgia.

The UK representatives also met with the State Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration David Bakradze. Photo by the State Ministry

Meanwhile, the UK officials have met several other high-ranking Georgian officials, including Georgia’s State Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration David Bakradze, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs David Dondua, Georgian Special Representative for Relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze and Deputy State Minister of Georgia for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Ketevan Tsikhelashvili.

At the various meetings, Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations, the situation in Georgia’s occupied regions and political processes in the country were discussed.

The Wardrop Dialogue was initiated by former Foreign Secretary William Hague during his visit to Tbilisi in May 2014. It was named in honour of the memory of Britain's first Chief Commissioner to Georgia, Sir Oliver Wardrop, whose 150th anniversary was celebrated last year in Georgia and the UK.