Hungary’s Defence Minister: "Georgia is an important partner"
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Georgia has made "serious sacrifices” on its path to Euro-Atlantic integration and we highly appreciate these achievements, says Hungary’s Defence Minister.
The Hungarian official met Georgia’s Defence Minister Tinatin Khidasheli, who is on an official visit in Hungary. Already Khidasheli has met several high officials including her Hungarian counterpart Istvan Simicsko and Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto.
"Hungary has from the very beginning supported in a consistent manner the Euro-Atlantic efforts of Georgia and of course we fully support the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia,” Simicsko said following his meeting with Khidasheli.
#Hungary has been a long-time friend & partner to #Georgiahttps://t.co/SJRpGob5Gw Meeting w/ MoD István #Simicskópic.twitter.com/Z6bxrCcRVb
— Tina Khidasheli (@tinakhidasheli) May 6, 2016
The two Defence Ministers spoke for Hungarian media, where they stressed Georgia’s recent achievements in various fields.
"An important partner of ours has come today,” Simicsko said, standing beside the Georgian Minister.
"During the discussions I expressed my deep appreciation concerning the military, political and economical achievements of the country.”
The Hungarian official expressed his country’s openness for "widest possible defence and military cooperation” with Georgia.
Khidasheli said: "Hungary has been a long-time friend and partner to Georgia through all difficult times of the past 25 years of our independence including our escape from the Soviet bloc.”
She added this partnership made it possible for Georgia to feel more secure and be able to play a significant role in securing global peace together with its partners in Afghanistan, Iraq and other places.
"We have Georgian officers at this very moment securing peace and helping security in the Central African Republic, in Mali, in Ukraine, in Afghanistan,” she said.
"We have Hungarian officers in Georgia under the European Union Monitoring Mission securing peace and helping security to be built in my country.”
"This is the kind of cooperation we value most,” she added.
Georgia and Hungary are coming together to sign an agreement on protection of investments that guarantees investments will not be lost and be protected from fraud.
Hungary supports granting Georgia visa-free travel to the European Union (EU) by June. Hungarian officials spoke words of support as Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze visited Budapest today.
Hungary is opening a credit line for Georgia amounting to $68 million USD in a bid to support Georgia’s business and investment environment.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) should complete its enlargement process allowing Montenegro into the Alliance, and keep its door open for Georgia and Macedonia, Hungary’s Foreign Minister said today.
Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, who was in Tbilisi to attend the Ambassadorial meeting, said Hungary wanted to see the immediate introduction of a visa-free regime between Georgia and the European Union (EU).
The Georgian capital of Tbilisi is getting ready to host two high-profile guests this week – one is the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Peter Szijjarto and the other – Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will visit Georgia for a two-day official visit tomorrow. Orban will meet Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili on Friday morning.
Hungary opens €85m credit line for Georgia
Georgia is looking at ways to enhance its business ties with Hungary and attract more Hungarian investors, especially in the fields of energy, construction, agriculture and consulting.