Slovakian President: We support Georgia’s EU, NATO integration
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I’m here today to support Georgia on its path of integration into the European Union (EU) and NATO.
These words were spoken by President of Slovakia Andrej Kiska in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi earlier this morning.
Kiska is in Tbilisi for a state visit today.
This is the first time in the history of independent Georgia when the president of Slovakia has visited the country.
Giorgi Margvelashvili (L) and Andrej Kiska at the official welcoming ceremony in Tbilisi. Photo by President Margvelashvili's press office
Standing beside his Georgian counterpart Giorgi Margvelashvili, Kiska spoke about Slovakia’s strong support for Georgia.
"Georgia is the country of rich historical heritage and beautiful nature,” the Slovakia President said.
"After the first hours I’ve spent in this country, I’m sure the impressions about the reality I witnessed here will always remain with me.”
With president @MargvelashviliG in beautiful #Georgiapic.twitter.com/UUkaQupKlC
— Andrej Kiska (@Andrej_Kiska) May 30, 2016
The two Presidents stressed Slovakia’s support for Georgia was "particularly important” since Slovakia was scheduled to take over the EU presidency in July.
Kiska said Slovakia and Georgia were almost the same in size and older generations of Slovakians wouldn’t even imagine that one day the country would become a NATO member and hold EU presidency.
"But today this is reality,” he said.
"Years ago many of you probably couldn’t imagine that Georgia would sign an Association Agreement with the EU,” the Slovakian President said, adding "but now this is reality”.
"So this is a path you will follow step-by-step.”
"And after the latest NATO Summit I think you should have positive expectations of how your relations will continue with this organisation.”
Kiska added "a lot had been done” since the latest summit, including joint NATO-Georgia drills and he believed Georgia would have greater support at the upcoming Summit in Warsaw in July.
Margvelashvili and Kiska talked about deepening business relations between Georgia and Slovakia.
They noted that the visiting President was accompanied by a Slovakian business delegation and hhile here the group would participate in two business forums; one in capital Tbilisi and the other in Batumi on the Black Sea coast.
President Kiska was invited to Tbilisi by President Margvelashvili when the pair met in Slovakia last year.
President of Slovakia Andrej Kiska will arrive in Georgia for a state visit today. This will mark the first time in the history of independent Georgia when the president of Slovakia has visited the country.
Slovakia fully supports Georgia, its reforms and Euro-Atlantic integration efforts. "Georgia is advancing well,” Slovakia’s Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak said.
Mayor of Tbilisi Davit Narmania is on an official visit to Slovakia to inform investors about the opportunities of the new Eco Green City project in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi.
Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili has met his Slovakian counterpart Robert Fico this afternoon on his one-day official visit to Bratislava, Slovakia.
Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili is in Slovakia and attending high-level meetings with his foreign partners.
In Khurvaleti village, standing before the barbed wire fences installed by Russian occupants to divide the country, Georgia’s President Giorgi Margvelashvili said "the occupation wall would be soon destroyed like the Berlin Wall.”
Slovakian President Andrej Kiska will host Margvelashvili at an official welcoming ceremony, which will be followed by a meeting between the two Presidents today.
Deepening bilateral cooperation between Georgia and Slovakia and Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations are among the issues Georgian and Slovak Presidents discussed during their today’s meeting in Bratislava.
An official agreement has been signed between Georgian Airways and Bratislava Airport on establishing direct flights that will boost tourism.
Slovak President Andrej Kiska will come to Tbilisi to participate in the events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the First Republic of Georgia, the administration of the president of Georgia announced today.
Slovakia has taken over the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 2019, and unveiled an “ambitious but realistic” agenda in the role, which mentions Georgia.
Slovak Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Ivan Korcok visited Georgia earlier today and held a meeting with Georgian PM Irakli Garibashvili to further strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation.