Georgian President pays first official visit to Portugal

Portugal firmly supports Georgia’s territorial integrity and integration into NATO, says Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

Rebelo de Sousa and Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili met in Lisbon today. Margvelashvili is paying his first official visit to Portugal.

"Ties between Europe’s westernmost and easternmost countries should further be strengthened,” Margvelashvili told Rebelo de Sousa after the two presidents spoke at a joint press conference following their meeting.

First official visit to #Portugal - Ties should strengthen between most western & most eastern #European Countries pic.twitter.com/a5vsOcLDuz

— President Of Georgia (@MargvelashviliG) October 2, 2017

Margvelashvili, who was hosted at the Belem Palace in Lisbon, briefed his Portuguese counterpart on the situation in Georgia’s Russian-occupied regions and pointed out that the barbed-wire fences along the occupation line, the so-called "boundary marks" and other artificial barriers, create serious problems to the local population.

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousahosted President Giorgi Margvelashviliat the Belem Palace in Lisbon. Photo: President Margvelashvili’s press office.

The pair discussed bilateral relations.

"I am confident that the potential that exists between our countries in the areas of economy, culture, science and tourism will be further extended with your visit to Georgia”, Margvelashvili said as he invited Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to Georgia. The President’s press office said that the Portuguese President accepted the invitation.

While in Lisbon, President Margvelashvili met with President of the National Assembly Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues, and is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Antonio Costa too.