Estonian Foreign Minister: Georgia is important partner for Estonia and EU
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Estonian Foreign Minister Sven Mikser says that Georgia is a good example of a successful country whose ambition is to become a member of the European Union.
Mikser added that Georgia still has a long way to go to achieve this goal but the country already has important tangible results, including visa-free travel to the EU.
Mikser is on an official visit to Tbilisi today to meet with Georgian leaders and discuss the integration of Georgia into the EU and NATO, the upcoming Estonian Presidency of the EU Council and developments in the neighbourhood of Georgia and in Europe.
Speaking at a press conference together with Mikser, Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze said that Georgia and Estonia are planning to launch direct flights between the two countries in order to bring the two nations closer to each other.
"We are doing our best to support introduction of direct flights. The Georgian Embassy in Estonia actively cooperates with Estonian companies and negotiations are underway to carry out direct flights”, Janelidze said.
Met FM @svenmikser. #Georgia & #Estonia cooperate & share experience in development field 4 several years now including the #EaP frameworks. pic.twitter.com/mkWH6SVXTo
— Mikheil Janelidze (@JanelidzeMkh) April 24, 2017
As of t/strong supporter of #Georgia’s European Integration, 1 of t/priorities of #Estonia’s #euco Presidency will b cooperatn btwn EU & EaP pic.twitter.com/1dhml37wyB
— Mikheil Janelidze (@JanelidzeMkh) April 24, 2017
Mikser said that when Estonia assumes the EU Council Presidency this July for the next six months, one of the priority directions will be the EU’s closer cooperation with the Eastern Partnership countries, including Georgia.
Mikser reconfirmed Estonia’s support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and Western aspirations. He said Georgia has worked hard and impressively to achieve visa-free travel, one of the important milestones of EU integration.
Education cooperation between the two states was also in focus at the talks between Janelidze and Mikser. Janelidze said that currently about 200 Georgian students study at Estonian universities.
Janelidze invited Estonian youth to study in Georgia.
"The friendship between Georgia and Estonia is very firm [and] it is important that our youth get education together. We will be happy to see Estonian students at Georgian universities. This will allow our future generations to be as close to each other as this or previous generations”, Janelidze said.
.@SvenMikser visited Khurvaleti near the administrative boundary line, met Georgian man forced to live in occupied #SouthOssetiapic.twitter.com/HS0WsWn1ce
— Estonian MFA (@MFAestonia) April 24, 2017
As part of his visit Mikser visited a Georgian family living behind a barbed wire fence near the Russian-occupied region of Georgia-Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) this afternoon.
The occupation line isolates the house of Davit Vanishvili and his family from the rest of Khurvaleti village, preventing them from freely moving along the village and sometimes even from buying food.
Meeting Vanishvili, Minister Mikser learned more about the serious humanitarian situation that the family is facing behind the barbed wire fence.
Looking ahead, Mikser will also meet with Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvii, President Giorgi Margvelashvili and Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze.
Estonia and Ukraine have announced today they do not recognise the so-called Presidential elections and referendum on amending the name of the Russian-occupied Georgian region of Tskhinvali ( South Ossetia) that took place on April 9.
As a sign of Estonia’s firm support for Georgia’s European integration, Estonia’s Foreign Minister Sven Mikser will visit Georgia when his country holds the European Council presidency next year.
Georgia has showcased its unique wine and presented its rich winemaking history at two special events named ‘Wines of Georgia’ held in Estonia and Latvia this week.
About 20 Estonian businessmen, led by Estonia’s former president Arnold Rüütel, are in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi today to attend the Georgia-Estonia Business Forum.
Estonian Foreign Minister Sven Mikser considers it important to maintain the attention of the international community on the occupied territories of Georgia.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili is paying a working visit to Estonia.
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili will host Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid at an official welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace, which will be followed by a meeting between the two Presidents tomorrow.
Georgia is a priority partner for Estonia, the latter will spare no efforts to contribute to advancing Georgia-EU relations as the EU Council presidency holder-country, says the President of Estonia. Kaljulaid is paying her first official visit to Tbilisi, Georgia.
Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has hosted President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid and discussed commercial-economic and political issues with her.