Georgia-UK sign strategic deal, 1st in region to come into play after Brexit
The Georgia-UK deal will come into play after Brexit is due to take place at the end of the month. Photo: Foreign Ministry press office.
Tweet 
Share
Georgia and the United Kingdom (UK) have signed a Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement earlier today, which is the first deal in the region which will come into play after Brexit takes places and ensure free trade between Georgia and the UK after the country leaves the EU.
The agreement, which was signed by Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani and the UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab in London, “takes strategic cooperation between Georgia and the UK to a new level” and covers different fields of cooperation, the Georgian foreign Ministry reports.
Attach great importance 2 further expanding&intensifying existing strategic cooperation with ???????? after BREXIT. I Welcome t/signing of t/bilateral agreement on Strategic Partnership. It will establish a solid basis for shaping our post-Brexit relations & for further boosting it https://t.co/JCceKo9WUe
— David Zalkaliani (@DZalkaliani) October 21, 2019
Cooperation described in the document covers the following issues and fields:
- The respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
- Support for the peaceful resolution of conflicts.
- Foreign and security policies.
- Economic cooperation.
- Transport and energy.
- Environmental protection and climate change.
- Innovation, tourism and agriculture.
- Social policy and healthcare.
- Education, culture.
The agreement ensures free trade between Georgia and the EU, as it duplicates the notes of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement,” the Georgian Foreign Ministry reports.
Zalkaliani reiterated that the agreement will replace the EU-Georgia Association Agreement after Brexit, after the UK officially leaves the EU on October 31, 2019.
It is a very important day in UK-Georgian relations,” Zalkaliani said. “Signing the agreement with Georgia several days before Brexit indicates at the importance of Georgia for the UK,” he added.
Zalkaliani stated that Georgia will retain UK support both in bilateral and multilateral formats, and in all international formats.
The Prime Minister of Mamuka Bakhtadze is attending the 55th Munich Security Conference and is holding meetings with high-ranking officials of several countries to discuss bilateral relations and further cooperation plans.
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson said in a letter to his Georgian counterpart Giorgi Gakharia that the UK will remain committed to Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as to their “strategic partnership”.
An eleven-member team of UK professionals is visiting Georgia, comprised of sommeliers, wine importers and journalists.
The newly appointed Minister of State for Europe and the Americas at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom, Christopher Pincher said the UK will remain Georgia’s important ally and supporter. Minister Pincher made the remarks during a phone conversation with the Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani earlier today. Minister Zalkaliani congratulated Christopher Pincher on becoming UK’s Minister of State.
UK-Georgia Business Forum was held in Georgia today in the framework of UK/Georgia 2019, which aims to deepen UK-Georgian business and trade ties.