Georgian presidents visits Israel: ‘our relations are not only deep, they are historical’
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili departed for Israel yesterday and has already met with Israeli president. Photo: President’s press office.
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Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, who is holding meetings in Israel, has stated that relations between Georgia and Israel ‘are not only deep and close, they are historical’ as 26 centuries ‘have shaped the bonds between the Jewish and Georgian people.’
President @Zourabichvili_S signing the guestbook at @PresidentRuvi’s residence. “The relations between Georgia and Israel are not only deep and close, they are historical. 26 centuries have shaped the bonds between the Jewish and Georgian peoples...” pic.twitter.com/bFFlgtPao8
— Orbeliani Presidential Palace (@OrbelianiPalace) January 21, 2020
Zurabishvili has met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, with whom an agreement was reached that the process of signing the agreement on legal employment of Georgians in Israel will be accelerated, the president’s press office reports, adding that the agreement will decrease the number of illegal migrants from Georgia to the country.
Delighted to welcome global leaders who accepted my invitation to mark the 75th anniverary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. I told President of #Georgia @Zourabichvili_S that my visit to Tblisi left a deep impression, and thanked her for being with us #UnitedInMemory75 pic.twitter.com/ZlwyetJoTC
— Reuven Rivlin (@PresidentRuvi) January 21, 2020
Speaking on political and conflict issues, Zurabishvili has stated that Israel can voice Georgia’s concerns to Russia.
We [Georgia and Israel] have actively helped each other at different stages in history,” Zurabishvili said.
Such an honor! The Friends of Zion Award is given to those who have strongly supported the Jewish nation. As President of Georgia, I am proud of the historically deep and peaceful bonds between the Georgian and Jewish people. ???????????????? pic.twitter.com/i6chQnA1yn
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) January 22, 2020
Zurabishvili has received a high award from the Friends of Zion Heritage Center for establishing a joint Israel-Georgia culture office and for the fight against anti-Semitism in Georgia.
Peace-building through innovation: a great mission by the @PeresCenter. Everything exhibited there shows us that how we can make the world a better place through #technology and #creativity. pic.twitter.com/wRDxNin9Dt
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) January 21, 2020
While visiting the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation in Tel Aviv Zurabishvili said that cooperation with Israel in the field of modern technologies is ‘utterly important for Georgia.’
Ran Gidor, an Israeli diplomat who previously served in the Central African Republic and Equatorial Guinea, has been appointed as the new ambassador of Israel to Georgia.
Lasha Zhvania, who recently served as the head of President Salome Zurabishvili’s administration, will represent the country in Israel. Tea Katukia will be the Georgian Ambassador to France and the country's permanent representative to UNESCO.
Georgian Foreign Ministry has denied the mass detention of Georgian citizens in Israel as reported by several of Georgian media outlets. The ministry reported earlier today that 24 Georgians have been brought to the deportation centre of Israel’s immigration service in the past few days.
2017 marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Georgia and Israel.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, who is on her first official visit to Israel, has attended the 5th World Holocaust Forum with top state officials across the world earlier today.
A space and memorial dedicated to the victims of the Holocaust, the World War II genocide of European Jews, will be opened in Tbilisi, Tbilisi City Assembly officials stated earlier today, while marking the international day for Holocaust victims.
Georgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Davit Zalkaliani has responded to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in his post on Twitter, saying Georgia 'strongly condemns' violence and rocket attacks against civilians.