Georgia, UK discuss trade, culture, security issues in framework of Wardrop Dialogue
The virtual meeting was held today in the framework of the Wardrop Strategic Dialogue, which was first initiated by former Foreign Secretary William Hague during his visit to Tbilisi in 2014. Photo: David Zalkaliani/ Official Facebook page.
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Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani and UK Minister for European Neighbourhood Wendy Morton have discussed how Georgia and the UK can strengthen their partnership in terms of defence, security, trade and culture.
The virtual meeting was held today in the framework of the Wardrop Strategic Dialogue, which was first initiated by former Foreign Secretary William Hague during his visit to Tbilisi in 2014.
#Wardropstrategicdialogue is an important platform for enhancing our bilateral relationship. It plays a vital role in and can be a useful tool for fostering and getting the strategic partnership between our two nations to an even higher level ???????????????? @DominicRaab @morton_wendy https://t.co/FAEGhq7kvL
— David Zalkaliani (@DZalkaliani) September 9, 2020
During the virtual meeting with foreign officials, David Zalkaliani stressed the importance of implementing the main guide for further relations between the two countries, the Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Georgia and UK, which was signed on October 21, 2019.
Zalkaliani thanked the British government for their unwavering support for Georgia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and Euro-Atlantic integration.
Georgia appreciates the UK’s contribution to the peaceful settlement of conflicts… We hope the UK will further strengthen its positions towards the Russian Federation in terms of conflicts”, said Zalkaliani.
Morton has also mentioned that the UK is unwavering in its support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and 'continues to call out unacceptable ongoing Russian aggression'.
We are unwavering in our support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and continue to call out unacceptable ongoing Russian aggression. That’s why we’ve committed over £2m this year to support Georgia to bring a peaceful end to years of conflict. #Wardrop
— Wendy Morton MP (@morton_wendy) September 9, 2020
The conversation also touched upon the existing cooperation of the both countries in the field of defence, NATO-Georgia cooperation, the priority of further deepening of trade and economic relations.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of UK has responded the seventh round of the Wardrop Dialogue in its Twitter post.
Today is the UK’s annual talks with Georgia!
— Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) September 9, 2020
We call these talks #Wardrop to remember
???????? diplomat Oliver Wardrop & #Georgia scholar Marjory Wardrop who cemented the friendship between our countries over 100 years ago.
Here’s why our relationship with Georgia is so important⬇️ pic.twitter.com/lqGaLNH5Nl
Zalkaliani also talked about the difficult security and humanitarian crisis in Georgia’s Russian occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
The Wardrop Dialogue was initiated by former Foreign Secretary William Hague during his visit to Tbilisi in 2014. It was named in honour of the memory of Britain’s first Chief Commissioner to Georgia, Sir Oliver Wardrop.
UK Export Finance (UKEF), the UK's export credit agency, has increased the volume of market risk appetite to £3 billion for Georgia this year which is the total amount of risk exposure the agency be willing to support for new businesses in Georgia.
UK Minister for Europe Sir Alan Duncan told Georgian PM Mamuka Bakhtadze in Tbilisi today that Georgia is a role model for democracy and human rights protection in the region.
Georgian top officials have arrived in the UK to attend the Georgia-UK fourth session of dialogue, known as the Wardrop Dialogue, created to enhance ties between the two nations.
The Dialogue was opened today in London by Sir Alan Duncan, Minister of State for Europe and the Americas.
Two life-sized figurines of Oliver and Marjory Wardrop were unveiled in central Tbilisi this weekend in the annual Tbilisoba celebration, marking the diversity and history of the Georgian capital.
From now on the United Kingdom-Georgia dialogue will be known as ‘The Wardrop Dialogue’ in honour of Sir Oliver Wardrop - Britain’s first Chief Commissioner to Georgia in 1919-1921 who believed in deepening cooperation between the two countries.
The Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry have signed an agreement of cooperation today which aims to strengthen business and commercial ties between the Georgian and British businesses.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has raised the issue of the ‘severe humanitarian crisis’ in Georgia’s Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali and recent illegal conviction of Georgian citizen Zaza Gakheladze by occupation forces at a meeting with UK Minister for European Neighbourhood and the Americas at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Wendy Morton. Morton has paid her first official visit to Georgia earlier today and is scheduled to visit the occupation line in the village of Odzisi, central Georgia later.