Georgian leaders meet foreign counterparts at Munich Security Conference
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia led the Georgian delegation to the Munich Security Conference on February 14-16. Photo: Giorgi Gakharia's Twitter page
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The Georgian delegation led by Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia and comprised of Vice PM Tea Tsulukiani, Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani and Defence Minister Irakli Garibashvili, held meetings on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, which was held on February 14-16.
Honored to participate in the @MunSecConf, the world’s leading forum for international security, to strengthen our direct communications w/ our partners & discuss the security challenges of the 21st century. #MSC2020 pic.twitter.com/HvvBs9WgeR
— Giorgi Gakharia (@GakhariaGiorgi) February 14, 2020
During the meeting with Albanian PM Edi Rama, PM Gakharia spoke of the "humanitarian crisis" in the Russian occupied Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), as well as the country's Euroepan aspirations.
Met w/ the Prime Minister of #Albania, @ediramaal, and discussed the humanitarian crisis in the occupied territories of #Georgia & the importance of #EU integration. We agreed to continue to enhance cooperation with Albania & other EU member states. #MSC2020 pic.twitter.com/e7zsPFXcdO
— Giorgi Gakharia (@GakhariaGiorgi) February 14, 2020
Yesterday, PM Gakharia discussed "the successful implementation of regional projects" with his Romanian counterpart Ludovic Orban.
We agreed to continue diversification of our bilateral cooperation and discussed the benefits of greater connectivity across the Black Sea region", Gakharia tweeted.
Accompanied by Vice PM Tsulukiani, Giorgi Gakharia spoke with Prosecutor of the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) Fatou Bensouda over the ICC-administered ongoing investigation into possible war crimes committed during a conflict between Russia and Georgia in 2008.
PM Gakharia later noted that at the meeting he underscored that the cases of ethnic cleansing of Georgians and grave humanitarian violation against the Georgian citizens during the war need to be investigated as soon as possible.
In his separate meetings with his counterparts from Poland, Liechtenstein, Slovenia, Spain, Czech Republic and Croatia, FM Zalkaliani spoke of deepening bilateral ties.
Glad that Georgia has a true friend and supporter like Poland! Indeed we are really strategic partners and we highly value Poland’s contribution to Geo’s development and its success on EU and Euro-Atlantic path @PolandMFA https://t.co/HyD0AhM76Q
— David Zalkaliani (@DZalkaliani) February 16, 2020
On his part, Defence Minister Garibashvili met with his US, Canadian, Montenegrin, Latvian, Swiss and Greek counterparts.
Before the official opening of the @MunSecConf, Defence Minister Irakli Garibashvili met with the US, Canadian, Montenegrin, Latvian, Swiss & Greek colleagues. Minister will be attending the security conference & ministerial reception on behalf of the German counterpart. pic.twitter.com/XJgzBMQIpF
— MOD Georgia (@ModGovGe) February 15, 2020
Summing up the delegation's meetings, PM Gakharia told Georgian jourmalists in Munich that the country's "increasing role" in the Black Sea security and cyber security has become more clear.
These are the directions in which our responsibility is increasing and Georgia should be a reliable and a stable partner”, Gakharia said.
On February 14, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also spoke of “strategic importance” of the Black Sea region for NATO. He said the alliance here has allies like Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey as well as partners like Ukraine and Georgia.