President Zurabishvili meets EU officials in Brussels
Having met with EU officials today, President Zurabishvili will speak with the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg tomorrow. Photo: Josep Borrell's official Twitter account
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Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, who is on a two-day visit to Brussels, has met with EU officials earlier today.
Head of Georgian Mission to the EU Natalia Sabanadze wrote on Twitter that President Zurabishvili discussed 'a range of issues with the EU officials including 'COVID solidarity with partners, EU’s strategic role in the region, Eastern Partnership and Georgia’s path towards European integration'.
Zurabishvili has thanked the President of the European Council Charles Michel for the EU’s support to Georgia since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic noting that Georgia now seeks ‘that same solidarity’ to access the vaccines.
Thank you, @eucopresident.
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) January 21, 2021
The support we’ve received from the EU since the beginning of COVID proves that solidarity is the best way out of this global challenge.
We seek that same solidarity now that the world has access to vaccines. https://t.co/QnV5S1i9mL
During the meeting with President Zurabishvili EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell 'underlined the vital importance of Georgian political parties finding common ground on the current political situation'.
Georgia needs a fully functioning, representative parliament, enjoying the trust of the population to take resolute action for a speedy, inclusive, green and sustainable recovery from COVID-19 and to advance the wider reform agenda, including in the judiciary", the European External Action Service has reported.
Borrell and Zurabishvili discussed the security and humanitarian situation in Georgia's Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) as well, which 'remains of great concern with the populations deprived of freedom of movement and the subsequent negative impact on their livelihoods and access to healthcare'.
.@JosepBorrellF met today with the President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili and welcomed the progress made by ???????? Georgia in implementing commitments made under the EU-Georgia Association Agreement & its contribution to the Eastern Partnership. Read more:https://t.co/oSKK6WkD9o
— European External Action Service - EEAS ???????? (@eu_eeas) January 21, 2021
The High Representative has meanwhile reiterated the EU's 'full commitment to peaceful conflict resolution' in Georgia and its 'firm support' to the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.
Interesting conversation with President of Georgia @Zourabichvili_S this morning about the situation in #Georgia and global challenges.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) January 21, 2021
The EU remains strongly committed to its partnership with Georgia and the region. https://t.co/BlhZV7PG5s pic.twitter.com/wMQDvQ17lv
Salome Zurabishvili has also tweeted after the meeting:
The security cooperation between Europe and Georgia makes us stronger.
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) January 21, 2021
What we need is more involvement from the EU in conflict resolution.
My thanks to @JosepBorrellF and the EU for extending the @EUMMGeorgia by another two years.
???????????????????? pic.twitter.com/Yczo4VIbCE
As part of her visit to Brussels President Zurabishvili also discussed bilateral cooperation, regional situation and preparations for the cultural festival Europalia in 2023 with the King Philippe of Belgium.
At the Royal Palace of Belgium. Georgia and Belgium have a lot of opportunities to work together.
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) January 21, 2021
We must take these opportunities, be they economic or cultural, in our hands.
Very interesting to meet His Majesty Philippe, King of the Belgians. @MonarchieBe
???????????????????? pic.twitter.com/9a6576mQvx
Tomorrow the Georgian President will meet with the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The meeting will be followed by their joint press briefing, NATO press office has earlier announced.
Foreign Ministers of 13 member states of the European Union have called on the European Commission ‘to set up a support mechanism’ to allow the Eastern Partnership countries - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine - ‘secure early access to COVID-19 vaccine’. The letter initiated by Lithuania was signed by the FMs of Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Sweden.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will meet with Georgian President Salome Zurabishvil in Brussels on January 22, the NATO press office has reported. Previously Stoltenberg and Zurabishvili met in January 2019. Stoltenberg met with Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia also at NATO headquarters back in September 2020.
The EU will allocate 183 million euros for Georgia in the fight against the coronavirus, Director for the EU's Eastern Neighbourhood Lawrence Meredith has tweeted.
Georgia has won the 2008 war case against Russia in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The court released its judgement earlier today which says that Russia violated several articles of the European Convention on Human rights during the conflict and carried out ethnic cleansing of Georgians. The court said that Russia is carrying out an effective control of Georgia’s Tskhinvali and Abkhazia regions and is responsible for the violation of human rights of Georgian citizens.
During a meeting with the President of European Parliament David Sassoli, Georgian president Salome Zurabishvili asked him to allow the same tuition for Georgian students as EU students across the 27 EU member states.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has met with Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili in Brussels earlier today where he said that the recent judgement of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the Russia-Georgia 2008 war case ‘confirms that Russia is responsible for human rights violations in Georgia’s occupied Abkhazia and South Ossetia (Tskhinvali) regions, and that Russia actually exercises control there’.
Georgian Foriegn Minister David Zalkaliani has stated that the upcoming visit of the European Council President Charles Michel later today is a ‘clear confirmation’ that the EU stands with Georgia as its ‘most important partner’ in the region.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has visited Monaco, where she promoted Georgian wine at a special event entitled 'Meeting with Vine Roots' which was attended by His Serene Highness the Prince of Monaco Albert II and locals as well as Georgian winemakers.