Georgian Parliament Speaker Kakha Kuchava says Georgia and Ukraine are destined for ‘a resolute partnership’ due to their similar history, challenges and interests.
Kakha Kuchava who is on an official visit to Ukraine has met Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Kyiv.
Pleasure to have a friendly meeting with Prime Minister of Ukraine, @Denys_Shmyhal. We reaffirmed our mutual commitment to building common European future for #Georgia and #Ukraine. Due to similar history, challenges & interests, ???????? and ???????? are destined to a resolute partnership. pic.twitter.com/AuWThGiuha
— Kakha Kuchava (@kkuchava) October 7, 2021
During the meeting Kuchava and Shmyhal spoke of long friendship and partnership between their countries, their common goals, including the EU aspirations, as well as their joint efforts for de-occupation.
They also spoke of supporting tourism in post-Covid era and increasing the trade turnout to USD 1 billion, which Kuchava said is among their ‘ambitious plans’.
I will note the restoration of positive dynamics of bilateral economic cooperation. The trade between our countries increased by almost 30% in the first half of the year. I hope the positive dynamics of our bilateral trade will continue to remain and we will expand bilateral cooperation", PM Shmyhal said.
Прем’єр-міністр на зустрічі з Головою Парламенту Грузії: Надання європейської перспективи сприятиме поглибленню нашого партнерства
— Кабмін України (@Kabmin_UA) October 7, 2021
Детальніше: https://t.co/HlsuuMDUA0 #УрядУкраїни #КабінетМіністрів pic.twitter.com/mSEUXpWkE2
In Kyiv, the Georgian and Ukrainian officials spoke of Georgia’s ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili as well. Kakha Kuchava said, Saakashvili’s ‘sneaking out’ of Ukraine has created an ‘awkward situation’ between the two countries as official Kyiv was not aware of his ‘illegal crossing of the borders’.
We once again underscored that never ever anybody, including the ex-president, can become the reason and basis for even slightly worsening of the relations between our countries”, Kuchava said.
Mikheil Saakashvili, who has been convicted of the abuse of authority in two cases and is serving a six-year prison term, was arrested on October 1 in Tbilisi.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that he will work to bring Ukrainian citizen and former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili back to Ukraine. However, Georgian officials deny the possibility of Saakashvili’s extradition.