Georgian parliament speaker: Georgia, Ukraine destined for resolute partnership
Georgian Parliament speaker Kakha Kuchava, who is on an official visit to Ukraine, spoke about ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili's detention among other issues with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. Photo: KabminUA/Facebook
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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.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Kakha Kuchava has stated that ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili cannot be a cause of discord between Georgia and Ukraine and called the two countries ‘brotherly nations and strategic partners.’ "We [Georgia and Ukraine] have many plans in terms of cooperation and [we have] a common enemy,” Kuchava said.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Kakha Kuchava has left for Ukraine on an official visit today. As part of his official visit to Ukraine, Kakha Kuchava will take part in the ceremony in Babin Yar, Kyiv, to pay tribute to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust in Ukraine.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has stated earlier today that former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili ‘possibly’ violated the Ukrainian legislature by crossing its border illegally. Zalkaliani noted that before Saakashvili became a Ukrainian citizen ‘he was the president and a citizen of Georgia and has been charged in accordance with Georgian legislation.’
Former Director of the Political Department of Georgian Foreign Ministry Giorgi Zakarashvili has been appointed as Georgia’s new Ambassador of Ukraine.
Lithuanian members of European parliament (MEP) Andrius Kubilius and Rasa Jukneviciene call on all Georgian political forces ‘to start building bridges enabling normal democratic political dialogue, return to the pro-European reform track and focus on achieving very much needed progress in country’s development for the benefit of the Georgian people’.
The For Georgia opposition party founded by former PM Giorgi Gakharia earlier this year has called on the state legislature to adopt the Ukraine Support Act amid high tension at Ukraine’s borders due to the amassing of Russian troops.