Georgian PM, French FM discuss bilateral relations, EU integration
The officials reviewed the existing relations between Georgia and France and the prospects of future cooperation both in bilateral and multilateral formats, with the PM appreciating France's “strong and active” support for Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as its “greatest efforts” put forth for the non-recognition of Georgia’s Russian-occupied territories, the Government Administration said. Photo: PM's Press Office
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The bilateral relations between Georgia and France and the European perspective of the country were discussed on Friday in a meeting between Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Catherine Colonna, the French Foreign Minister, who is on an official visit to Georgia.
The officials reviewed the existing relations between Georgia and France and the prospects of future cooperation both in bilateral and multilateral formats, with the PM appreciating France's “strong and active” support for Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as its “greatest efforts” put forth for the non-recognition of Georgia’s Russian-occupied territories, the Government Administration said.
The importance of France’s support for Georgia on the path to EU integration was also highlighted at the meeting, emphasising Georgia’s continuous commitment to European values, as well as its positive role in maintaining security and stability in the region.
The meeting was attended by Sheraz Gasri, the Ambassador of France to Georgia, Frédéric Mondoloni, the Director of the Directorate for Continental Europe and Richard Requena, Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of France to Georgia, as well as Adrien Frier, Advisor to the Minister, and Brice Roquefeuil, the French Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group.
From the Georgian side, Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili, the Head of Government Administration Revaz Javelidze, and the Ambassador of Georgia to France Gocha Javakhishvil attended the meeting held in the Government Administration.
French and German ambassadors to Georgia, Sheraz Gasri and Peter Fischer, on Friday said the European Union had “opened its arms” to Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova in last year’s decisions on the Associated Trio countries’ aspirations for joining the bloc, in a joint statement released on the first anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Friday highlighted the importance of the visit of the top French diplomat to the country, and noted that France was an “unwavering” partner in building the country's “European future”.
Catherine Colonna, the French Foreign Minister, on Friday arrived in Georgia to mark the first trip of a French top diplomat to Tbilisi in five years, as the visiting official was welcomed by Teimuraz Janjalia, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia.
Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's European Union Integration Committee, on Friday said France was an “important partner” with a “particular importance” in shaping positions of the European Union, ahead of the visit of the French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna to Georgia.
Georgia’s European Union integration and France’s support in this regard were discussed on Friday in a meeting between Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili and Catherine Colonna, the French Foreign Minister.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday congratulated “all journalists who serve their profession conscientiously and faithfully” on the World Press Freedom Day.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday left for Hungary’s capital city of Budapest to participate in the Conservative Political Action Conference, a conference involving conservative officials and activists and hosted by the American Conservative Union.
Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Teimuraz Janjalia on Wednesday said the meeting of Georgian ambassadors to European Union member states, set to launch in Berlin later today, would focus on the country’s European integration process.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday said he was confident the country would have “solid support” from France in taking political decisions regarding Georgia’s European Union candidacy.