FM: PM’s participation in CoE Reykjavik Summit carries “special importance”

Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Tuesday said the participation of Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili in the fourth Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe in Reykjavik this week carried a “special importance”. 

Ahead of the launch of the session that will bring together top officials from 46 CoE member states on Tuesday, the official said the head of the Georgian Government would address the event and voice his country’s priorities, including its integration into the European Union. 

Darchiashvili stressed the PM’s meetings on the sidelines of the Summit would also discuss Georgia’s EU aspirations and the bloc’s forthcoming decision whether to grant the country its membership candidate status by the end of this year, along with reviews of bilateral ties with specific countries. 

I am sure the PM, on the one hand, will voice the main priorities of Georgia by participating in the Summit, and, on the other hand, the bilateral meetings will have a special importance to present the country properly and Georgia to receive the [EU candidate] status as soon as possible”, Darchiashvili said.

The Minister added the PM would also brief the country’s partners on Tbilisi’s efforts to meet the conditions outlined by the bloc last year for granting the country the status. 

The Summit will end on Wednesday.