Georgian PM discusses ties, cooperation with Austrian, Czech, Slovak parliament speakers

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and speakers of the parliaments of Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia on Monday discussed the “friendly relations” and a “wide range” of cooperation between their countries, the Government Administration said.

Garibashvili met Wolfgang Sobotka, the Austrian Parliament Speaker, Markéta Pekarová Adamová, the President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament, and Boris Kollár, the Speaker of the National Council of Slovakia, to highlight the importance of their visit as a “sign of support”, along with promotion of strengthening bilateral relations.

The PM said he hoped Georgia would benefit from the nations' “political and practical” support as it moved forward with its efforts of integration into the European Union.

The meeting also pointed out Georgia’s “inclusive, consistent, and transparent” fulfilment of the conditions outlined by the European Council for granting the country the EU membership candidate status later this year, with the sides noting the country continued to remain the EU's “reliable ally and security partner”.

The head of the Government also said his country “deserved” to be given the candidate status, an outcome he said would “lessen polarisation” on the domestic political scene and “promote steady economic growth” in the nation.

The meeting also covered Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration, security issues of the Black Sea region and the situation in the Russian-occupied territories of the country.

Garibashvili also extended his gratitude to the visiting officials for their “firm” support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the policy of non-recognition of the occupied regions, while also noting their contribution to the EU Monitoring Mission for the conflicts.

The meeting was also attended by members of the delegations of the three European states and their ambassadors to Georgia, as well as Georgia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ilia Darchiashvili and the Head of Government Administration Revaz Javelidze.