Georgian Economy Minister reviews sanctions enforcement with EU, US officials

He pledged the country’s authorities would continue to assist its partners in the prevention of bypassing the sanctions and noted the relevant agencies “were actively working” in this direction, stressing that all customs and financial operations were being strictly controlled. Photo via Economy Ministry

Agenda.ge, 27 Jun 2023 - 20:25, Tbilisi,Georgia

Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili and sanctions officials from the European Union and the United States on Tuesday reviewed the Georgian Government's assistance to its international partners in the enforcement of financial sanctions imposed against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

Davitashvili told David O’Sullivan, the EU Sanctions Envoy and James O'Brien, the Head of the Office of Sanctions Coordination in the Biden administration, that the Georgian Government would not allow the circumvention of sanctions by using the Georgian territory and the country’s financial system, the Economy Ministry said.

The evaluation we received in terms of Georgia’s assistance to the implementation of the sanctions was very positive and our cooperation [in this regard] was appreciated”, Davitashvili said.

He pledged the country’s authorities would continue to assist its partners in the prevention of bypassing the sanctions and noted the relevant agencies “were actively working” in this direction, stressing that all customs and financial operations were being strictly controlled.

I think that in the future we will have close cooperation with the EU structures, as well as with the representatives of the US and Great Britain, on various issues, in order to make trade relations more effective through coordinated work and also to avoid risks that may involve circumventing sanctions", the Georgian official added.

The meeting also covered the issue of Georgia’s integration into the EU, with Davitashvili pointing out citizens’ “strong will” to join the bloc and the Government’s “readiness” to implement reforms necessary for membership.

The Minister also noted that the delegation had highlighted Georgia as a “very important partner” of the international community.

The conversation also touched on the existing geopolitical situation in the region and its impact on economic trends, challenges and opportunities.