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
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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.
The Georgian Government's coordination with its international partners on enforcement of financial sanctions imposed against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine was discussed on Tuesday in a meeting between the Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and sanctions officials from the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Georgian Government’s coordinated work with the European Union and the international community to enforce the financial sanctions imposed against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine was discussed on Tuesday in a meeting between the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and sanctions officials from the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday said “not a single fact” of the international sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine being bypassed through the Georgian territory had been confirmed “even at the level of suspicion”.
Archil Talakvadze, the Georgian Parliament Vice Speaker, on Monday said Georgia “had not been and would not be” used to circumvent the international sanctions imposed against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
The steps taken by Georgia for the implementation of the international financial sanctions imposed against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and prevention of their circumvention were discussed by Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili and sanctions officials from the European Union and the United States.
Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the European Integration Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Wednesday said Georgia, as a partner of the European Union, was “doing its best” to prevent evasion of the sanctions imposed by the bloc against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
David O’Sullivan, the European Union Sanctions Envoy, on Wednesday said during his meetings with Georgian authorities over the last two days, he had got “convinced” that the country’s Government was “seriously” determined not to allow the circumvention of sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Kumar Iyer, the Director General for Economics, Science and Technology at the United Kingdom Foreign Office, on Wednesday said he was “truly grateful” for the steps taken by the Georgian Government “so far” to prevent the circumvention of sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
James O'Brien, the Head of the Office of Sanctions Coordination in the United States, on Wednesday said the Georgian Government had done “a great job” in preventing the circumvention of sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Khatia Dekanoidze, an opposition MP in the Georgian Parliament, on Thursday said the “absence of any evidence” that Russia could use Georgia to evade international sanctions imposed on it for invading Ukraine last year was “definitely important” for the country.
Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Thursday said visiting sanctions officials from the European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom had “once again confirmed” the “correct steps” being taken by the Georgian Government in its enforcement of the international sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday said domestic authorities had prevented “1,000 cases” of attempts of evasion of the international sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, with “not a single fact” of their successful circumvention identified in the country.