Georgian, Lithuanian FMs review cooperation, EU integration, security matters
The officials said the Summit would be “fruitful”, both in terms of Georgia's integration into NATO, as well as in terms of a “strong” support for Georgia being expressed from the alliance. Photo: MFA of Georgia
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Cooperation between Georgia and Lithuania, the former's European integration and security matters in the Black Sea region were discussed on Tuesday in a meeting between the Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and his Lithuanian counterpart Gabrielius Landsbergis on the sidelines of the NATO Vilnius Summit.
Darchiashvili thanked Landsbergis for organising and hosting the Summit "at a high level" and noted the importance of Georgia's participation in the event and Lithuania's support, the Georgian foreign office said.
The officials said the Summit would be “fruitful”, both in terms of Georgia's integration into NATO, as well as in terms of a “strong” support for Georgia being expressed from the alliance.
Prior to NATO #VilniusSummit, I had a very productive meeting with my Lithuanian colleague @GLandsbergis. We discussed the major aspects of ????????-???????? bilateral cooperation and focused on Georgia's European and Euro-Atlantic integration process. Many thanks for the warm welcome. pic.twitter.com/2LqaXgh3z0
— Ilia Darchiashvili (@iliadarch) July 11, 2023
The meeting focused on the “successful” cooperation of the two countries in both bilateral and multilateral formats and the existing potential for the further development of partnership relations.
The officials emphasised “important” steps taken by the Georgian authorities on the path of European and Euro-Atlantic integration, including the steps to receive the EU membership candidate status and the existing progress in the implementation of the bloc’s conditions.
The discussion also reviewed the security environment in the Black Sea region and the situation in the Russian-occupied territories of Georgia, with Darchiashvili thanking the Lithuanian Government for its “steadfast” support of Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Victor Dolidze, the head of the Georgian mission to NATO, on Monday said the country’s “ultimate goal” was full membership in the alliance, and noted “it probably matters less by which mechanism it will be ultimately determined - with or without the membership action plan”.
Archil Talakvadze, the Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Monday said Georgia was “strategically ready” for NATO membership and described the country as the alliance’s “reliable partner”, ahead of the bloc’s Summit on Tuesday.
A Georgian delegation headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ilia Darchiashvili will participate in the upcoming NATO Summit set to kick off on Tuesday in Lithuania’s capital city of Vilnius.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday said the country’s accession to NATO was a “political objective” that was “bringing Georgians together”.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said the country’s authorities would apply “as much effort as possible” to continue its progress towards NATO.
Archil Talakvadze, the Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Tuesday said the country was in “strategic readiness” to join NATO and the Government was working “together with our partners” to gain a “political decision that Georgia deserves”.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili will be in Brussels for a working visit from Tuesday to Wednesday to meet high-ranking European Union officials including Oliver Varhelyi, the Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.