Croatian PM vows support for Georgia’s democratic reforms, Euro-Atlantic integration
Andrej Plenković also thanked Garibashvili for a “very high-level analysis” and for introducing the “Georgian vision over Ukraine and the Black Sea. Photo: Government press office
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Andrej Plenković, the Croatian Prime Minister, on Monday pledged his Government's support for Georgia’s democratic efforts and its Euro-Atlantic integration in a press briefing with Georgian counterpart Irakli Garibashvili in Zagreb.
Hailing Garibashvili’s first official visit to the country, Plenković said the discussion had involved Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations, security challenges sparked by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the occupation of Georgian territories by Russia.
Susret s @GharibashviliGe, prvim gruzijskim premijerom u službenom posjetu Hrvatskoj. Podupiremo teritorijalnu cjelovitost, suverenitet i europski put Gruzije. Raspravili smo gospodarske i sigurnosne posljedice ruske agresije na #Ukraine, kao i prilike za jačanje suradnje ????????????????. pic.twitter.com/umWTXQOW6d
— Andrej Plenković (@AndrejPlenkovic) July 24, 2023
He welcomed the Georgian Government’s ongoing work to meet the 12-point conditions outlined by the European Union last year for granting the country its membership candidate status by the end of this year.
Discussing Georgia’s ambition to join NATO, the official pointed to the occupation of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions by Russia, and said the conflicts had made Georgia’s political and security situation “particularly sensitive”.
The official said he welcomed further strengthening economic ties with Georgia and increased presence of Croatian business in the country, before pledging his Government was ready to share its experience over the country’s alignment with the EU’s legal framework.
We want many Croatian companies to be in Georgia, and we expect that the interest of Georgian companies to export to Croatia will increase”, he said.
In his remarks, Plenković also thanked Garibashvili for a “very high-level analysis” and for introducing the “Georgian vision over Ukraine and the Black Sea”, and said their discussion as “very effective”.
The visit of the Georgian PM is coincided with the launch of the Georgian Embassy in Zagreb, with the formal ceremony scheduled later today.