Georgian, British top diplomats review strategic partnership
Reaffirming their support for ties “in all fields”, they also said agreements between the two states provided a “good opportunity to further strengthen the partnership”. Photo: MFA of Georgia
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Strategic partnership between Georgia and the United Kingdom and “intensive” bilateral and multilateral cooperation involving the sides were discussed on Thursday in a meeting between the Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and his British counterpart James Cleverly.
The officials noted the importance of the Wardrop Strategic Dialogue format between the governments in further developing the strategic cooperation, the Georgian foreign office said.
Reaffirming their support for ties “in all fields”, they also said agreements between the two states provided a “good opportunity to further strengthen the partnership”.
Launched the 8th session of ???????????????? Wardrop Strategic Dialogue with @JamesCleverly. Outlined the prospects for developing relations in various areas from defense& security, to economics &people-to-people contacts. Grateful to???????? for their support for ????????'s terr integrity& peace policy pic.twitter.com/7LqbO5SrDG
— Ilia Darchiashvili (@iliadarch) January 26, 2023
In comments at the meeting, the officials emphasised the trade and economic partnership, as well as the growing transit and economic role of Georgia, and highlighted the “important contribution” of the UK in the implementation of reforms at Georgian state institutions.
The meeting also noted the UK’s “strong support” for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, as displayed in “relevant statements and documents at both the executive and legislative levels”.
Darchiashvili told his counterpart about the situation in the Russian-occupied regions of Georgia, and reaffirmed his Government’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the ongoing conflict with Russia.
The FM also overviewed Georgia’s political and humanitarian support for the country amid the war.
Russia's actions in Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2014, as well as the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripals in Salisbury were warnings to the West, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in an opinion piece published by The New York Times on Sunday.
British prime minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday said the United Kingdom remained “resolute” in its support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, in a letter to his counterpart Irakli Garibashvili.
British Ambassador to Georgia Mark Clayton on Wednesday called on all political stakeholders in Georgia to work together on the implementation of the European Union conditions for granting the country the membership candidate status.
Mark Clayton, the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Georgia, on Wednesday highlighted the 30th anniversary of the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries by saying their relations had a "bright future".
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and Jonathan Djanogly, the Chair of the United Kingdom All-Party Parliamentary Group on Georgia on Thursday discussed the “strong” inter-parliamentary relations between the two countries and the support of the British Parliament demonstrated to Georgia.
A resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on Friday welcomed the progress made by Georgia in honouring its obligations and commitments taken up as part of its membership in the body.
Terms of operation of airline companies between Georgia and the United Kingdom, from tariffs to flight frequency and safety regulations, were agreed in a deal signed between authorities of the two countries on Friday.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Sunday said the Georgian Government was pursuing a “pragmatic policy” designed to “avoid escalation and promote peace” in the wider region, in comments after accepting the Sabino Arana Prize in Spain for the development of Georgian-Basque ties and promotion of democracy and human rights.
The United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will meet Georgian officials and civil society groups during his official visit to the country on Thursday and Friday, the Georgian foreign service said.
Georgia Investment Forum, an event promoting the potential of the country for prospective investors from the United Kingdom, was hosted on Thursday in London.
Cooperation between Georgia and the United Kingdom was discussed on Thursday in an informal setting between the Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and his British counterpart James Cleverly, who is on an official visit to the country.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Friday said his meeting with James Cleverly, the British Foreign Secretary, in Tbilisi had highlighted Georgia had been the first to experience Russian aggression in 2008.
The United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary James Cleverly on Friday welcomed Georgia’s “principled support” for Ukraine - in both its adherence to sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of the country and the acceptance of refugees from Ukraine - in comments during his ongoing official visit to Georgia.
Sophie Katsarava, Georgia's Ambassador to the United Kingdom, was on Monday awarded the Diplomat of the Year prize by DIPLOMAT, a leading foreign affairs publication recognising some of the most influential envoys based in the UK.
Joint projects in Georgia’s education system were discussed on Wednesday in a meeting between the country’s Minister of Education and Science Giorgi Amilakhvari and the British Ambassador Mark Clayton.
Mark Clayton, the British Ambassador to Georgia, on Tuesday said the United Kingdom was a “firm friend” of Georgia and affirmed its support to the country’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday discussed “strategic partnership” and “dynamically developing relations” with the United Kingdom while hosting Sir Philip Robert Barton, the Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the UK.
Trade, economic and investment cooperation between Georgia and the United Kingdom was discussed on Wednesday in a meeting between Georgia’s Deputy Economy Minister Irakli Nadareishvili and Malcolm Offord, the UK Minister for Exports.
The United Kingdom has tightened transit flight rules for citizens of Georgia and over 100 other states with a requirement to obtain a Direct Airside Transit Visa, the Georgian foreign office said on Wednesday.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Monday congratulated James Cleverly on being appointed as the United Kingdom Home Secretary.
Georgian Deputy Economy Minister Genadi Arveladze on Monday led a delegation from the country in a meeting of the trade committee with the United Kingdom, with the discussions hosted in London as part of the strategic agreement between the two states.