Georgian, Irish foreign offices sign first memorandum acknowledging “Georgia’s place” in EU
Georgian and Irish foreign ministers on Thursday signed the first memorandum between their bodies. Photo: Foreign Ministry press office
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Georgian and Irish foreign offices on Thursday signed the first memorandum between the bodies, with the document backing the enlargement of the European Union and highlighting Georgia’s “European future”, the Georgian Foreign Ministry said.
The document was signed during a meeting of the Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili with his Irish counterpart Micheál Martin as part of the former’s first official trip to Ireland.
Had a very productive meeting with my Irish counterpart @MichealMartinTD with the focus on prospects for developing ????????-???????? bilateral relations. We signed MOU on cooperation between the Georgian and Irish Foreign Ministries, which is to upgrade cooperation between the two countries… pic.twitter.com/8ZHSI7kaWJ
— Ilia Darchiashvili (@iliadarch) September 14, 2023
The memorandum said the two countries would strengthen dialogue and cooperation in support of Tbilisi’s accession to the EU, as well as political, institutional and socio-economic reforms related to the process.
It also pledged partnership to promote economic and sectoral integration of Georgia into the EU, including the full implementation of single market integration, the Association Agreement signed between the bloc and the country in 2014, and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area deal.
Highlighting their readiness for joint “intensive work” for common security and defence policies of the EU, the parties also agreed to intensify ties against hybrid threats.
Had a very good meeting with @peterburkefg. Along with ????????-???????? bilateral cooperation, we discussed Georgia's European integration. Minister once again reaffirmed Ireland's steadfast support for Georgia on this path in both political and practical terms. pic.twitter.com/0eXVKhMr71
— Ilia Darchiashvili (@iliadarch) September 14, 2023
The deal also involves cooperation for consolidation of international efforts to resolve the Russia-Georgia conflict in a peaceful way, including through the effective involvement of the EU to ensure the implementation of the ceasefire agreement - signed by Russia and Georgia in 2008 to end the war between the two states - which requires the former to withdraw its troops from the Georgian territory.
Strengthening the Georgian diaspora around the world is at the top of ????????'s foreign policy agenda. Thus, a meeting with @SeanFlemingTD was very interesting. We emphasized the important role of the diaspora in the process of fulfilling the country's foreign policy tasks. We also… pic.twitter.com/sJmdPQlL3D
— Ilia Darchiashvili (@iliadarch) September 15, 2023
Along with the agreement, Irish authorities have expressed their political readiness to introduce visa-free travel for Georgian diplomats, the Georgian foreign office noted.
Darchiashvili on Friday assessed his visit to Ireland as “very important”, and stressed it aimed to strengthen cooperation between the foreign offices of the two countries and facilitate Georgia’s obtaining the EU membership candidate status later this year.
He said he had briefed Irish officials about his Government's “effective work” to implement the reform agenda outlined by the bloc last year for granting Georgia the status, and planned moves to ensure the country's final integration into the bloc.
While in Ireland, the Georgian FM also met with high-ranking officials including the Speaker of the Irish Parliament, the Speaker of the Irish Senate and the Mayor of Dublin.
Darchiashvili also discussed the role of the country’s diaspora during a meeting with Georgian diaspora members on Thursday.