Georgian PM: Austrian Chancellor’s first visit “historic”

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday welcomed the first visit of the Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer to Georgia as “historic”, and pointed to the significance of the development as a confirmation of Austria’s “strong support” for the country.

The PM made the remark after a meeting between the officials in Tbilisi discussed the principal directions of the ties between the two countries and prospects of deepening their “fruitful cooperation”, the Government Administration said.

Photo: Government's Administration.

Garibashvili said the ties were based on “common European values and interests” and added  Austria had a “reliable partner” in Georgia. He also emphasised the importance of “united efforts to overcome the challenges” in the Black Sea region and the wider world.

The conversation also touched on the progress achieved by Georgia on its path of European integration, with the sides noting the importance of Austria’s “unwavering political support” for Georgia’s aspirations of joining the European Union.

The Austrian Chancellor was received at the Georgian Government Administration on Monday:

The head of the Georgian Government thanked Nehammer for the Austrian Government’s support for the European integration, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, with the parties also reviewing the current situation in Ukraine and existing challenges for Georgia in the context. 

Photo: Government's Administration. 

"Of course, the war in Ukraine is the biggest challenge on the European continent today - there has not been a crisis of this scale in Europe since the Second World War, which is certainly a very big problem for the entire European security architecture, for the world and also for our region”, Garibashvili said in his remarks.

As you know, our country has its own problems - 20 percent of our country is occupied by Russia, while the 2008 war was certainly devastating”, he noted, adding the ongoing occupation of the Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions by Russia was “naturally a big challenge” for Georgia.

“We are responding to this challenge with a correct, sensible policy. Over the last 10 years, we have managed to achieve peace, stability and economic development in Georgia", the Georgian Prime Minister said.

Honored to host first ever official visit of Austrian Federal Chancellor in ????????. This historic visit of @karlnehammer reconfirms ???????????????? dynamic co-op & ????????'s firm support to ????????’s integration w/????????. Along w/other matters discussed prospects of deepening trade & econ ties. pic.twitter.com/i2eL1KV15d

— Irakli Garibashvili (@GharibashviliGe) January 30, 2023