Georgian PM hosts Austrian Chancellor at official dinner

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday hosted Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and his delegation at an official dinner in central Tbilisi to mark the latter's first official visit to the country.

The Government press office said the officials had taken a cable car to reach the site on Mtatsminda Hill overlooking the city. 

Following the dinner, Garibashvili also accompanied the Chancellor to Tbilisi International Airport in a conclusion of the one-day visit. 

Meetings held during the visiting official's trip covered prospects for a further strengthening of bilateral cooperation, Georgia’s European integration goals, Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine and its occupation of the Georgian territories. 

Nehammer viewed the sights ofTbilisi at night before leaving the country. Video: Government press office. 

At a joint press briefing with Garibashvili, Nehammer stressed he was “very happy” Tbilisi had joined “all financial sanctions” imposed on Russia by the EU for its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, despite the presence of Russian occupation troops on Georgian territory. 

He also emphasised all candidate countries for EU membership “must have the same starting conditions”, and that there “should not be any shortcut way to achieve the goal".

The Austrian delegation led by the Chancellor also visited the Odzisi crossing point in central Georgia, adjacent to the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, to hear from the EU Monitoring mission about developments in the area.

Calling the visit “historic”, the Georgian PM discussed opportunities for further deepening trade, economic and tourism ties with Austria and possibilities for attracting more investments from the country. 

• Austrian Chancellor hails Georgia as “very important” economic partner in briefing with PM

He also said his Government had ensured “all possible” progress for the country’s European integration over the past decade, pointing to the 2014 signing of the Association Agreement with the EU, as well as agreements for a free trade deal, visa-free travel and the last year’s granting of a European perspective to Georgia by the bloc.