“No closed negotiations” during Forum in China - Vice PM on “baseless” media reports on dialogue with Putin
To the journalist’s question over the possibility of a walkout in protest from the Forum, Davitashvili responded that it would be “a violation of diplomatic protocol and it would significantly damage the relationship between Georgia and China”. Photo via Economy Ministry
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Georgian Vice Prime Minister Levan Davitashvili on Tuesday rejected “baseless” media reports as though he had had “personal communication” with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Forum in China earlier this month, by saying he had not had “any kind of closed negotiations or dialogues” during the Forum.
In his comments to the media, Davitashvili said “it is not surprising” that the radical opposition was “committed to” speculating and creating scandal over the matter.
Georgia has been participating in the Forum since its establishment and like in previous years the country took part in the Forum with around 150 participant countries, as well as with the leaders of the European Union member countries and the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Davitashvili noted.
The Minister emphasised that the Georgian delegation was invited at the reception, held on the sidelines of the Forum, by Chinese President Xi Jinping, stressing “when the host [of the forum] invites you, it is part of the diplomatic protocol to accept the invitation when we are participants of this Forum”.
The fact that we might have had some other kind of relationship or dialogue [with Russia] is just an interpretation and speculation. We followed exactly the diplomatic protocol [by attending the reception where the Russian President was also present], but at the same time we have our non-acceptance of the occupation, and we do not have any other type of relationship, additional meetings, or dialogue behind closed doors”, Davitashvili said.
To the journalist’s question over the possibility of a walkout in protest from the Forum, Davitashvili responded that it would be “a violation of diplomatic protocol and it would significantly damage the relationship between Georgia and China”.
Davitashvili also highlighted the importance of participation in the Forum this year, as Georgia and China had established a strategic partnership in July, adding China was one of the main economic partners of Georgia.
Kakha Kaladze, the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party and Mayor of Tbilisi, on Tuesday rejected domestic media “speculation” on the country’s Economy Minister and Vice Prime Minister Levan Davitashvili having had “personal communication” with the Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Forum in China earlier this month.
Georgian and Chinese Governments on Monday shared their “commitment” to expand cooperation in political, economic and cultural fields, strengthen collaboration in international affairs and bilateral relations, and safeguard regional and world peace, stability and development together in a joint statement on establishing a strategic partnership.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday rejected as “classic manipulation” the domestic media reports that criticised Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili’s participation in the Belt and Road Forum, an event hosted in China and also involving the Russian President Vladimir Putin, as a case of the Georgian Government’s “bilateral contact” with the Russian leader.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday told the opening event of the Tbilisi Silk Road Forum the strategic partnership with China was “important” for Georgia's economic stability.
The Georgian President’s Office on Tuesday rejected allegations that Salome Zourabichvili had made a mention of the Chinese President Xi Jinping “in a negative context” in her interview with France’s LCI TV channel last week, claiming the President had limited her criticism to her Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.