Georgian PM: “fruitful”, “successful” foreign policy moved relations in region, across Europe “to another level”

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday said the “fruitful” and “successful” foreign policy implemented by his Government over the recent years had led to bilateral relations with neighbouring states and European countries being “moved to another level”.

Our foreign policy has been quite busy and fruitful in recent years. I personally pursued a very active foreign policy and had successful visits - bilateral relations have moved to another level, not only in the neighbourhood, but throughout Europe”, he said at the annual Ambassadors’ Conference in Tbilisi.

He noted highlights including the establishment of strategic partnership with China.

We had a big breakthrough and became a strategic partner of this country, which is the second economy [in the world], and it is very important for us to deepen and develop trade and economic relations with China”, the Government head said.

Garibashvili also stressed the importance of “further strengthening” relations with “our strategic partner” the United States and “our European friends”. 

In the region, we have fully harmonious relations with Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia. Georgia is trying to contribute to the process of establishing long-term peace [in the South Caucasus]. Therefore, it can be said that we had a very successful foreign policy in the last period”, he told the event.

Photo: Gov't Administration

The Prime Minister claimed the ruling Georgian Dream party was the “only Government in the last 30 years” to have “no war and conflict” in the country during its rule.

This is the only unprecedented exception - a decade when there has been no serious conflict [or] war, and the country did not lose territories. During the time of every ruler, there was war in the country - including civil strife, calamities, tragedies, loss of territories, migration of people, and so on. This has set our country back a lot, and we have to rebuild and do a lot of things”, he said.

The PM also noted infrastructure projects such as the Anaklia deep sea port project, development of airport facilities and the Black Sea submarine cable project - intended to connect the grids of the South Caucasus and European Union member states - would contribute to further development of the country.

He also told the Conference “active reconstruction” of infrastructure was underway in “all municipalities” throughout the country, adding the pace “needs to be maintained, [and] more active work is needed”.