German Vice Chancellor: Georgia “laid foundation for democracy” in 1918-1921 Republic
Robert Habeck made the remark while speaking about Georgia’s history of democracy and the country’s culture at the launch of the major international event in the German capital. Photo: PM's press office
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Robert Habeck, the German Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, on Monday praised the legacy of Georgia’s 1918-1921 Republic by saying the country had “laid the foundation for democracy” with the experiment, in comments at the opening event of the ITB Berlin tourism fair showcasing Georgia as the Host Country.
Habeck made the remark while speaking about Georgia’s history of democracy and the country’s culture at the launch of the major international event in the German capital.
After World War I, Georgia was the country that laid the foundation for democracy, and German democrats came to Georgia to learn from Georgia what to do. And soon after that, Georgia was occupied by the Soviet Union. I am talking about the years 1918-21. I’ve been in Tbilisi [the Georgian capital], I know that Georgia wants to move towards Europe and Europe is waiting for Georgia", Habeck said.
Habeck recalled his visit to Georgia together with his family four years ago, and shared his impressions of hearing Georgian language for the first time.
When I heard Georgian phrases [at ITB Berlin], I remembered that sweet sound [of the Georgian language]. You also have a very beautiful script. It is impossible for a foreigner to read it, but it is very beautiful”, he said.
The Vice Chancellor also mentioned the ongoing war in Ukraine and noted Georgia had “also experienced what is happening in Ukraine now” back during the Russian invasion of the country in 2008.
What is happening now in Ukraine started in Georgia. When we think about what Russia did in Georgia, it was probably the sign that showed that the Russian leader has become a tyrant”, he said.
Habeck featured in the fair’s official opening ceremony on Monday night, which also involved Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Berlin Mayor Franziska Giffey and Dirk Hoffmann, the Managing Director of Messe Berlin fairgrounds.
Georgia is “one of the safest countries” and enjoying “one of the fastest-growing” economies, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Monday at the opening event for the ITB Berlin international tourism fair that is showcasing Georgia as its Host Country in the German capital.
Zurab Pololikashvili, the Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, on Monday expressed his “deep gratitude” to the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili for the country’s “esteemed hosting” of ITB Berlin, a major international tourism fair running in the German capital through Thursday.
Berlin Mayor Franziska Giffey on Monday welcomed a Georgian delegation and the country’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili to the launch of ITB, a major international tourism fair celebrating Georgia as its Host Country, and expressed a “great desire” to make “Georgians feel at home in Berlin”.
Georgian-German economic relations, priority areas of cooperation and ways of further developing them were discussed on Tuesday by Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili and Robert Habeck, the Vice Chancellor of Germany on the sidelines of ITB Berlin, a major tourism fair showcasing Georgia as the Host Country in the German capital.
Norbert Fiebig, the President of the German Travel Association, on Tuesday praised the “very impressive” opening event for ITB Berlin, a major international tourism fair that showcases Georgia as its Host Country in the 2023 edition.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday officially launched the ITB Berlin, a major international tourism fair that showcases Georgia as its Host Country in the 2023 edition, under the theme “Infinite Hospitality”, at the country’s stand in Berlin.
Dirk Hoffmann, the Managing Director of Messe Berlin fairgrounds that are hosting this year’s edition of the ITB Berlin tourism fair, on Monday said he was glad to see Georgia as the Host Country of the event.