Georgian, Finnish FMs discuss cooperation

The current agenda of relations between Georgia and Finland was discussed on Wednesday in a meeting between the Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and his Finnish counterpart Elina Valtonen.
 

The Georgian Ministry said the meeting, hosted during Darchiashvili’s visit to Finland, also discussed matters of cooperation between the two countries in international formats, with the officials noting “intensified cooperation in various directions”.

The officials emphasised the significance of the Georgia-Finland Business Forum for strengthening business ties between the countries, and “positively assessed” Georgia's cooperation with Nordic countries and the importance of “effective use of existing formats”.
 

The parties also reviewed the process of Georgia's accession to the European Union, with the Georgian FM highlighting the importance of the bloc’s candidate status having been granted to the country in December as a result of “intensive efforts and steps” taken by the country’s Government.
 

Darchiashvili pointed out the significance of support from EU member states, including Finland, in the process of the EU opening accession talks with Georgia.

He also informed Valtonen of the “difficult” security, humanitarian and human rights situation in Georgia’s Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) and noted the process of the Geneva International Discussions and the importance of the support of the international community and partners in the process of peaceful resolution of the conflict.
 

The top Georgian diplomat extended his gratitude to his counterpart for supporting the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as its European aspirations, with the parties confirming their “willingness to continue and further intensify the fruitful cooperation”.