Georgian PM: Georgia Germany’s "reliable partner" in a “challenging geopolitical region”

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday highlighted the “significant” role of the country in establishing “peace and stability” in the South Caucasus and said it was a “very important” and “reliable partner” for Germany, particularly in the face of a “challenging geopolitical region”.

Speaking at a joint press briefing with Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, Kobakhidze said 
the two countries were “connected by multidimensional cooperation” which covered “all fields”.

• German Chancellor hosts Georgian PM in Berlin

The Georgian PM said his meeting with the German Chancellor discussed “recent successes” in collaboration in law enforcement, education, culture and science.

There is a very close cooperation between Germany and Georgia. Germany is one of the leading countries in trade and economy with Georgia. A number of German companies operate successfully in the country, and we also talked about the steps to be taken in order to make the German economy sector more interested in Georgia's transit and economic opportunities”, Kobakhidze told the media.

He also highlighted Germany’s role in helping Georgia achieve the “most important” foreign policy goals.

Since the 1990s, Germany has played an important role in the restoration of Georgia’s independence and its development. Germany also played a special role in supporting our young people, [who] have had the opportunity to receive and deepen their education in Germany, as well as those people who today play an important role in the public and political life of Georgia”, he said.

The PM noted himself, the Minister of Justice, the Speaker of the Parliament and a “number of politicians” from the country had earned their education and academic degrees in Germany.

We learned in Germany that the rule of law [and] democracy are the supreme basic principles that need to be protected and must determine our future development. We are grateful to the German people and the German state for its valuable support. In this context, it is no coincidence that Berlin is the first European [destination] after Brussels that I, as the Prime Minister of Georgia, have visited”, Kobakhidze said.

He said he had thanked the Chancellor for supporting Georgia on the path of European integration at a “historic moment”, which he said was reflected in the country receiving the European Union membership candidate status last year.

I am sure Germany’s interest in Georgia will increase even more after the national team of Georgia, for the first time in the history of the country's independence, takes part in the European [Football] Championship in Germany, and I wish our team success”, he said.

In his comments Kobakhidze also invited Scholz to pay a visit to Georgia.