Turkish President congratulates Georgian counterpart on election

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday congratulated Mikheil Kavelashvili on his election as Georgia’s new President, highlighting “neighbourliness and strategic partnership” between the two nations.

“Dear President-elect, on behalf of me and my people, I sincerely congratulate your Excellency on your election as the President of Georgia, with which we are connected by neighbourliness and strategic partnership, and I also wish you success in fulfilling this honourable duty”, Erdoğan said.

I am absolutely confident that during your term of office we will further develop friendly relations and close cooperation between our countries, which is in line with our common interests and serves to ensure prosperity in the region. I would like to take this opportunity to once again convey my best wishes to you, wishing your Excellency good health and prosperity, and to the friendly people of Georgia - revival and happiness”, the letter concluded.

Kavelashvili was elected by an electoral college on December 14, following a voting  session at  the Parliament, with 224 of the 225 votes cast in his favour and one declared invalid.

Under new rules defined by the Constitution, the President is no longer elected directly, through universal suffrage. Instead, the Central Election Commission formed the electoral college consisting of 300 members for the purpose.

The President’s inauguration is scheduled for Sunday.