MP Samkharadze: Slovakia firmly supports Georgia’s EU integration; regret over certain Brussels decisions was palpable in their remarks

According to MP Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Relations, the meeting held during Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili’s visit to Slovakia between the two parliamentary speakers covered a range of issues, the most significant of which was Georgia’s European integration.

Samkharadze explained that the Slovak side was briefed on the ongoing processes within the country, including progress on the harmonisation of legislation.

“We presented our perspective on the difficulties that currently exist in the relationship between Tbilisi and Brussels, specifically, the unjust approaches being employed by Brussels against the Georgian authorities, including those driven by political motivations. From the Slovak side, there was absolute understanding and support for our positions. They firmly back Georgia’s European integration. A sense of regret over certain specific decisions taken by Brussels was clearly palpable in their remarks.
As regards sectoral cooperation, discussions were held on collaboration in the fields of defence and security, as well as in education and youth affairs. The principal areas of focus are trade, economics, and tourism. In this respect, we can say that relations between Georgia and Slovakia are developing at a rather dynamic pace. Recently, representatives of Slovak companies visited Tbilisi, a visit we hope will help to further boost the number of Slovak tourists travelling to Georgia.

Political relations between our two countries are advancing with considerable momentum. Over the past several months, Slovakia has received visits from Georgia’s President, the Speaker of Parliament, and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Culture. This clearly demonstrates that a strong and steadfast partnership exists between our two nations. We now look forward to welcoming the Slovak side to Georgia, as they will be paying a return visit to the country.

It is most heartening that Slovakia continues to be a loyal supporter of Georgia and shares the concerns we hold regarding the European Union,” stated Nikoloz Samkharadze.