Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia held a Working Meeting with Ilia Darchiashvili, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Ministers today.

The Head of Government of Georgia was briefed by the Minister about the performance of the institution, efforts carried out towards meeting the major priorities of the foreign policy of Georgia and plans for future. Special attention was paid to the historic decision on granting European Perspective to Georgia, along with the work carried out by the institution towards the European integration, including the measures taken towards gaining a candidacy status and activities planned ahead aiming at the progress of the country and mobilization of support from European partners for ambitious reforms implemented in various directions. As noted at the meeting, active work is in progress and will further continue in terms of intensive interaction with EU institutions and member states, both in bilateral and multilateral formats.

In addition, significant efforts will be made for the economic and sectoral approximation of Georgia with the EU, as well as for the efficient use of opportunities offered by free trade arrangement. Need of infrastructure projects and their implementation was highlighted at the meeting, which leads to the maximum use of trade and transit potential borne by our country.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue mobilizing international support for the implementation, political support and provision of financial resources towards an Agreement on Strategic Partnership for Green Energy Development and Transition between the Republic of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary signed within the scope of a visit paid by Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia to Bucharest on December 17, 2022.

It was noted at the meeting that consolidation of support from partner countries and organizations towards strengthening the sovereignty and restoring the territorial integrity of Georgia with peaceful means remains to be a prime goal of the institution and intends to keep the topic high in the international agenda.

Discussion also touched upon the high-level visits planned in 2023 in partner countries and within the scope of international organizations, along with a deepening of the bilateral and multilateral cooperation and solidification of strategic partnership existing with European countries, along with deepening connections in Central Asia and Middle East. Significance of further intensification of practical cooperation with NATO was also stressed at the meeting as a vital goal towards accession to the North-Atlantic Treaty Alliance. Actions needed towards this end were also noted.

Special attention was paid to the maximum demonstration of the South Caucasus potential and its significance in turning the region transforms into a destination of new opportunities and economic growth. It was also noted that significant efforts will be taken by the institution for the stable and peaceful development of the region, including the implementation of a Peace Initiative launched by the Prime Minister of Georgia.

Solid political, diplomatic and humanitarian support of Georgia to Ukraine was highlighted at the meeting, which was demonstrated from the dawn of the military aggression of Russia in Ukraine, which was expressed not only in a bilateral format through practical support, but with solid position of Georgia manifesting in co-authorship, co-sponsoring or in joining statements within the scope of every international platform.