“Georgia and Slovakia are strategic partners with a shared vision. We find it both inspiring and encouraging to see an EU member state fighting so resolutely for its freedom, its sovereignty, and its national interests, because those are precisely the values we ourselves defend,” said Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili, speaking to journalists following his visit to Slovakia.

The President also expressed his hope that relations between the two countries would grow closer.

“First and foremost, I wish to thank the Slovak authorities, and in particular my counterpart, Peter Pellegrini, who extended the invitation and arranged a warm and substantive meeting. We are strategic partners, and we share a common vision. We find it both admirable and heartening to witness an EU member state fighting for its freedom, its sovereignty, and its national interests. These are the very values we uphold. We need precisely such countries, EU members with whom we share an excellent relationship.

We conducted productive meetings, including with the Speaker of Parliament, during which we discussed inter-parliamentary relations, which are poised to strengthen further in the future. Our own Parliament Speaker will be visiting Slovakia next month. Our two countries must be ever more closely connected. We also met with the executive, the Deputy Prime Minister, and discussed bilateral relations covering trade and economic matters, defence and security, as well as education and youth affairs. These are areas of tremendous potential in the relationship between our two countries, and I hope these contacts will become more frequent. There is a very pragmatic and sound recognition that our region, which stands out for its commitment to a policy of peace amidst numerous challenges, has become of great importance to everyone. The Slovak President himself noted that the development of the Middle Corridor, in terms of Asia–Europe connectivity, is inconceivable without Georgia,” said Kavelashvili.

He went on to say that all those who have their country’s interests at heart must unite around a single conviction: that the protection of sovereignty and national interests must come before everything else.

“Our foreign policy is to engage the broadest possible spectrum of countries through the lens of Asia–Europe connectivity. We pursue a thoroughly consistent, considered, and pragmatic course,” said Kavelashvili.