During his visit to Croatia, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili met with his Croatian counterpart Andrej Plenković, first one-on-one, and then in an expanded format.
According to the Georgian government's Administration, Garibashvili provided detailed information about Georgia's implementation of 12 recommendations from the European Commission and emphasized that the country rightly expects to be granted candidate status for EU membership by the end of the year. The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of Croatia's experience in the EU accession process for Georgia.
Garibashvili expressed gratitude to his Croatian counterpart for supporting Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as its European and Euro-Atlantic integration.
The meeting emphasized the historical, cultural, and territorial similarities between Georgia and Croatia, and the significance of opening the Georgian Embassy in Croatia.
Discussions at the meeting covered cooperation between the two countries in the fields of economy, tourism, defense, and justice. The Georgian government's press release stated that Georgia welcomes the exchange of business strategies between the two nations, which will expand economic cooperation and facilitate Croatian investments in Georgia.
During a joint press conference, Prime Minister Garibashvili underscored the significance of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Croatia, making the visit even more important, especially with the official opening of the Georgian Embassy in Zagreb. He highlighted Georgia's efforts in signing agreements with the EU, including the Visa Liberalization Agreement, Association Agreement, and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement.
Garibashvili expressed hope that Europe would make a fair and strategic decision on Georgia's candidate status and recognize the country's commitment to fulfilling the necessary requirements for membership. He called on the international community to address the 2008 ceasefire agreement, de-occupation, and reconciliation issues to achieve lasting peace.
Croatia's Prime Minister expressed support for Georgia's aspirations to join the EU and NATO, hoping to witness progress in the country's institutional development towards EU accession. Regarding Georgia's NATO aspirations, Plenković acknowledged the sensitive political and security situation due to Russia's occupation of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, comparing it to similar situations in Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Transnistria. He noted that the proximity of the administrative boundary to Tbilisi further complicates the situation.
Plenković stated that there is room for improvement in the dynamics of economic relations between the two countries and welcomed the work of various Croatian companies, including Konchar, Yander Galanski Laboratory, and Docking Span, in the Georgian market.
During his visit to Croatia, Georgian Foreign Minister Ilya Darchiashvili, accompanying the Prime Minister, met with Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Gordan Grlić-Radman.
The ministers emphasized the importance of actively continuing political dialogue and high-level bilateral visits. They also stressed the need to deepen trade and economic relations between the two countries. The importance of the Economic Cooperation Agreement, signed between the two countries this year, was highlighted.
Darchiashvili provided comprehensive information on Georgia's implementation of 12 priorities set by the European Commission and the current progress in that direction. He expressed hope that Georgia's progress and reforms in various areas would be duly recognized and appreciated by European partners. The meeting also emphasized the complex situation on Georgia's occupied territories concerning security, human rights, and humanitarian issues. The Foreign Minister thanked his Croatian counterpart for Croatia's decisive support for Georgia's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and European aspirations.
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