At the Ministry of Internal Affairs, an agreement was signed with the French company "Airbus Helicopters" for the purchase of 3 new helicopters. From the Georgian side, the agreement was signed by the head of the Border Police - Nikoloz Sharadze, and Romain Lana - the representative of "Airbus Helicopters", from the side of the supplying company.

Ilia Darchiashvili thanked the ambassador for France's support of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as for the non-recognition policy. Within the framework of the meeting, discussions focused on the issues of Georgia's integration into the European and Euro-Atlantic structures. The sides noted the progress achieved by Georgia on the road to European integration, the implementation of the 12-point plan and the importance of obtaining the status of a candidate country were noted. The French ambassador expressed her readiness to contribute to the further deepening of Georgian-French relations. She emphasized that France will remain an unwavering supporter of Georgia's sovereignty, territorial integrity, European and Euro-Atlantic integration. At the end of the meeting, the sides confirmed their commitment to further strengthen the existing strategic cooperation between Georgia and France.

FRANKFURT, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- A German expert has said that the idea of reducing dependency on China, which is being peddled by some politicians, is a geopolitical plot, and would amount to "economic suicide" for Germany.

She added that even the world economy would suffer the consequences.

In a Xinhua interview, Helga Zepp-LaRouche, founder and chairwoman of the German think tank Schiller Institute, warned that attempt by Germany to reduce its economic dependency on China under the pressure of the United States will plunge the country into turmoil and put its economy at great peril.

Zepp-LaRouche added that Germany should expand its cooperation with China in many areas.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service

The EU will be ready to provide financial support for the Black Sea Energy submarine cable project, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on 17 December, attending the signing in the Romanian capital Bucharest of a memorandum of understanding between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Hungary and Romania, which envisages the laying of an underwater electricity cable across the Black Sea. 

Ursula von der Leyen said the agreement would bring the European Union closer to its partners in the South Caucasus region, and would help both regions achieve the clean energy transition. “Since the beginning of Russia’s war, we have decided to turn our back on Russian fossil fuels and to diversify towards reliable energy partners, like the partners here around the table. And it is working,” said the European Commission President.

She added the initiative would reinforce energy security in Europe and bring new opportunities to Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine: “This project could bring Georgia, a country with a European destiny, great benefits as well. It could transform the country into an electricity hub and integrate it in the EU internal electricity market. Finally, the Black Sea electric cable could also help bring electricity to our neighbours in Moldova and the Western Balkans, and of course to Ukraine – it will help start rebuilding Ukraine’s energy system and the reconstruction of the country.”

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Press release

Georgia’s strategic geographic location makes us a natural bridge between the West and the East, serving as a gateway for eight landlocked countries of South Caucasus and Central Asia; a crucial link on EU’s Global Connectivity map and a game changer, when it comes to diversification of transport routes and energy supply to Europe. It was announced by Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia at the Plenary Session on Strategic Partnership for Green Energy Development and Transmission held in Romania today.