Statement of the Administration of the President
The process of national accord initiated by the President is a complex and difficult process that is both open and transparent and in no way secretive. In recent days, various information has been spread, the source of which is not the Administration of the President.
At the beginning stage of the national accord process, the President is listening to everyone and holding meetings and is interested in the views, initiatives and positions of various societal groups, all of which are part of the greater national accord process.
It should be noted that not only political parties but also the public at large, including representatives of non-governmental organizations working on victims’ issues, are involved in this process.
The President has already held meetings with the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, former President Giorgi Margvelashvili and representatives of political parties. The process continues and the President continues to hold active meetings.
President Margvelashvili Meets with OSCE Special Representative for South Caucasus
The President of Georgia, H.E. Giorgi Margvelashvili has hosted a meeting with OSCE Special Representative for the South Caucasus, Ambassador Günther Bächler at the Presidential Palace. The meeting has also been attended by the Ambassador of Italy, Antonio Enrico Bartoli, as the Ambassador of the country holding the OSCE chairmanship.
Conversation at the meeting touched upon the situation in the occupied territories of Georgia, issues of conflict resolution and security environment in the region.
President Margvelashvili has spoken about the International Geneva Discussions and the role of OSCE in conflict resolution issues.
The meeting, also attended by Head of Administration of the President Mr. Giorgi Abashishvili and Advisor to the President for Foreign Affairs Mr. Tengiz Pkhaladze also focused on negative impacts on freedom of movement and rights of Georgian citizens caused by the installation of barbed wire fences and banners.
President of Georgia Awarded Zaza Pachulia the Order of Honor
President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili awarded Zaza Pachulia the Order of Honor for special contribution to the development of basketball and popularization of Georgia on the international arena, President’s press service reported.
The award ceremony took place at the Presidential Palace of Georgia today and the Head of President’s Administration Giorgi Abaishvili, Zaza Pachulia’s family members, representatives of the administration, Georgian national team, coaches and representatives of “Golden State” attended it.
“Zaza Pachulia is the first Georgian basketball player who has won the NBA Cup and decided to celebrate this victory in his homeland. Success is very important but the most important is to share it with the community. Zaza Pachulia does not forget his homeland. He was with us when Tbilisi was in a difficult situation after inundation. I want to thank him for such patriotic spirit”, - said the President at the award ceremony.
Zaza Pachulia thanked the President of Georgia for awarding him.
“What I have done in my life I have done with my heart and I did not expect such thing. It is a special day for me, because the president appreciates the work I have done and I am grateful for everything. I will try to keep this Order of Honor worthy”, said Pachulia.
Recall that Pachulia brought the NBA Champion Cup to his homeland yesterday and today, 20:00 pm, it will be represented at the Sports Palace.
President Margvelashvili to Pay a Visit to Batumi
The President of Georgia, H.E. Giorgi Margvelashvili will pay a visit to Batumi and attend the Conference of European Constitutional Courts’ XVII Congress on the topic of the "Role of Constitutional Courts in upholding and applying Constitutional Principles".
President Margvelashvili will deliver a speech at the conference and address chairmen of more than 40 European countries’ constitutional courts.
Official reception will be held for the participants of the conference, on behalf of President Margvelashvili.
Aside the member states of the European constitutional courts, the President of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, Mr. Gianni Buquicchio will also take part in the conference. Mr. Buquicchio will hold a meeting with President Margvelashvili on June 29 and discuss issues related to the constitutional reform of Georgia.
Giorgi Margvelashvili visits Slovakia
The President of Georgia, H.E. Giorgi Margvelashvili, together with the First Lady of Georgia, Ms. Maka Chichua and the state delegation pays an official visit to the Slovak Republic. The Presidential delegation is comprised of the State Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Mr. Victor Dolidze, the Head of the Administration of the President Mr. Giorgi Abashishvili, the Secretary of the National Security Council Mr. Davit Rakviashvili, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Davit Jalaghania, the Secretary of the President for Foreign Affairs Mr. Tengiz Pkhaladze, members of the Parliament – Mr. Mamuka Chikovani, Mr. Roman Gotsiridze, Ms. Ada Marshania and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Slovak Republic Mr. Revaz Gachechiladze.
After the meetings, the presidents will make media statements and answer the questions of Slovak and Georgian journalists.
As a part of the visit, President Margvelashvili will also hold meetings with the Prime Minister and the Speaker of the National Council of the Slovak Republic.
In Bratislava President Margvelashvili will deliver a public lecture on the security of the Black Sea region in the context of the European stability at Comenius University and meet with Georgian students.
As planned, President Margvelashvili and Ms. Chichua will visit the Research Institute for Child Psychology and Pathopsychology and the Children's Rehabilitation Center in Bratislava. The guests will also explore the enterprise, staffed by the persons with disabilities.
On May 16, President Kiska will host the guests in his home town, Levocha. The presidents will explore ski resorts on the Tatra Mountains and President Kiska will share the experience of Slovakia in tourism development with the Georgian party.
The state visit of President Margvelashvili will end on May 17.
Margvelashvili Holds a Meeting with the Secretary-General of the National Security Council of Turkey
The President of Georgia, H.E. Giorgi Margvelashvili has held a meeting with the Secretary-General of the National Security Council of Turkey, Mr. Seyfullah Hacimüftüoğlu.
At the meeting, also attended by the Head of the Administration of the President of Georgia Mr. Giorgi Abashishvili and the Secretary of the National Security Council of Georgia Mr. Davit Rakviashvili, the parties have discussed the prospects of strengthening strategic partnership between the two countries, development of the Black Sea cooperation, Turkish-Georgian defense and security cooperation, and the importance of stability in the Black Sea region.
President Margvelashvili has thanked the Turkish party for supporting Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
The conversation has also touched upon the prospective meeting of President Margvelashvili and President Erdoğan.
“We have spoken about trilateral meetings - a joint memorandum of national security councils of Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan. We have also discussed Azerbaijan-Turkey-Georgia trilateral cooperation in security, economic and energy spheres.
We think that the President of Georgia and the President of Turkey will meet this year and also our trilateral cooperation format will be discussed on the BSEC forum in May”, - stated Mr. Rakviashvili.
The President of Georgia: Problems of Occupied Territories Will Be Overcome Not by Violent Means, but According to the European Standards
Following the tete-a-tete meeting of the President of Georgia, H.E. Giorgi Margvelashvili and the President of the Republic of Lithuania, H.E. Dalia Grybauskaitė, the presidents have made joint media statements.
As President Margvelashvili has pointed out, cooperation between Georgia and Lithuania, as a result of which Georgia has reached the Association Agreement, the Free Trade Agreement, and the visa-free travel regime, will further be strengthened.
“In this regard I have expressed Georgia’s profound interest in the upcoming NATO Summit. We are aware that non-member countries will not participate in this Summit. I have asked President Grybauskaitė, our friend who has represented Georgia’s interests on many summits and at many international fora, to raise the topic of Georgia and state Georgia’s position, on behalf of myself, on this Summit”, - stated President Margvelashvili.
President Margvelashvili has expressed hope that through Lithuania’s support, Georgia’s agenda will be raised on the Summit. He has thanked President Grybauskaitė for Lithuania’s support in visa liberalization process and noted that Georgia’s participation in transit projects, in which Lithuania is also interested, should become more active.
“As President Grybauskaitė has pointed out, cooperation between our peoples and the visa-free regime will open up new opportunities in the areas of trade, culture, politics, and business”, - stated President Margvelashvili.
According to President Margvelashvili, the visit of the Georgian delegation to the Republic of Lithuania is symbolic. Georgian delegation includes representatives of various political parties and members of different ethnic groups of Georgia.
“Today here are the citizens of Georgia, who have Abkhazian and Ossetian origins. Our delegation also includes the Georgian citizen who was forcefully displaced after the Russian occupation.
Lithuania Will Cooperate with Georgia in the European Integration Process
As a part of his official visit to the Republic of Lithuania, the President of Georgia, H.E. Giorgi Margvelashvili, together with the Georgian delegation, has met with the Speaker of the Parliament of Lithuania, Mr. Viktoras Pranckietis at the official dinner.
The parties have discussed the prospects of developing parliamentary relations and multilateral cooperation between Georgia and Lithuania.
The conversation has also touched upon Lithuania’s support of Georgia in the Euro-Atlantic process. As noted at the meeting, Lithuania will cooperate with Georgia and support the country in the European integration process.
Mr. Pranckietis has once again underscored his firm support of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The meeting was also attended by the Head of the Administration of the President Mr. Giorgi Abashishvili, the Secretary of the National Security Council Mr. Davit Rakviashvili, the Advisor to the President for Foreign Affairs Mr. Tengiz Pkhaladze, the Ambassador of Georgia to the Republic of Lithuania Ms. Khatuna Salukvadze, leaders of the opposition – Ms. Ada Marshania from the “Alliance of Patriots of Georgia”, Mr. Azer Suleimanov from the “United National Movement”, and Mr. Irakli Abesadze from the “Movement for Freedom – European Georgia”.
The President of Georgia: It Is Symbolic that the Visit of the President of Latvia Coincides with the Commencement Day of the Visa-Free Travel
As a part of the state visit of the President of the Republic of Latvia H.E. Raimonds Vējonis to Georgia, the President of Georgia, H.E. Giorgi Margvelashvili has held tete-a-tete and extended meetings with President Vējonis at the Presidential Palace.
The parties have discussed the prospects of further strengthening relations between Georgia and Latvia and highlighted the special importance of this visit, as it has coincided with the commencement day of the visa-free travel for Georgian citizens.
"It is symbolic that the visit of President Vējonis coincides with this occasion. Latvia has greatly contributed to this process. Our countries are strategic partners and at every step we feel your firm support of our sovereignty and territorial integrity, European and Euro-Atlantic integration, Georgian state, and its further reinforcement", - stated President Margvelashvili.
President Margvelashvili has once again underscored the importance of international partners’ firm support of Georgia in European and Euro-Atlantic integration process. He has fully informed President Vējonis on the current situation and the increasing number of human rights violation cases in the occupied territories of Georgia.
The parties have also discussed the upcoming NATO Summit in Brussels and promotion of Georgia’s interests at the Summit. They have highlighted the necessity of strengthening business relations and the volume of bilateral trade, in order to fully use the economic potential of Georgia and Latvia.
As President Margvelashvili pointed out at the meeting, Georgia is becoming increasingly attractive for Latvian business investments.
At the meeting the Georgian delegation has emphasized on the importance of the Europe-Asia transport corridor, the Silk Road, and the prospects of strengthening trans-regional cooperation. The conversation has also touched upon the issue of strengthening economic ties between the regions of the Black and Baltic Seas. The annually increasing tourism rate was also underlined.
The Georgian party has expressed interest in attracting Latvian entrepreneurs and investors to Georgia.
The parties have also discussed the issues of cooperation in the area of education.
"It is important that the President of Latvia has visited Georgia when the visa-free travel for Georgian citizens has entered into force, as Latvia has always been a firm supporter of Georgia on the path of visa liberalization. At the same time, Latvia has always supported Georgia at all international fora. At the meeting the presidents have discussed all important issues raised on the agenda of Georgia and Latvia.
The conversation has also touched upon our cooperation in the areas of security, economics, and culture and we believe that this visit will be another step taken toward strengthening relations between Georgia and Latvia”, - stated the Head of the Administration of the President of Georgia, Mr. Giorgi Abashishvili.
The extended meeting was also attended by the members of the Georgian and Latvian delegations - Mr. Giorgi Abashishvili, the Secretary of the National Security Council of Georgia Mr. Davit Rakviashvili, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia Mr. Giorgi Mghebrishvili, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Mr. Davit Zalkaliani, the Advisor to the President of Georgia for Foreign Affairs Mr. Tengiz Pkhaladze, the Political Secretary of the President of Georgia Mrs. Pikria Chikhradze, and the Ambassador of Georgia to the Republic of Latvia Mr. Teimuraz Janjalia.
The Official Welcoming Ceremony of the President of the Republic of Latvia Is Held at the Presidential Palace
As a part of the state visit of the President of the Republic of Latvia, H.E. Raimonds Vējonis and the First Lady, Mrs. Iveta Vējonis, the official welcoming ceremony has been held at the Presidential Palace. Following the performance of national anthems by the orchestra of the Defense Ministry of Georgia, the President of Georgia, H.E. Giorgi Margvelashvili and President Vējonis have honored national flags of Georgia and Latvia.
The First Lady of Georgia, Mrs. Maka Chichua and Mrs. Vējonis have also taken part in the ceremony. After its termination, Ms. Chichua has hosted Mrs. Vējonis at a tea ceremony, held at the Presidential Palace.
Among the Latvian delegation, the welcoming ceremony was attended by the Minister of Interior Mr. Rihards Kozlovskis, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to Georgia Mr. Janis Zlamets, the Chairman of the Group for Interparliamentary Relations with Georgia Mr. Dzintars Zakis, the Head of the President’s Chancery Mr. Arnis Salnajs, the Foreign Affairs Advisor to the President Ms. Maija Manika, the Chief of the State Border Guard Gen. Normunds Garbars, the Deputy Head of the President’s Chancery Ms. Egita Kazeka, the Economic Affairs Advisor to the President Mr. Andis Jekabsons, the Press Advisor to the President Mr. Janis Siksnis, the Director of the First Bilateral Relations Department Mr. Dainis Garancs, and the Second Secretary of the East Europe and Central Asia Division Mr. Guntis Lapsa.
Among the members of the Georgian delegation were the Head of the Administration of the President Mr. Giorgi Abashishvili, the Secretary of the National Security Council Mr. Davit Rakviashvili, the Minister of Internal Affairs Mr. Giorgi Mghebrishvili, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Davit Zalkaliani, the Advisor to the President for Foreign Affairs Mr. Tengiz Pkhaladze, the Ambassador of Georgia to the Republic of Latvia Mr. Teimuraz Janjalia, advisors to the President and the diplomatic corps accredited in Georgia.