Mikheil Janelidze has met with the newly-appointed Head of the NATO Liaison Office
Georgian Vice Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze met with the newly-appointed Head of the NATO Liaison Office, Rosaria Puglisi.
The Minister congratulated Rosaria Puglisi on her appointment wishing her success in her future endeavours. Discussions focused on various aspects of Georgia-NATO co-operation, including the implementation of the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package (SNGP) and the preparation for the NATO Summit in 2018.
Special attention was paid to the important role the NATO Liaison Office plays in terms of facilitating Georgia’s integration with NATO, as well as promoting communication with the population.
According to Rosaria Puglisi, the priority during her term of office will be assisting Georgia in moving closer to the Alliance. She reaffirmed NATO’s firm support for Georgia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
Mikheil Janelidze has attended the Global Business Forum organized by Bloomberg
Within the framework of his visit to New York, the Georgian Vice Premier, Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze attended the global business forum organized by Bloomberg.
The high-level meeting was opened by Bloomberg Founder and President Michael Bloomberg, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron and Alibaba Founder Jack Ma.
Within the framework of the meeting, Mikheil Janelidze had the opportunity to exchange his views with the world leaders and the heads of the largest business companies, including the former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Bloomberg Founder Michael Bloomberg. Underlining the importance of business-government co-operation in overcoming the global challenges, the latter thanked the Georgian Vice Premier for his participation in the event.
On the sidelines of the event, Mikheil Janelidze also met with the Chief Executive Officer of MasterCard Company, Ajay Banga, who expressed his interest in Georgia’s business environment and in identifying priority areas for co-operation with Georgia.
EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and representatives of international companies took part in the thematic panels and spoke before the participants of the event.
China highly appreciates friendship with Georgia - Chairman of the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA)
The Georgian Vice Premier, Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze met with Chairman of the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), Li Jinzao, on the sidelines of the 22ndGeneral Assembly of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
The Georgian Foreign Minister emphasized Georgia’s successeful co-operation with China in many areas, including in tourism and welcomed the establishment of the world tourism alliance at the initiative of China.
Discussions focused on issues of bilateral relations. Mikheil Janelidze noted with satisfaction Georgia’s active participation in One belt One road Initiative. Special attention was paid to the signing of free trade agreement between Georgia and China, Georgia’s involvement in the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank and many other important projects.
The development of tourism, culture and people-to-people contacts was identified as the priority areas of co-operation between the two countries. It was underlined that Georgia with its winter and summer resorts is an attractive tourist destination for China. Special note, in this context, was taken of the importance of direct flights between China and Georgia and of Chinese businessmen’s rising interest in Georgia’s tourism potential.
At the end of the meeting Mikheil Janelidze invited Li Jinzao to Georgia.
The meeting with the Chairman of the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) was attended by the newly-elected UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili and Georgia’s Ambassador to China Davit Aptsiauri.
UNWTO General Assembly attended by the Georgian delegation has opened officially
The Georgian Vice Premier, Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze participated in the official opening of the 22nd General Assembly of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) held in Chengdu, China from 12 to 15 September 2017. The event brought together up to 1500 delegates from 150 countries across the world.
On the sidelines of the General Assembly, Mikheil Janelidze held a brief meeting with representatives of the Chinese Authorities. Highlighting the importance of developing people-to-people contacts and co-operation in tourism, the Chinese side thanked the Georgian delegation for participation in the General Assembly.
The 22nd General Assembly will approve candidacy for the post of UNWTO Secretary-General for the period 2018-2021. The 105th session of the UNWTO Executive Council, meeting in Madrid, Spain, on 12 May 2017, recommended Zurab Pololikashvili, Ambassador of Georgia to Spain, as a nominee for the post of Secretary-General for the four-year-period starting January 2018. The Head of the Georgian National Tourism Administration Giorgi Chogovadze also attends the General Assembly.
Mikheil Janelidze – “Noble Partner - 2017 contributes to peace and stability in Georgia and in the region”
Georgian Vice Premier, Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze attended the official launch of Noble Partner - 2017 multinational defence exercise.
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili, Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Defence Minister Levan Izoria Chief of General Staff of Georgian Armed Forces Vladimer Chachibaia and U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly spoke at the opening.
“The drills contribute to peace and stability in Georgia and in the region and strengthen Georgia’s defence capacity and its European and Euro-Atlantic integration” – Mikheil Janelidze told journalist following the opening ceremony.
Georgia for the third time hosts the annual Noble Partner defence exercise with its European and regional partners with troops from eight countries joining forces for the training at the Vaziani military air base outside the capital of Tbilisi.
Service members from Georgia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Ukraine, Turkey, Slovenia and Armenia participate in the drills focused on improving defence and attack skills.
The Noble Partner 2017 is a part of drills of the European Command in the Black Sea region, which is being held on the territory of seven countries.
Noble Partner 2017 will continue Saber Guardian in Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary and Sea Breeze in Ukraine.
Established in 2015, the Noble Partner exercise was initially founded to train service members from the Georgian Armed Forces and NATO member states for the NATO Response Force (NRF) unit and to improve the Georgian troops’ interoperability with NATO units.
The Georgian Foreign Minister has held a farewell meeting with the Hungarian Ambassador
Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze held a meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Hungary to Georgia Sándor Szabó who completed his term of office in Georgia.
The sides discussed issues on the agenda of bilateral relations between Georgia and Hungary. Special mention was made of the increasing dynamic of interaction in various areas and the people-to-people contacts, which, according to the Minister, are further encouraged by direct flights between Georgia and Hungary.
Special attention was paid to Georgia’s tangible progress on the path of integration with NATO and the EU. Sándor Szabó, for his part, reaffirmed Hungary’s commitment to remain the firm supporter of Georgia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and Euro-Atlantic integration.
The Georgian Foreign Minister thanked the Ambassador for his contribution to the strengthening of relations between the two countries and wished him success in his further activities.
The delegations signed a protocol of the 4th meeting of the Georgian-Lithuanian Commission on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration
According to the Protocol the participants of the meeting discussed a broad spectrum of co-operation between Georgia and the EU. Special attention was paid to the commitment to promote further the deepening of relations between Georgia and the EU, particularly by taking advantage of all opportunities and prospects provided by the Association Agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), as well as the Eastern Partnership policy in general.
The delegations, according to the Protocol, underscored the special importance of the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels on 24 November for setting a strong forward-looking vision of deepening closer relationship between the EU and Partners. They also exchanged opinion over Georgia’s expectations with respect to the Summit.
Both Delegations welcomed the entry into force of the visa-free travel regime for Georgian citizens as of 28th March, 2017, which is a major milestone achieved on the EU-Georgia cooperation agenda and recognition of Georgia’s reform efforts.
The Delegations emphasised the vital importance of the relationship between Georgia and NATO and stressed that Georgia's future membership in the Alliance will benefit the common Euro-Atlantic security. The Georgian Delegation reaffirmed Georgia’s determination to achieve NATO membership, which is a top foreign policy priority for Georgia, and reiterated Georgia’s commitment to continue comprehensive reforms across the areas set out in the Annual National Programme. The parties reiterated that Georgia has all practical tools to prepare for the NATO membership. The Lithuanian Delegation reiterated its continuous support and readiness to further assist Georgia in fulfilling its Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
According to the document, the Georgian Foreign Minister provided the Lithuanian side with retailed information regarding the difficult situation in the occupied territories of Georgia. The Lithuanian delegation expressed deep concern over the ongoing occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia/Tskhinvali regions of Georgia and steps towards their annexation by Russia. The Delegations discussed the severe security, human rights and humanitarian situation on the ground, including the intensified military build-up, closure of the so-called crossing points, installation of the barbed wire fences and artificial barriers along the occupation line, as well as continuous discrimination of ethnic Georgians in the occupied territories. The Lithuanian Delegation reiterated its full support to territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia.
The Protocol makes special mention of the economic and trade potential of the countries. The Delegations reiterated to continue active cooperation in intensifying cargo flows between Europe, Central Asia and China by connecting the “Viking” project with TRACECA transport corridor.
The Delegations agreed to hold the next meeting of the Georgian-Lithuanian Commission on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration in Lithuania, in 2018.
Deputy Secretary General addresses NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Tbilisi
Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller outlined the decisions taken by Allied leaders last week in a keynote speech to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Tbilisi on Monday (29 May 2017). She highlighted that the Alliance is stepping up in the fight against terrorism and making progress on fairer burden-sharing across NATO.
The Deputy Secretary General welcomed that NATO is now a full member of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS – a strong symbol of the Alliance’s commitment to the fight against terrorism. NATO AWACS surveillance aircraft will also support the Coalition with airspace management, and a new terrorism intelligence cell at NATO headquarters will improve the sharing of information among Allies. Ms. Gottemoeller stressed that NATO leaders also agreed to do more to ensure fairer burden sharing across the Alliance, with national plans setting out how Allies intend to meet their defence commitments. She highlighted that Montenegro will soon become the 29th member of the Alliance – a clear sign that the door to NATO membership remains open.
The Deputy Secretary General also thanked Georgia for its contributions to NATO, including in Afghanistan. She noted that NATO continues to support Georgia, helping to boost its defence capabilities and to prepare the country for NATO membership. Ms. Gottemoeller added that NPA members play an important role in representing constituents and holding political leaders to account for the decisions they take.
During her visit to Georgia, Ms. Gottemoeller will meet with Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili, Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze, Defence Minister Levan Izoria and the Chairman of the Parliament Irakli Kobakhidze.
Mikheil Janelidze has attended the event dedicated to the 25th anniversary of restoration of diplomatic relations between Georgia and Italy
Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze and Italian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Georgia Antonio Enrico Bartoli spoke before the attending audience.
Mikheil Janelidze highlighted the traditionally close and friendly relations between Georgia and Italy focusing on the importance of the anniversary date.
According to the Minister, Georgia has received a great deal of assistance from Italy in the democratic development process. Mikheil Janelidze said that Italy’s firm support is decisive for Georgia in its pursuit of European and Euro-Atlantic integration.
Mikheil Janelidze spoke extensively about various spheres of co-operation between Georgia and Italy, paying special attention to co-operation in the areas of defence and security.
The concert repertoire was entirely made up of the works of Italian composers covering the period from the 16th to the 20th century.
Along with the Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra and the Georgian State Capella, the invited guests – the famous Italian accordionist Mario Stefano Pietrodarki and the outstanding Georgian opera singer Iano Alibegashvili also performed before the audience.
Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze has met the Co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions
16 May 2017, Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze held a meeting with the Co-chairs from the EU, UN and OSCE. The Minister discussed with the Co-chairs the ways to increase the effectiveness of the Geneva International Discussions. Mikheil Janelidze highlighted the need to achieve progress on such issues as the non-use of force, creation of international security mechanisms and return of refugees and internally displaced persons. The Minister emphasized the leading role of the Co-chairs in this regard. Mikheil spoke about the importance of the international community’s principled position on the illegal processes ongoing in Georgia’s occupied territories, as well as about the necessity of implementation of the ceasefire agreement by the Russian Federation. The Co-chairs highly assessed the Georgian Government’s peace policy and efforts towards the peaceful resolution of the conflict. For his part, the Minister thanked them for their contribution to the peacekeeping process.
