The FINANCIAL — On 9-10 November 2015, Georgian First Deputy Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze paid a working visit to the Hellenic Republic, according to MFA of Georgia.
In the frames of the visit, Mikheil Janelidze together with State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration David Bakradze met Speaker of the Greek Parliament Nikos Voutsis.
Discussions focused on the importance of the intensification of the inter-parliamentary relations. Nikos Voutsis underlined that creation of the parliamentary friendship groups – including the Greece-Georgia parliamentary friendship group – at the Greek Parliament is underway. It should be noted that on 9 November the Greek Parliament’s Standing Committee on National Defence and Foreign Affairs approved the issue of ratification of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Georgia by a majority of votes. The Speaker of the Greek Parliament informed the Georgian side that the Parliament will finally ratify the document during the next plenary session.
In the frames of the visit to Greece, the Georgian First Deputy Foreign Minister also met Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Mardas, Deputy Minister of Economy, Development and Tourism Alexis Haritsis and the representatives of the big business groups.
During the meeting at the Greek Foreign Ministry, the sides underlined the historical and friendly relations between Georgia and Greece and discussed the prospects for enhancing bilateral relations in political, economic and other sectoral directions. The sides agreed that the next round of bilateral political consultations between the Georgian and Greek Foreign Ministries will be held in the first half of 2016. Dimitris Mardas reaffirmed his support for Georgia’s territorial integrity and for the country’s European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations. The Greek Deputy Foreign Minister also expressed Greece’s strong support for the ratification of the Georgia-EU Association Agreement and for the Visa Liberalisation process.
At the meeting with the Deputy Minister of Economy, Development and Tourism, particular emphasis was put on the need to enhance economic relations and on the opportunities of increasing bilateral trade, attracting investments and intensifying co-operation in the field of tourism, particularly against the background of deep and comprehensive free trade area. Alexis Haritsis welcomed the Georgian side’s offer to share experience in the implementation of reforms and to exchange information regarding the integration with the European Union’s internal market.
During the meeting with UNESCO goodwill ambassador, founder of the “Marianna Vardinoyannis Foundation” and President of the “Elpida” Children’s Oncology Hospital Marianna Vardinoyannis, Mikheil Janelidze informed her on the “Solidarity Fund of Georgia,” founded at the initiative of Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and expressed the readiness to facilitate the establishment of co-operation between the two foundations in terms of children’s cancer treatment and financing.
The Georgian First Deputy Foreign Minister invited Marianna Vardinoyannis to attend the Tbilisi International Solidarity and Innovative Financing Forum due to be held on 16-18 December 2015.
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