The FINANCIAL — On 30 March 2016, UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Philip Hammond paid an official visit to Georgia. At the beginning of the visit, Philip Hammond paid tribute to the memory of those who died for the unity of Georgia and laid a wreath at the Fallen Heroes Memorial.
The meetings with Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Speaker of the Parliament David Usupashvili, members of the Parliament and Acting Foreign Minister David Jalagania were held, according to MFA of Georgia.
At the bilateral meeting, David Jalagania positively assessed the close partner relations established between Georgia and the United Kingdom in the political, trade-economic, defence, cultural, educational and other spheres and expressed the hope that the two countries will make maximum use of the existing potential of economic co-operation. The Acting Foreign Minister focused on the successful implementation of the “Wardrop dialogue” bilateral co-operation format and underlined the need to enhance the political dialogue.
Philip Hammond, in turn, stated that the UK considers Georgia to be an important international partner and a role model of success in the region. It was underlined that this visit is a clear demonstration of the UK’s support for Georgia and that the United Kingdom will continue supporting Georgia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, European and Euro-Atlantic integration. Philip Hammond, also, underlined that the countries like Georgia should have an opportunity to make its own sovereign choice without outside interference and noted that, given the current global challenges, the enhancement of security co-operation is of particular importance.
Philip Hammond together with Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili visited Rustavi, where the construction works of the BP South Caucasus Pipeline Expansion project are carried out. The UK Secretary of State expressed the hope that the largest British company that works in Georgia for more than 20 years will continue working in the region and will promote the enhancement of economic relations.
At the Forum of Young Politicians of the South Caucasus organised by the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) Philip Hammond addressed the attending audience.
The UK Secretary of State also visited the Oliver Wardrop (English diplomat, translator and traveller) Square, where a monument of Oliver and Marjory Wardrop is located.
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