2018-10-22
Today, Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze held a meeting with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See (Vatican), who is holding an official visit to Georgia.
As it was pointed out during the meeting, this visit by the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States will boost the productive cooperation between Georgia and the Holy See and will further deepen their centuries-old political and cultural ties.
Special emphasis was placed on the importance of developing economic ties, along with the areas of education, science, and culture.
It was also underlined that Georgia, as a Christian country with an ancient civilization and history implementing successful reforms across a variety of areas, enjoys immense support from European countries.
For his part, the Head of Government thanked the Holy See's Secretary for Relations with States for continuously expressing strong solidarity with Georgia and firmly supporting the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty. The parties discussed the dire situation in Georgia's occupied regions. As it was said during the meeting, the country's authorities remain committed to peacefully resolving the conflict with Russia.
As it was pointed out, the Russian Federation must fulfil all of its international obligations, including the ceasefire agreement, and the importance of its constructive engagement in the Geneva International Discussions was also underlined.
The Georgian Government's recently initiated and presented peace initiative A Step to a Better Future, which seeks to share the benefits of the country's European integration with the fellow compatriots in the occupied territories, was commended.
As it was specifically emphasized, European integration is the cornerstone of Georgia's foreign and domestic policies and the irreversible choice of the Georgian people.
The meeting at the Administration of the Government was attended by Georgia's Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani.
Prime Minister's Press Office