2020-02-14
The growing role of Georgia in the architecture of European security and in the context of Black Sea security has come to light at the Munich Security Conference (MSC), Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia told the press while summarizing his meetings within the framework of the Munich Security Conference.
According to the Head of Government, a large delegation is participating in the conference, including Vice Prime Minister, Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani, Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani, and Defense Minister Irakli Garibashvili.
"We all have our own meeting schedules, and each member of the Government will make full use of these three days. MSC Chairman Wolfgang Ischinger, in his opening speech, spoke of Georgia by pointing out that the architecture of European security is unimaginable without Georgia's and Ukraine's security. And our meetings revolved around this very narrative and topic," Giorgi Gakharia stated.
According to the Prime Minister, the most important of these meetings was held with US Defense Secretary Mark Esper, during which bilateral security cooperation and joint defense projects were discussed in detail.
"In November of 2019, our joint programs with the US were updated. We also discussed Georgia's contribution to Afghanistan's and international security. It was a major meeting to plan our cooperation in the coming years-primarily in the dimensions of security and defense," the Prime Minister underlined.
According to Giorgi Gakharia, other important bilateral meetings focused mostly on Georgia's role in the architecture of European security.
"Georgia's growing role in the context of Black Sea security, and cybersecurity as well, is unmistakable today. Our responsibility is increasing, and Georgia must be a reliable and stable partner in these directions," Giorgi Gakharia said.
The Prime Minister also spoke about his recent meeting with the International Criminal Court's Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda which usually takes place every year during the Munich Security Conference.
According to the Head of Government, during the meeting he reiterated that it is crucial for the Georgian side that the ethnic cleansing against Georgians and catastrophic humanitarian offenses against citizens during the war in 2008 be investigated as expeditiously as possible.
"During the meeting, we emphasized how important to us is to ensure that these catastrophic offenses are investigated and verified by the International Court of Justice in the Hague as expeditiously as possible, and Georgia will do everything to prove a responsible partner in this direction," the Prime Minister emphasized.
Prime Minister's Press Office