FM Darchiashvili Visits Finland

Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili is visiting Finland on March 12 and 13. During the visit he has already met with the President of Finland Alexander Stubb and the Minister of Foreign Affars of Finland Elina Valtonen.

Additional meetings are scheduled with the Minister of European Affairs of Finland Anders Adlercreutz, and representatives of the Grand Committee of Parliament.

Meeting with Finland’s President

The meeting of FM Darchiashvili with President Stubb took place on March 13, the Georgian Foreign Ministry reported.

According to the official press release of the Georgian MFA, the two sides discussed the partnership relations between Georgia and Finland, as well as the prospects for their future development.

The meeting focused on Georgia’s European integration process and Finland’s role in it.

FM Darchiashvili thanked President Stubb for his support of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also expressed his gratitude for then-Foreign Minister Stubb’s personal involvement in a “decisive moment” for Georgia in 2008 and his contribution to the peaceful resolution of the conflict.

“Delighted to commence my official visit to Finland by meeting President Alexander Stubb. We discussed the core aspects of global security challenges and accentuated the significance of maintaining regional security. I focused on Georgia’s role in this context. I also expressed gratitude for Finland’s staunch support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as for the country’s EU membership path,” FM Darchiashvili tweeted.

“A very good meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Ilia Darchiashvili today at the Presidential Palace. We discussed many topics, also recent history. In 2008, we should have seen what was coming. Let us not repeat our mistakes,” President Alexander Stubb tweeted.

Meeting with Finland’s Foreign Minister

FM Darchiashvili also met with his Finnish counterpart Elina Valtonen. During the meeting, the sides discussed the agenda of Finnish-Georgian relations with a special focus on business ties.

The meeting also focused on Georgia’s European integration process. FM Darchiashvili emphasized the importance of Finland’s support for Georgia in starting accession negotiations.

He also briefed his counterpart on the security, humanitarian and human rights situation in the occupied territories of Georgia. The two sides discussed the Geneva International Discussions and underlined the support of international partners for the peaceful resolution of the conflict.

FM Darchiashvili invited FM Valtonen to Georgia.

“During my visit to Finland, I had a very good meeting with my counterpart Elina Valtonen, addressing key issues of the bilateral agenda. We focused on the opportunities for enhancing relations between the two countries in various areas of mutual interest and agreed that commitment to strong diplomatic ties remains unwavering. I also briefed my colleague regarding Georgia’s plans on the EU accession path and highlighted the importance of Finland’s support in this process,” FM Darchiashvili tweeted.

“Glad to host my colleague, Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili in Helsinki. First meeting between Finland and Georgia after Georgia received the EU candidate country status. The work on necessary reforms continues, with Finland’s support. Happy to deepen our bilateral ties,” FM Valtonen tweeted.

More to follow…