Georgian premier hails Turkiye’s ‘solid support’ for his country

By Handan Kazanci

ISTANBUL (AA) – The Georgian prime minister on Thursday praised Turkiye for the country's “solid support” to Georgia's “integrity and sovereignty.”

Following a meeting with Fatma Ceren Yazgan, Turkiye’s ambassador to Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili “expressed his gratitude to the Turkish side for the solid support of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia,” a statement by the Caucasus country’s Prime Ministry said.

Garibashvili also pointed out the “significant contribution” of Yazgan in developing the relations between the two countries, the statement added.

The meeting focused on “the strategic partnership between the two countries and positive trend of bilateral relations,” it noted.

“One of the topics discussed by the dignitaries was the opening of the Turkish sales market and import of high-quality medication with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) to Georgia, which will significantly and quickly drop prices on the pharmaceutical products in Georgia,” it added.

Garibashvili and Yazgan highlighted that “current regional projects between Georgia and Turkiye serve as a vivid example of effective strategic cooperation, solid development, and reliable partnership, which thereby leads to greater economic freedom, security, and sustainability.”

The Georgian prime minister noted that effective regional cooperation with neighboring countries is a road leading to security, stability, and sustainable development.

“Readiness was expressed towards further deepening cooperation, including towards political and economic directions,” the statement said.

Attention at the meeting was paid to the upcoming session of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. Future steps to be made towards concluding a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by and between Georgia and the Republic of Turkiye were also discussed at the meeting, it also said.

Garibashvili and Yazgan stressed that close cooperation between the two countries will remain high on the agenda in fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

Turkiye and Georgia “have exemplary relations and close cooperation on a wide range of areas from energy to trade and from economy to education and culture,” according to Turkiye's Foreign Ministry.

While Turkiye ranks the first biggest trade partner of Georgia with a bilateral trade volume of $1.85 billion in 2019, Turkish contracting firms have successfully completed 258 projects in the country, the ministry also noted.