2016-07-19
As a Prime Minister, I would like to thank Georgian people for supporting the state of Turkey and Turkish people, - respective statement was made by the Prime Minister of Turkey Binali Yildirim during the joint press conference with the Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili.
He thanked the head of the Government of Georgia for the visit and assessed this step as a gesture of great support demonstrated on the part of Georgia. According to Binali Yildirim, Prime Minister of Georgia expressed his firm support to the Turkish people during the very first few hours of the coup.
Pursuant to the Prime Minister of Turkey, country is ready to deepen relations with Georgia and support extension of the strategic partnership.
"Visit of the Prime Minister of Georgia is the indicator of the potential that exists in terms of relations of the two country. We were given an opportunity of establish high-level Strategic Cooperation Council. The agreement signed today moves our relations to the next level. This visit is very important to us. It is a clear indication of the Georgian people's support to the Turkish nation in the context of the recent developments that we witnessed," - Binali Yildirim stated.
According to him, prospects of developing the investment potential, planned and future projects as well as historic Silk Road Project were the main conversation topics during the meeting with his Georgian counterpart.
"Turkey and Georgia share historical ties. We have moved to the strategic cooperation level. Our cooperation is also interesting in view of European integration processes. However, most important is our success in the bilateral relations. Georgia has marked 25th anniversary since regaining independence - this is the period of the transformation of the country. Georgia has taken important steps and today it is among the developed, democratic countries. This progress is closely related to my colleague and his team," - Prime Minister of Turkey indicated.
He reasserted Turkey's support to the Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity and underlined that Turkey welcomes Georgia becoming the member of NATO.
Prime Minister of Georgia also delivered a speech. He thanked his Turkish counterpart for the warm welcome and noted that stability and democratic development of Turkey is vitally important to Georgia as well.
"Prime Minister of Turkey indicated our phone conversation, when we discussed and agreed to conduct the visit on the previously scheduled date. Prior to this communication and before the attempted coup was terminated, I made a statement in support of the Government of Turkey. This statement was not based solely on personal friendship - this was rather an indication of the importance of further development of stable, democratic Turkey for ensuring regional stability - this is important to Georgia as well. Stable and strong Turkey is vitally important. On behalf of the Government of Georgia, I would like to strictly condemn recently occurred attempted coup and express full support to the lawfully and democratically elected Government," - Prime Minister stated.
According to him, today's meeting demonstrated that political will of the two countries to expand strategic partnership is strong. Giorgi Kvirikashvili also elaborated on the importance of high-level Strategic Partnership Council. He expressed hope that the said format will enable deepening of the political dialogue and promotion of mutual interests.
Pursuant to Giorgi Kvirikashvili, the parties to the meeting addressed all the areas of cooperation and elaborated on the prospects of further development of the collaboration.
"We paid particular attention to the cooperation in the areas of trade and economy, transportation and energy. We outlined the need of further activation of bilateral trade, since part of the existing potential remains unutilized. We are interested in extension of the Free Trade Agreement and increase Georgian export to the Turkish market. Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will become operative in the near future - it will further increase competitiveness of the Europe-Asian transportation corridor. It will create additional possibilities for our countries. We expressed readiness to continue close collaboration for the purpose of implementation of the projects related to the South Energy Corridor and transportation of the Caspian Sea energy resources to the West. We commended our close cooperation across various areas, including culture, environmental protection and customs. We discussed the need for further amelioration of the bilateral legislative base," - Prime Minister indicated during the press conference.
According to the information provided by the head of the Government of Georgia, the conversation also touched the situation in the region as developments in the occupied territories of Georgia.
"The situation in the occupied territories of Georgia - Abkhazia and Samachablo regions - is the greatest challenge faced by our country. Rights of the ethnic Georgians residing in these regions are grossly violated on a daily basis. Freedom of movement, right to own property, obtaining education in their mother tongue, right to life are being restricted," - Prime Minister of Georgia indicated.
Prime Minister's Press Office