Head of Georgian Church: ‘Our European Choice is Very Firm’

The head of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Ilia II, said on May 19 that Georgia’s European choice is “very firm” and the country will “definitely achieve it.”

He made the remarks at a meeting with Austrian President Heinz Fischer, who is on an official visit to Georgia on May 18-19. President Fischer also met his Georgian counterpart Giorgi Margvelashvili and PM Irakli Garibashvili.

“Georgia has chosen the European path,” the Patriarch told the Austrian President. “Our choice is very firm and we will definitely achieve it.”

He also said that “relations between Georgia and Russia, between the Georgian and Russian [Orthodox] Churches are difficult.”

Patriarch Ilia II said that he spoke about the importance of good neighborly relations with Russia during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in January, 2013.

“I think Russia does not need Abkhazia, what Russia needs is peace in Georgia,” the head of the Georgian Orthodox Church said.

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