Georgian PM to Meet Turkish Leadership in Istanbul

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili will meet his Turkish counterpart, Binali Yildirim and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during his one-day working visit to Turkey on December 20, according to the PM’s office.

A day earlier, PM Kvirikashvili condemned the assassination of Andrey Karlov, Russia’s Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey.

Georgia’s Prime Minister said in a statement issued late on December 19, that the world is witnessing an unprecedented level of “violence and confrontation” in the 21st century.

“It is with deep regret that I learned of the assassination of Andrey Karlov, Russia’s Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey,” Kvirikashvili said. “We stand by the civilized world, and we will never give in to this extreme brutality. Our goal is peace in the region, and we will spare no effort to promote stability and development,” the Prime Minister added.

In Istanbul, PM Kvirikashvili will participate in the opening ceremony of Istanbul’s Eurasia Tunnel, an underwater tunnel linking the city’s Asian and European sides.

The Georgian delegation also includes Economy Minister Giorgi Gakharia, Deputy Foreign Minister Davit Dondua and PM’s Adviser for Foreign Relations Tedo Japaridze.