Georgian PM Meets World’s Leaders in Munich

Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili (third from the left), Panel Discussion "The Fault Lines of Eurasia," February 18, 2017. Photo: Georgian PM’s Office

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili held several high level meetings on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, which gathered more than 500 decision-makers from across the globe on February 17-19, including more than 25 heads of state and government and 80 foreign and defense ministers.

On February 18 Georgia’s PM Kvirikashvili met U.S. Vice President Mike Pence.

According to the Georgian PM’s office, Mike Pence stressed Georgia’s “special contribution” to global security and emphasized that the new US Administration is ready to further its strategic partnership with the country. He also expressed hope to host the Georgian PM in the United States, according to the same source.

“Giorgi Kvirikashvili stated that Georgia, as a staunch partner and ally of the United States of America, values deeper strategic partnership with the U.S.,” the statement said. He also invited the Vice President to Georgia.

On February 18 Kvirikashvili also met with the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Fatou Bensouda, who is investigating the August 2008 war.

In late January 2016 the Hague-based court authorized its prosecutor to open investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in the lead up to, during, and after the August, 2008 war in Georgia.

The Georgian PM’s office said that Kvirikashvili reiterated Tbilisi’s “full and active support” to the investigation so that “that crimes against humanity, and other offenses – ethnic cleansing against Georgians, as well as the killings of Georgian prisoners of war – do not go unpunished.”

According to the Georgian PM’s office, ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda thanked the Georgian side for its “exceptional openness and active cooperation” and reiterated that, despite Russia’s reluctance to cooperate with the court, the investigation “will continue as usual.”

At the meeting with the UN Secretary General António Guterres on February 18 PM Kvirikashvili spoke on the human rights situation in the occupied territories of Georgia and expressed hope that the UN will “step up” its efforts in the process of peaceful conflict resolution.

According to the PM’s office, Kvirikashvili condemned the planned referendum in South Ossetia and called on the international community “to stand up to the provocative actions” of the Russian Federation.

Responding to the PM’s invitation, Antonio Guterres expressed his willingness to visit Georgia at his earliest convenience, the PM’s office also said.

On February 18 PM Kvirikashvili participated in a panel discussion “The Fault Lines of Eurasia,” where he talked on the security environment in Georgia, its Euro-Atlantic aspirations and approaches to conflict resolution.

“Georgia’s territorial integrity is violated, and two of our historic territories are occupied by Russia, but even against this backdrop, we try to stay consistent, first of all, with our foreign policy goals, and constructive to preparing ground for a long-term solution of our problems,” Giorgi Kvirikashvili stated in his opening remarks.

The Georgian PM emphasized that Georgia is “gradually becoming part of the European order,” but added that the regional cooperation, particularly with Turkey and Azerbaijan, remains important for the country.

Kvirikashvili also said that despite Georgia’s “very constructive and consistent approach and steps, especially starting from 2012,” the country has “absolutely no progress in political dimensions” with the Russian Federation.

Speaking on the country’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations, the Prime Minister stated that “NATO is something we believe we belong to and the European family is something we believe we belong to.”

“And we are very gradual, very consistent, but also very patient. And we believe that there will be, someday, a window of opportunity for Georgia, provided, that we stay consistent and dedicated on this path,” Kvirikashvili added. 

In Munich, PM Kvirikashvili, who is accompanied by Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze, Defense Minister Levan Izoria and PM’s Adviser for Foreign Relations Tedo Japaridze, also met Afghan and Estonian presidents, as well as his counterpart from Turkey, Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, EU Commissioner for Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič, Secretary General of the League of Arab States Ahmed Aboul-Gheit.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)