Āboltiņa meets with Saakashvili and confirms Latvia’s support for Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration

(30.05.2012.)
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On Tuesday, 29 May, Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, held a meeting with Mikheil Saakashvili, President of Georgia, during which she stressed that Latvia is Georgia’s trustworthy ally in its quest for integration into NATO and the European Union.

“Latvia is Georgia’s friend. As a member state of the European Union and NATO, we have consistently supported Georgia as it seeks to join these Euro-Atlantic organisations, and Georgia can rely on our support in the future as well,” attested the Speaker during the meeting, adding that the recent NATO Summit in Chicago confirmed that the Alliance is open to eventual membership of Georgia and other countries. The Georgian President thanked Latvia for its support and expressed his gratification at the Summit’s outcome.

Speaker Āboltiņa commended Georgia’s achievements in domestic reforms, including those related to combating corruption and facilitating economic development. “We will do our utmost to make sure that this progress is recognised by the European Union,” said the Speaker of the Saeima.

In discussing the dynamics in bilateral relations, Āboltiņa mentioned the excellent parliamentary contacts characterised by a regular visit exchange of parliamentary friendship groups and committees. “My first foreign visit after re-election as the Speaker was to Georgia,” emphasised Solvita Āboltiņa.

During the meeting, both sides agreed that the excellent political relations between Georgia and Latvia should be used to foster economic cooperation of the two countries, a sphere which still has considerable unused potential. “We have all the prerequisites for that – a streamlined legal framework, good people-to-people contacts and active embassies in Riga and Tbilisi,” said the Speaker, expressing her gratification that the Georgian President is accompanied by a delegation of businessmen.


Photos from the meeting are available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/saeima/sets/72157629952322060/with/7295047516/
Video from the meeting is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQptny7wmMg&list=UUdQ1YxaZG3i7ygGCdU8mPKQ&index=1&feature=plcp
When using the material, please give credit to the Saeima Chancellery.

Saeima Press Service

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