- Slovakia clearly supports the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia.
- Pellegrini emphasized that the continuation of accession negotiations to the European Union is a sovereign decision of the country.
- Kavelashvili declared that Georgia must protect national interests and demanded fair negotiations.
Slovakia fully respects the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders. This was announced by Slovak President Peter Pellegrini at a joint statement after receiving Georgian President Mikhail Kavelashvili in the Presidential Palace.
According to Pellegrini, it must be respected that the continuation of negotiations on joining the EU is a sovereign decision of each country. Kavelashvili recalled that Georgia supports the original values of the EU when it was founded, it was a peaceful idea, but currently, according to him, the European bureaucracy makes mistakes. According to him, Georgia must support its national interests and do everything for fair negotiations.
“Bratislava is a place that should be used for meaningful dialogue with partners from all over the world. As part of the Slovak diplomacy’s efforts to have correct relations with all four countries, I am very happy that today we can welcome the Georgian president to the territory of Slovakia and speak very openly, without any diplomatic scruples, about the view of the development of domestic politics, but also of world politics here and in Georgia,” stated Pellegrini. According to him, both countries have a common vision, which is the protection of stability and national interests.
According to the Slovak head of state, it must be respected that it is the sovereign decision of any country when it decides to continue accession negotiations to the Union and how it sees itself in the future within the European perspective. Pellegrini declared that they also spoke very openly about this topic. He assured the Georgian president that by joining the EU, Slovakia became part of the large single European market and part of the developed western countries of the world.
“When the EU was founded, it was a peaceful idea, economic cooperation and mutual respect were supposed to develop, but the European bureaucracy is currently making mistakes. We support the original values. We heard what the negotiations on joining the EU were like from the side of Slovakia and the EU. We must support our national interests, do everything to ensure that the principles of mutual respect are observed, that these are fair negotiations. However, this process also needs a second partner,” Kavelashvili declared.
According to its president, Georgia was under pressure to impose sanctions against Russia and under pressure from the EU to send volunteers to Ukraine. He pointed to the need to adhere to the peace policy and continue peace negotiations.
Pellegrini emphasized that bilateral contacts at the political level between Slovakia and Georgia are intensifying. The partners appreciated that since January there has been an air connection between Bratislava and the Georgian city of Kutaisi. “Mutual trade between Slovakia and Georgia is growing, but it must be said openly that its potential is still underutilized.” thinks the Slovak president. According to him, Slovakia can offer Georgia experience especially in green technologies, water management and infrastructure projects. He also encouraged entrepreneurs to invest more in the region of Georgia.
According to Pellegrini, Slovakia has so far implemented almost 80 projects worth almost three million euros in Georgia as part of international development aid. He reminded that students from Georgia study at Slovak universities and receive Slovak government scholarships. “There will be a further increase in these grants this year,” informed Pellegrini.
“The connectivity of individual parts of the world is a big and growing priority. That is why Slovakia participates in the European Global Gateway initiative and our interest is to build infrastructure,” declared the President of the Slovak Republic, saying that Georgia is strategically on the route of connecting Asia and Europe, mainly in the field of transport infrastructure, but also in the planned infrastructure projects of energy import.
Both agreed on the need for an accelerated diplomatic solution to the war in Ukraine. Pellegrini believes that the international community will also strive for a diplomatic end to the war in the Persian Gulf as soon as possible. Kavelashvili invited the President of the Slovak Republic to visit Georgia. He considers Slovakia a close friend of his country. “Our government is starting to cooperate more closely with Slovakia in various areas,” informed that it is about culture, education, but also the field of economy and defense.
During his official visit to Slovakia, the President of Georgia will also hold talks with the Chairman of the National Council of the Slovak Republic Richard Raši (Hlas-SD) at the Bratislava Castle, and he will hold talks with Minister of Economy Denisa Sakova (Hlas-SD) at the Government Office. In the afternoon, Pellegrini together with Kavelashvili will lay wreaths at the Brána sloboda monument in Bratislava’s Devín. TASR offers an audio recording of the report.
