President Giorgi Margvelashvili and President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, October 2, 2017. Photo: president.gov.ge
“Ties between Europe’s westernmost and easternmost countries should further be strengthened,” President Giorgi Margvelashvili told his Portuguese counterpart Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa on October 2.
President Margvelashvili, who is on his first official visit to Portugal on October 1-3, spoke on the Portuguese-Georgian relations at his joint press conference with President Rebelo de Sousa following their meetings in bilateral and extended composition.
According to Margvelashvili, in the last 25 years, Portugal has been “a stable supporter” of Georgia’s EU and NATO aspirations, as well as its territorial integrity.
“I am confident that the potential that exists between our countries in the areas of economy, culture, science and tourism will be further extended with your visit to Georgia,” President Giorgi Margvelashvili noted, with his press office reporting that President Rebelo de Sousa accepted Margvelashvili’s invitation to Georgia.
The President’s press office also reported that Giorgi Margvelashvili briefed his counterpart on the situation in Georgia’s occupied regions, highlighting that the so called “border markers” and other artificial barriers on the occupation line pose serious problems to the local population.
The sides also discussed the process of Georgia’s EU and NATO integration and the importance of Portugal’s support to this end, as well as the upcoming Eastern Partnership and NATO summits.
As part of his visit to Portugal, President Giorgi Margvelashvili will also hold meetings with Prime Minister Antonio Costa and Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues, President of the National Assembly.
