Georgian, Hungarian PMs Sign Declaration on Strategic Partnership

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and his Hungarian counterpart, Viktor Orbán signed a declaration on 27 October on strategic partnership between the two countries and made official press statements.  

• 27/10/2022 – Prime Minister visits Hungary

PM Garibashvili’s Remarks

At the beginning of his speech, PM Garibashvili noted that the issues of cooperation in economic, trade, and energy spheres were discussed at the meeting, adding that the declaration on the strategic partnership “will give an additional impetus to Georgian-Hungarian relations.”   

Noting that “we are ready to further deepen sectoral cooperation”, the Georgian Prime Minister stressed that PM Orbán’s government “implemented a lot of successful reforms and policies with Georgia sharing a lot of its examples.” “We want to come closer in various directions,” he said.  

PM Garibashvili also focused on “very good cooperation” in the sphere of education and thanked the Hungarian PM for financing the studies of Georgian students in his country.  

Speaking about the European Council’s decision to grant a European perspective to Georgia, PM Garibashvili noted that “Georgia and Georgian people have always been committed to this civilized choice.” “We want to become a full-fledged, dignified member of the European family,” he added.  

In this context, the Georgian Prime Minister said that Georgia is “actively” working to fulfill the European Commission’s 12 recommendations. “We opened the door for all actors, from the civil society sector to opposition parties, to get involved in the process.” 

“On our part, we are doing and will do our utmost to ensure that Georgia receives the candidate status as soon as possible and that our country comes closer to Europe and European structures,” Garibashvili said.  

Speaking about Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations, the Prime Minister noted that “not only we are articulating our desires with words, but we have proved with our actions that we want to make our contribution to this large family.”  

“We have made a huge sacrifice to NATO missions in Iraq and Afghanistan; we are participating in the EU missions in the Central African Republic, and we will definitely continue it,” PM Garibashvili said, adding that “this is our ultimate goal to become an EU and NATO member.”  

He also noted that “today we live in difficult times. Governments and rulers have assumed a huge responsibility before their respective countries and peoples.” Reiterating his “huge respect” towards the Hungarian PM and his policy, the Georgian Prime Minister emphasized that “we are doing our utmost to defend our countries and protect the interests of our people.”  

PM Garibashvili also spoke about the war in Ukraine, denouncing it as “absolutely unacceptable.” “We want this war to be completed as soon as possible,” he added.  

In the end, he welcomed his Hungarian counterpart’s initiative to hold a joint intergovernmental meeting in Tbilisi, saying “we will be glad to host the Prime Minister in Georgia.”   

Viktor Orbán’s Remarks

During his address, Prime Minister Orbán brought attention to the energy crisis in Europe and stated only an increased supply could drive prices down. Hungary “is fighting against inflation for which high energy prices are responsible to a considerable extent,” he said.

The Hungarian PM revealed that “an overarching new energy cooperation scheme is in the making,” with Hungary intent on creating an “enormous new electricity network,” bringing energy from Azerbaijan to Hungary via Georgia and Romania.

According to the PM, the new supply of energy would allow Hungary to replace a large quantity of natural gas that is currently being used to generate electricity.

Bringing attention to Georgia’s European aspirations, Prime Minister Orbán also emphasized that a “very poor, discriminatory decision” was made by Brussels when it chose to grant EU candidate status to Moldova and Ukraine, but not to Georgia. “This is an inexplicable, morally unacceptable, and also, harmful decision,” he stressed and added that Georgia has “earned” candidate status.

Prime Minister Orbán denoted that Hungary continues to support Georgia being granted candidate status in the “shortest possible time” and said that it will provide experts to Georgia to assist them with the preparations for the negotiations with the EU.

On the Ukraine War, Prime Minister Orbán also said Hungarians “want an immediate ceasefire and peace talks, and this is very similar to Georgia’s approach.”

Note: This article was updated on 28 October at 13:53 to reflect PM Orbán’s remarks.

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