Kavelashvili, Botchorishvili Attend 80th UN General Assembly in New York
Georgian Dream–elected President Mikheil Kavelashvili, together with GD Minister of Foreign Affairs Maka Botchorishvili, is attending the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where they arrived on September 22.
Kavelashvili will deliver a speech to the General Assembly, expected to be in Georgian. He is also scheduled to meet with the UN secretary-general and hold several high-level meetings. In addition, Kavelashvili has been invited to attend an official dinner hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.
“Altogether, this week is extremely important,” Georgia’s Ambassador to the United States, Tamar Taliashvili, told Georgian reporters. “The key words throughout this week will be peace, international order, and stability.”
The Georgian delegation also includes Davit Bakradze, the country’s permanent representative to the UN, Ketevan Kvinikadze, head of Kavelashvili’s presidential administration, and Mikheil Sarjveladze, the GD Minister of Health.
On September 22, Georgia joined 50 countries in condemning Russia’s violation of Estonian airspace in a joint statement delivered at a UN Security Council meeting.
Maka Botchorishvili’s Meetings
During the visit, Georgian Dream Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili held several high-level meetings, including with her counterparts from Slovakia, Vietnam, Greece, the United Arab Emirates, Croatia, France, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Hungary.
Meeting with the Slovak Foreign Minister
Botchorishvili met with her Slovak counterpart, Juraj Blanár, the Georgian Foreign Ministry reported on September 22, noting the two discussed cooperation in both bilateral and multilateral formats.
“The special attention was paid to the importance of friendly relations and political dialogue between the countries, as well as the perspectives of trade and economic cooperation,” the MFA press release said. It added that the ministers also discussed the regional security environment and challenges, with a focus on the situation in Georgia’s occupied territories.
The press release also said the talks touched on Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration, noting that “Maka Botchorishvili outlined Georgia’s foreign policy priorities and thanked her Slovak counterpart for his support.”
“On the sidelines of UNGA80, had a meaningful conversation with Georgia’s good friend Slovak FM Juraj Blanár. We discussed strengthening Georgia-Slovakia bilateral relations & the importance of Georgia’s EU path. Slovakia’s consistent and principled support for Georgia is deeply valued,” Botchorishvili posted on X:
Meeting with the Vietnamese Foreign Minister
Botchorishvili also met with Le Hoai Trung, acting foreign minister of Vietnam, the Georgian Foreign Ministry reported on Sept. 22.
“During the meeting, the sides discussed possible directions of cooperation in various fields, especially in trade, investment, tourism and logistics,” the ministry’s press release said. The ministry also stressed the planned opening of a Georgian Embassy in Vietnam “in the near future,” which it said would “support the development of relations between the two countries.”
“I had a productive meeting with my Vietnamese counterpart Le Huai Trung. We reaffirmed our commitment to advancing Georgia-Vietnam relations and explored new ways for cooperation in trade, economy, culture & beyond. I look forward to seeing our partnership grow stronger,” Botchorishvili wrote on X:
Meeting with the Greek Foreign Minister
Botchorishvili also met with her Greek counterpart, Giorgos Gerapetritis, the Georgian Foreign Ministry reported on Sept. 22, saying the sides “discussed cooperation between the two countries as well as their historic ties and emphasized the importance of strengthening political dialogue.”
“During the meeting, they discussed regional security challenges, including in the European security context, and highlighted the importance of cooperation,” the ministry’s press release said. “The talks also touched on Georgia-EU relations and the necessity of dialogue in the European integration process.”
Botchorishvili thanked her counterpart for “firmly supporting” Georgia, with both sides expressing readiness for future cooperation, according to the ministry.
“Delighted to meet Greece FM George Gerapetritis during UNGA80. We discussed key aspects of our bilateral relations rooted in millennia-old ties and deep cultural closeness. We underlined the importance of Georgia’s EU path and the essential role of dialogue in this process,” Botchorishvili wrote on X.
“On EU-Georgia relations, Greek FM stressed that Georgia’s European perspective must be secured, while emphasizing the importance of full respect of EU acquis,” the Greek Foreign Ministry wrote on X.
Meeting with the UAE Foreign Minister
Maka Botchorishvili also met with Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the United Arab Emirates foreign minister and deputy prime minister, though the Foreign Ministry has not yet issued an official press release about the meeting, which came days after she attended Bidzina Ivanishvili’s meeting with the UAE president in Tbilisi.
“Delighted to meet UAE Deputy PM H.H. ABZayed. We’re committed to developing strong relations with UAE, especially in the economic field. Attracting UAE investments will further strengthen cooperation between Georgia-UAE and benefit the broader region,” Botchorisvhili wrote on X.
Meeting with the Croatian Foreign Minister
Botchorishvili also met with her Croatian counterpart, Gordan Grlić Radman, as the two “underscored the close and friendly relations” between their countries, “which significantly contribute to the consolidation of fruitful bilateral cooperation,” the Georgian Foreign Ministry reported on September 23.
According to the ministry press release, the discussions “also touched upon Georgia’s process of integration into the European Union, with particular emphasis placed on the importance of dialogue in advancing this process.” Maka Botchorishvili thanked her Croatian counterpart for “continued support of Georgia’s European integration aspirations.”
“We had an excellent exchange on strengthening Georgia-Croatia ties, boosting our cooperation, regional security, and Georgia’s EU path. Deeply grateful for Croatia’s unwavering friendship and support,” Botchorishvili wrote on X.
Meeting with the French Foreign Minister
Maka Botchorishvili also met with Jean-Noël Barrot, France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
The ministers also discussed Georgia’s European integration, with the talks noting “optimism that relations with the European Union will soon return to their regular course.” The significance of France’s support for this process was particularly underlined, according to the Georgian Foreign Ministry press release.
The two also discussed regional security challenges, including Russia’s occupation of Georgian territories. Botchorishvili thanked Barrot for France’s steadfast support of Georgia in international formats. The meeting further reviewed prospects for bilateral cooperation across various sectors, the ministry said.
“I had the pleasure of meeting with France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, in New York. We held a thoughtful exchange on the cooperation between Georgia and France, the importance of continued dialogue, and Georgia’s path toward EU integration, highlighting France’s vital support in this process,” Botchorishvili wrote on X.
Meeting with the Serbian Foreign Minister
Botchorishvili also met with Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Đurić.
The two ministers discussed the “friendly relations” between Georgia and Serbia and their cooperation in bilateral and multilateral formats. They devoted “special attention” to prospects for developing trade and economic ties, “positively assessed” the launch of direct flights between the two countries, and welcomed Serbia’s decision to open an embassy in Tbilisi. Both expressed readiness to “work actively toward further advancing and expanding cooperation across various fields,” the Georgian Foreign Ministry said in a September 23 press release.
“We discussed the friendly Georgia-Serbia partnership and explored ways to strengthen economic and sectoral cooperation. Welcomed Serbia’s plan to open an embassy in Tbilisi – a promising step toward deepening our ties,” Botchorishvili wrote on X.
Meeting with the Bulgarian Foreign Minister
During Botchorishvili’s meeting with Bulgarian FM Georg Georgiev, the sides discussed “the role of the Black Sea not only in terms of security but also as a platform for cooperation in the fields of transport, communications and energy,” according to the Georgian Foreign Ministry.
The September 23 press release added that “discussions further addressed Georgia’s process of integration into the European Union, the challenges encountered in this regard, and the importance of continued support from partners for Georgia’s foreign policy priorities.”
“We reaffirmed the strong ties between Georgia and Bulgaria and discussed advancing regional cooperation in the Black Sea region, with a focus on transport, energy, and communications,” Botchorishvili wrote on X.
Meeting with the Hungarian Foreign Minister
On September 23, the Georgian Foreign Ministry also reported on Botchorishvili’s meeting with Hungarian FM Péter Szijjártó.
“The ministers discussed current issues of bilateral relations and the close cooperation between Georgia and Hungary, which is characterized by the nature of a strategic partnership,” the MFA press release said.
“The meeting also addressed relations with the European Union and matters related to Georgia’s European integration process,” the press release added, noting Botchorishvili’s gratitude to her counterpart “for supporting Georgia’s European aspirations at both the political and practical-expert levels,” stressing, “It was emphasized that the two sides will continue their joint efforts in this direction.”
“Always happy to meet my Hungarian counterpart Péter Szijjártó. Grateful for Hungary’s consistent and practical support for Georgia’s European path. We reaffirmed our strategic partnership and discussed ways to deepen cooperation across a wide range of sectors,” Botchorishvili wrote on X.
Meeting with the Council of Europe Secretary General
On September 24, the Georgian Foreign Ministry reported on a meeting between Botchorishvili and Council of Europe Secretary-General Alain Berset.
According to the ministry’s press release, the two discussed, among others, “the ongoing internal political situation in the country [Georgia] and the scheduled October 4 local elections.” At the end of the meeting, they “reaffirmed readiness to continue close cooperation.”
Meeting with the Belarusian Foreign Minister
The meeting between Maka Botchorishvili and Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov was first reported by Belarus’ Belta agency on September 25, with the Georgian Foreign Ministry releasing its report later.
According to Belta, “the parties discussed interaction in trade, economy, humanitarian affairs, culture, and other areas.” The Georgian Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, said the talks also focused on “Russia’s occupation of Georgian regions and the importance of supporting Georgia’s territorial integrity.”
Meeting with the Swiss Foreign Minister
On September 24, Georgia’s Foreign Ministry reported on Maka Botchorishvili’s meeting with Ignazio Cassis, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland.
According to the MFA press release, the two ministers discussed the regional security environment, with particular emphasis on the situation in Georgia’s occupied territories and Switzerland’s role as a mediator in relations with Russia. “The parties also addressed Switzerland’s priorities for its forthcoming OSCE chairmanship and the current issues of cooperation with Georgia,” the statement said.
The talks also covered Georgia’s domestic political situation, its relations with the EU and neighboring states, and its trade and economic partnerships, the release said, adding that Cassis expressed readiness to visit Georgia “in the near future.”
Mikheil Kavelashvili’s Meetings
Mikheil Kavelashvili, together with a Georgian Dream delegation, attended the opening of the general debate at the 80th session of the UNGA on September 23, Kavelashvili’s office reported.
He also joined the session’s official opening ceremony, hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, where he posed for a group photo with fellow heads of state and government.
On September 24, Mikheil Kavelashvili wrote on social media about his exchange with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick during a dinner hosted by President Donald Trump. “Our communication was friendly,” he wrote on X, posting a photo with Lutnick.
“I conveyed to him the message of the Georgian people, namely that the current administration’s silence with respect to Georgia raises questions within our society. This is particularly noteworthy given the value-based alignment between our government and the Trump administration on fundamental issues,” he said, adding, “Howard Lutnick assured me that he would duly convey my views to members of the administration.”
At the end of the UNGA, the Georgian Public Broadcaster aired Kavelashvili’s comment saying that he also spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump during the dinner. “I told him it was time to rebuild our relationship, and he said he would look into the matter,” Kavelashvili said, adding, “Let’s wait and see what his response will be.”
Kavelashvili later posted a photo on September 27 with Donald Trump and Melania Trump from the dinner, in which the two presidents can be seen giving a thumbs-up to the camera.
On September 24, Kavelashvili’s office reported on his meetings with his counterparts from Slovakia and Serbia.
Meeting with the President of Slovakia
During the meeting between Kavelashvili and Slovak President Peter Pellegrini, “the parties discussed the main areas of bilateral cooperation and prospects for further deepening the relations between their countries,” Kavelashvili’s office reported on September 24.
“It was noted at the meeting that bilateral cooperation between Georgia and Slovakia is grounded in the longstanding ties between their peoples, shared values, and mutual respect for each country’s national interests, providing a solid foundation for the further development of relations,” the press release noted, adding, “The significance of enhancing economic ties and sectoral cooperation was also emphasized.”
Kavelashvili thanked Pellegrini for Slovakia’s support for Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Meeting with the President of Serbia
During Kavelashvili’s meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, the two discussed bilateral cooperation and prospects for its further deepening, according to a September 24 press release from Kavelashvili’s office.
“Attention was also given to the challenges facing both countries and the international community,” the statement said, adding that the leaders noted the “increasingly dynamic” cooperation between Georgia and Serbia in recent times.
Both invited each other to visit their respective countries and reaffirmed “their mutual support for the territorial integrity of both countries,” the press release added.
On September 25, DC correspondent Alex Raufoglu reported on a Transatlantic Dinner in New York, hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to conclude his UNGA trip, with 40 countries participating, including all of Georgia’s southern neighbors. Georgia was absent from the list.
On September 25, Mikheil Kavelashvili delivered his speech to the UN General Assembly in Georgian, advocating for a transition to a “multipolar international order,” lauding Georgia’s “pragmatic foreign policy,” highlighting the country’s role in the Middle Corridor, and warning against being addressed “in the language of ultimatums, blackmail, or intimidation.” [Read the full report here]
At the end of the session, Mikheil Kavelashvili shared a photo with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, saying, “Our meeting focused on the significance of peace and sustainable development, and I highlighted Georgia’s role in advancing peace and stability in the South Caucasus region.”
“The Secretary-General conveyed his appreciation, noting that Georgia has demonstrated resilience under considerable pressure,” Kavelashvili added.
Also Read:
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- 26/09/2024 – PM Kobakhidze’s UNGA Speech Does Not Mention Russia While Addressing Occupation
- 23/09/2023 – PM Garibashvili’s Speech at 78th UNGA Session
- 22/09/2023 – Georgian Delegation Headed by PM Garibashvili Attends UNGA Session
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