The Presidents of Georgia and Serbia Hold a Joint Briefing

Following the meeting between the President of Georgia, Mikheil Kavelashvili, and the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, a joint briefing was held.

Mikheil Kavelashvili expressed his gratitude to the President of Serbia for the invitation and noted that, over the 30 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, this was the first visit conducted at the presidential level.

"Mr. President, I extend my greetings to you and to the members of the delegation. Ladies and gentlemen, first and foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to President Vučić for inviting me to this beautiful country - a country that is dear to us, to the Georgian people.

I am pleased to be in Belgrade, in the Republic of Serbia, today, and I deeply appreciate the warm hospitality you have extended to me, Mr. President.

The history of diplomatic relations between our countries spans 30 years, and it is noteworthy that this marks my first visit at the presidential level, which is particularly significant. I hope that the relations you referred to will become even closer. You also mentioned that a meeting of the joint commission on trade and economic issues is planned in the near future. I am confident that many important matters of mutual interest to both countries will be discussed. We also addressed cooperation in the field of education, as well as engagement between young people.

It is essential to refer to the experience that both of us have accumulated in relation to our respective engagements with the European Union. Both our society and the international community are aware that the current state of relations between Georgia and the European Union is not particularly favorable. This is because we believe - speaking frankly - that the approach often adopted by leaders of the European bureaucracy toward our country is unfair and frequently characterized by double standards. This, of course, is not unfamiliar to our friendly country, the Republic of Serbia.

We are a peaceful country. There is scarcely a month in which Georgia does not feature in international rankings concerning development, covering areas such as the economy, transparency, the judiciary, and more. Therefore, we hope that the European bureaucracy will reflect the fairness inherent in the Europe of which both we and the Serbian people are a part. Europe has always been an attractive model for all countries; its history provides both the possibility and the expectation of a different approach. Our aspiration to become members of the European Union is fundamentally grounded in these principles of justice and the values that have been cultivated in Europe over centuries. Accordingly, we hope that these principles will be restored, that Europe and its peoples will reaffirm these fundamental values, and that Europe will once again become a strong and attractive region. We are always ready to cooperate, and dialogue remains one of the most important issues in our engagement with the European Union - an engagement for which we are consistently prepared.

This was a brief overview to ensure that the Serbian public is aware of our stance toward the European Union - a stance grounded in fairness and an openness to always pursue greater progress in relations between our country and European nations," stated Mikheil Kavelashvili.

During his remarks, President Kavelashvili also emphasized that Georgia and Serbia share common faith and values.

"Regarding Serbia and Georgia, we share fundamental values, particularly our Christian, Orthodox faith, which holds great significance for both Georgians and Serbs. Today, I will have the opportunity to visit the Holy Church in Belgrade and to meet His Holiness, the Patriarch. This is of profound importance to our peoples, as we hold our faith in the highest regard. I am confident that those of us who serve our homelands today - both Serbs and Georgians in positions of leadership - must do everything possible to strengthen the ties between our countries, fostering closer and more substantive cooperation, as there are numerous points of connection between us.

You mentioned several new initiatives, which I am confident will gain even greater traction once I discuss them with my team and the Georgian authorities. Our conversation also touched upon arms production and the agricultural sector. Georgia is widely recognized as an important region for agriculture, both geographically and topographically. The country possesses all the necessary conditions for producing healthy, high-quality products, and this was a key point of our discussion. I am confident that our collaborative efforts will allow Serbs and Georgians to achieve significant success in the agricultural sector," emphasized Mikheil Kavelashvili.

According to Mikheil Kavelashvili, since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, Georgia has faced intense pressure to become involved in the conflict and has maintained a notably principled stance throughout this process.

"As you are aware, since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, Georgia has faced significant pressure. There were attempts to draw our country into the conflict, but we defended our national interests and principles. We have considerable experience in dealing with military tensions with our northern neighbor, and throughout this period, we have maintained a principled stance - one that is now critically important for all nations that value peace in today's challenging environment. I am confident that this initiative, which we have consistently and resolutely upheld, will garner the support of more countries and help foster peace worldwide. This is of profound significance for our region," highlighted Mikheil Kavelashvili.

"As you know, our region has faced periods of tension, including armed conflicts between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which are now nearing resolution. The South Caucasus remains a key region connecting East and West. It is important to note that Serbia will also have significant opportunities in relation to this corridor. Through the Black Sea, we aim to strengthen our ties with the countries of the Balkans. These bilateral relations will enable a broader range of issues to be addressed on our agenda, and I am confident that, following today's productive discussions, our respective sectors and ministries will continue to engage more closely, further developing the relations between our countries.

Respect for Serbia's territorial integrity is of profound importance to us, and we hold it in the highest regard. You mentioned the UN resolutions, and I would like to sincerely thank you for supporting the protection of Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, and for standing alongside us. Georgia shares a similar stance toward Serbia, which we value greatly. Once again, I wish to express my satisfaction at being here with my delegation, to extend my greetings to the Serbian people, and to convey the regards of the Georgian population, who hold the Serbian people in deep affection. I would also like to take this opportunity to invite you to Georgia next year. I am confident that you will accept our invitation and that our bilateral relations will be further strengthened. Thank you very much," stated Mikheil Kavelashvili.