Zourabichvili: Georgia–Ukraine relations going back to normal

Zourabichvili made a corresponding statement following the talks with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The President of Georgia is making a state visit to Ukraine today for the first time after a 15-year break, she noted. Zourabichvili reminded that she was present at the inauguration of President Zelensky and that day was memorable for her. At the same time, she noted that, unfortunately, some time was lost afterwards which "we should have used to deepen relations between our countries and strengthen our common goals of NATO and EU membership."

"Today is our official meeting. I am very grateful for it and I believe that the presidents of both countries should be careful about our relations. Our relations are going back to normal based on two main principles: age-old friendship between peoples and constant support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our countries," Zourabichvili said.

She added that today Ukraine and Georgia were united not only by age-old friendship but also by parallel tasks and common goals: de-occupation of the territories of both countries, path towards the EU and NATO, and strengthening bilateral and regional cooperation.

Zourabichvili also pointed out the importance of moving to a new level of relations between Georgia and Ukraine. According to her, all institutional frameworks of cooperation have been created between the countries and more than one declaration has been signed.

"But statements and documents are not everything, the main thing is the specifics, the content of these relations and their intensification and revival of existing formats of cooperation," said the President of Georgia.

As reported, on May 7, 2020, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky appointed former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili as the head of the executive committee of the National Reforms Council.

On May 8, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia David Zalkaliani said that, according to a Georgian government decision, Georgia's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Ukraine Teimuraz Sharashenidze would be summoned for consultations in Tbilisi after Saakashvili was appointed head of the executive committee of the National Reforms Council on May 7.

During a speech in the Parliament of Georgia on April 9, President Salome Zourabichvili called for the immediate return to Kyiv of Georgia's Ambassador to Ukraine, who had been recalled for consultations last year.

On April 22, Ambassador Teimuraz Sharashenidze returned to Kyiv.

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