2019-05-07 17:34 update: 2019-05-08, 14:21
Photo PAP/Paweł Supernak
President Andrzej Duda speaking after Tuesday talks with Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili stressed that Poland will continue to support Georgia's NATO and EU membership aspirations.
Salome Zourabichvili on Tuesday began an official visit to Poland. Before a joint press conference, the two presidents held a face-to-face meeting and co-chaired plenary talks of both countries' delegations.
"Georgia is a part of Europe, Europe needs unity and needs to be a community, and therefore also Georgia's EU aspirations are obvious to us and we always support Georgia in this respect," said Andrzej Duda.
The president added that during the talks, President Zourabichvili assured him that her country wanted to participate in the largest number of European programmes. "I have no doubt that this is the path Georgia should follow," said Duda.
Referring to Georgia's relations with the North Atlantic Alliance, the president stressed that the Polish embassy in Tbilisi this year plays the role of a contact point.
President Duda also said that today's talks covered economic cooperation. He pointed out that a mission of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency is already operating in Georgia. "I hope that it will contribute to the growth of economic exchange," said the Polish president.
He pointed out that a number of Georgian goods are already present on the Polish market, including wine or Borjomi mineral water and expressed hope that more and more Georgian products will be available in Poland. At the same time, Duda expressed hope for the development of Polish exports to Georgia and increased investments of Polish entrepreneurs in the country.
"We support the development of Georgia, we want it to be supported also within the EU, but I would also like Polish entrepreneurs to develop their activities in Georgia, a dynamically growing market," said Andrzej Duda.
President Zourabichvili stressed that Poland's support is not only in declarations or statements, for example at the UN, NATO or EU fora, but also real actions. She recalled, among others, a visit by late Polish President Lech Kaczyński in Tbilisi during the Russian aggression in 2008. "We know that Poland supports Georgia both during peace and war," she stressed.
Zourabichvili also thanked Poland for supporting Georgia's efforts of integration with the EU and NATO. She also expressed her hope for further deepening of bilateral relations, including economic and cultural relations between the two countries. (PAP)
aa/mf/
