ILIA DARCHIASHVILI HAS MET WITH HIS BELGIAN COLLEAGUE

During his visit to Brussels, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Georgia, Ilia Darchiashvili met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade, and the Federal Cultural Institutions of Belgium, Hadja Lahbib.

Darchiashvili expressed gratitude for being invited to the 20th-anniversary celebrations of the European Union's enlargement and highlighted Georgia's candidacy for EU membership. He expressed the hope for continued support from Belgium towards Georgia's European integration journey.

Darchiashvili elaborated on Georgia's progress on European integration, especially emphasizing the significant decision in December 2023 to grant Georgia a candidate status. He stressed the importance of Belgium's ongoing support in this regard. The discussion also covered security challenges in Europe, including Russia's actions in Ukraine and regional dynamics.

Connectivity, transport route diversification, and energy supply to Europe were key topics, with Georgia's strategic role highlighted. Both ministers acknowledged the fruitful cooperation between their countries, underscoring the importance of political dialogue and high-level exchanges. Lahbib's visit to Georgia in 2023 was noted as a positive step, signaling readiness to enhance partnerships across various domains.

The conversation also celebrated the successful 'Europalia' art festival dedicated to Georgia the previous year, reflecting the strong cultural ties between the two nations.