The Ukraine keeps pace with Georgia
By Tea Mariamidze
Wednesday, March 29
Within the frames of the meeting of GUAM countries’ government heads in Kiev, on Monday, the Prime Ministers of GUAM member states were hosted by the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, where the latter highlighted Georgia’s progress towards Europe.
The GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development is a regional organization of four post-Soviet states: Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili emphasized that the key priorities of Georgia's chairmanship are greater political and economic consolidation within the organization, enhancing sectorial cooperation, intensification of relations with GUAM's partner countries and international organizations, and activation of GUAM's parliamentary dimension.
It was pointed out during the meeting that three GUAM member states, namely Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova, enjoy successful economic relations with the EU and that GUAM's integration with the European Union (EU) should be ensured.
The transit potential of the Silk Road and the importance of cooperation with the countries participating in the One Belt-One Road initiative were also discussed at the meeting. Special attention was also paid to security cooperation among the states.
The President of Ukraine congratulated the Georgian Prime Minister and Georgian citizens on the launch of visa-free travel with the EU.
"We are doing our best to keep pace with you. I would like to thank everyone for supporting our initiatives and positions," Petro Poroshenko told Giorgi Kvirikashvili.
Afterwards, Kvirikashvili also met his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Groysman. It was agreed at the meeting that Groysman will visit Georgia in the autumn to participate in the Silk Road Forum, to be held in Tbilisi in November.
The sides noted the recent positive political relations between the states. The prime ministers noted the necessity of enhancing cooperation in the fields of economics, energy, agriculture, infrastructure and regional development.
The officials also underlined the importance of the Intergovernmental Economic Commission Session, which will be held in April in Kiev.
Both Prime Ministers expressed unwavering support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and Georgia.
