On 7 June 2021, the Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edgars Rinkēvičs, is on an official visit to Georgia. The Minister had meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, David Zalkaliani; Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili; the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Kakha Kuchava, and also met representatives from both political parties in the government and with representatives of opposition parties from the Parliament.
Foreign Minister Rinkēvičs underlined that Georgia is a friend and an important cooperation partner to Latvia, and he voiced strong support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as its course towards membership of the European Union and NATO.
Edgars Rinkēvičs emphasised that Latvia sees potential in expanding cooperation with Georgia in the areas of information and communication technologies, climate change and green technologies, and transport and logistics. Resumption of direct flights by the national airlines of Latvia, airBaltic, to Tbilisi in April 2021 is yet another factor facilitating close cooperation between the two countries.
During the meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Edgars Rinkēvičs discussed bilateral cooperation matters of current importance for Latvia and Georgia, Georgia’s efforts of integration with NATO and of European integration, the security situation in the South Caucasus region, the domestic political situation in Georgia, and the relationship with Russia. Edgars Rinkēvičs underlined that Latvia supports the COVID-19 vaccine sharing mechanism and confirmed its readiness to donate vaccines to Georgia.
During his visit, Latvia’s Foreign Minister laid flowers at the Heroes Memorial, as well as visiting the administrative boundary line with South Ossetia near the village of Odzisi.