Hungary supports Georgia’s NATO-EU integration, foreign minister says in Tbilisi

Tbilisi, March 17 (MTI) – Hungary advocates inviting Georgia to NATO and giving a boost to its integration into the European Union, as having peace in Georgia’s broader neighbourhood, a region of frozen conflicts, is a priority for Europe, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó told MTI after talks with Georgian leaders in Tbilisi on Friday.

Hungary fully supports a visa waiver for Georgian citizens to the EU by the end of the month. It also maintains its role in the UN Observer Mission in Georgia, providing six police officers and five army officers, he said.

Szijjártó held talks with his counterpart Mikheil Janelidze, and met President Giorgi Margvelashvili, Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili and Chairman of Parliament Irakli Kobakhidze. The minister also signed an agreement with Natia Loladze, head of the Georgian Red Cross, of 10 million forints’ (EUR 32,422) support to alleviate flood damage.

Hungarian foreign minister Szijjrtó and Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili

Hungarian-Georgian relations are free from political disputes, Szijjártó said, adding that Hungarian diplomacy “has done everything possible” to support Hungarian companies on the Georgian market. The minister said that the Hungarian government had opened an EUR 85 million credit line at Eximbank to help Hungarian firms gain a foothold in Georgia. The two countries will cooperate mainly in water management, infrastructure investments and food industry, he said.

Hungary also offers 50 scholarships to Georgian studenits in Hungarian universities, Szijjártó said.

Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Source: MTI