Austrian official: “Georgia is unchallenged leader in reform implementation”
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A top Austrian official is praising the "calm” and "stable” pre-election environment in Georgia and is confident the October 8 Parliamentary Elections will take place without a hitch.
"The stable and calm pre-election environment that is present in Georgia prior to upcoming important elections is clearly visible,” the second President of the National Council of Austria Karlheinz Kopf told Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili at a meeting in Tbilisi.
The Austrian official met Kvirikashvili at the Administration of the Georgian Government last night, where they spoke about Austria-Georgia relations, bilateral parliamentary cooperation and prospects of deepening economic ties.
Karlheinz Kopf: We can see clearly the stable and peaceful pre #election environment in #Georgiapic.twitter.com/9EHzIDb6gY
— Giorgi Kvirikashvili (@KvirikashviliGi) September 4, 2016
The Georgian Prime Minister presented his Government's plan on the rapid development of the country before the conversation veered towards the investment opportunities in Georgia and the vast potential in the tourism industry.
"The importance of Austria’s experience regarding its tourism in the mountain regions was particularly emphasized,” noted the PM’s press office in a statement following the meeting.
The parties also addressed the European integration agenda of Georgia and underlined the progress Georgia has made in terms of the Visa Liberalisation Action Plan (VLAP).
The Austrian official said Georgia was an "exemplary state and an unchallenged leader” for how it implemented reforms envisaged by the Association Agreement (AA).
Kvirikashvili asked Kopf to pass his regards to the Austrian government for its recent decision to establish an Austrian Embassy in Tbilisi in the near future.
The two officials ended their meeting on a lighter note by talking about a football match between Georgia and Austria, due to be played tonight at Dinamo Arena tonight in capital Tbilisi.
For the first time in Georgia’s recent history of independence, Austria is being represented with an Ambassador in Georgia.
Austria’s Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz will visit Georgia as soon as his county takes over OSCE chairmanship in 2017 to stress Georgia is always high on the agency’s agenda.
Georgia’s Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze has travelled to Austria for a three-day state visit. He will meet the top official of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Secretary General Lamberto Zannier in capital Vienna.
Today Kvirikashvili hosted Ambassador of Austria to Georgia, Axel Wech in Tbilisi.
The Austrian National Council has ratified the Association Agreement (AA) between Georgia and the European Union (EU).
Austria will open its first Embassy in Georgia in the second half of 2018.
Georgia believes the president of Austria's visit to Tbilisi is a "clear demonstration of support” in the run-up to the Riga Eastern Partnership (EaP) Summit.
President of Austria Heinz Fischer is coming to Tbilisi today. An official welcoming ceremony for the Austrian President and First Lady will take place at Giorgi Margvelashvili’s presidential residence in Avlabari, Tbilisi.
Austria is opening its first-ever Embassy in Georgia’s capital. The Embassy will open on Griboedovi St in central Tbilisi on Thursday, September 22.
Austrian transportation and logistics company Gebruder Weiss, which began operating on the Georgian market in 2012, will invest €2 million in Georgia to expand its logistics terminal.
Austrian company Rosenbauer will start producing fire-service vehicles in Georgia, the Emergency Management Service of Georgia has announced.