On July 27, the Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, Mr. Tedo Japaridze held the meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Mr. Péter Szijjártó, visiting Ambassadorial.

The meeting was initiated by Hungarian official. The parties discussed bilateral relations, situation in the region, pre-election state and common European processes – the challenges of Europe: increased terrorist threat and migration crisis.

Mr. Japaridze noted that the Parliamentary Elections of October 8 will be not only the test but the proof of irreversibility of democratic processes in Georgia. The Elections will be fair and transparent and Georgia will further aspire to EU and NATO integration.

Mr. Szijjártó underlined that Budapest resolutely supports Georgian EU and NATO integration and visa free regime. He noted that Georgia has contributed the greatest mite in combating terrorism. Speaking about relations with Russia, Mr. Japaridze noted that no progress is evident so far on the most sensitive issues such are territorial integrity of Georgia and occupied territories. Russia converted Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) into its military bases, though enacted Georgia-Russia trade-economic and humanitarian links. Russian tourists choose Georgia for travel as one of the priority directions.

The parties noted that visa free shall necessarily be attractive for the population of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The parties discussed potential cooperation in energy sphere and regional problems – Nagorno-Karabakh and Ukraine events, as well as the situation in Turkey where the Georgian Delegation headed by the PM, Mr. Giorgi Kvirikashvili recently served the visit.

As Mr. Szijjártó noted, the potential of Visegrad Group (V4) shall be actively used for support of Georgia. The parties also discussed enhancement of Parliamentary diplomacy. Mr. Japaridze offered enhancement of activity on the Sector Committees level – foreign relations, economics. The offer was approved.