Azernews.Az

By Sabina Idayatova

An agreement on economic and trade cooperation was signed between Georgia and the Czech Republic during a joint business forum in the Georgian capital Tbilisi on Wednesday that was joined by 21 Czech companies operating in the fields of telecommunications, energy, trade, real estate and finance.

The intergovernmental agreement was signed by deputy ministers of economy of Georgia and the Czech Republic. A joint governmental commission which will start to work on strengthening economic and business relations between the two countries will be established in accordance with the agreement.

The event was attended by Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze and a Czech delegation led by her counterpart Karel Schwarzenberg, who is on an official visit to the South Caucasus republic.

On the first day of his visit Schwarzenberg held a closed-door meeting with Panjikidze, which was followed by a joint press conference, pirweli.com.ge website reported.

According to Panjikidze, Schwarzenberg is considered to be a long-time friend of Georgia and has repeatedly visited the country in a sign of support.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Georgia and the Czech Republic and the foreign ministers further signed a joint declaration in this regard.

"The prospects of cooperation between the two countries and the desire of a common future in the Euro-Atlantic space is emphasized in it [the declaration]. The level of cooperation between Georgia and the Czech Republic is high in all directions. 20 years is not such a long period, but during this time we have repeatedly achieved success," Panjikidze said.

Panjikidze also noted that her meeting with Schwarzenberg was fruitful. She familiarized Schwarzenberg with Georgia`s foreign priorities. The parties discussed a number of issues, including the importance of the Eastern Partnership summit to be held in Vilnius in November, which is expected to bring Georgia's relations with Europe to a new level. They also mulled the prospects of cooperation with NATO.

Schwarzenberg, in turn, said at the press conference that Georgia needs to be patient and tolerant, but shouldn't give up, dfwatch.net reported.

Touching upon the current Russian-Georgian relations -- which broke off after a 2008 brief war when Moscow crushed a Georgian assault to reassert control over the rebel regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Schwarzenberg stressed that Russia only respects larger states, therefore, the Czech Republic cannot be a mediator between Georgia and Russia.

Schwarzenberg also advised Georgia to maintain contact with its two breakaway regions. He said he believes Georgia should have a "normal relationship on a personal level", such as maintaining business relations and other connections.

Schwarzenberg noted that sometimes years and decades are needed for 'the window of possibilities to open.'

On the same day Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili received the Czech minister. The parties discussed deepening of bilateral relations. The meeting was also attended by Panjikidze, the Georgian premier's office reported.

The parties expressed their satisfaction with the current state of relations between Georgia and the Czech Republic.

Ivanishvili expressed willingness to develop relations with the Czech Republic in bilateral and multilateral formats.

Schwarzenberg arrived in Tbilisi late on Monday. He is further scheduled to meet with Defense Minister Irakli Alasania and Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration Alexi Petriashvili as well as Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili.

Diplomatic relations between Georgia and the Czech Republic were established on January 1, 1993. The cooperation between the two countries is developing dynamically. The Czech Republic supports Georgia's territorial integrity and its integration into European and Euro-Atlantic institutions. Relations between the Georgian and Czech parliaments as well as educational institutions are deepening as well.