Civil Georgia
January 31, 2023

Moldovan Deputy PM Visits Georgia

On January 30-31, Oleg Serebrian, Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration visited Georgia where he met with the Prime Minister of Georgia, the State Minister of Georgia for Reconciliation as well as the Minister of Health, and Parliament officials. Moldovan Deputy PM’s discussions with the official Tbilisi included topics related to bilateral cooperation and the countries’ reforms agenda. Serebrian also visited the village Odzisi in the vicinity of the occupation line and discussed the developments regarding the occupied territories of Georgia and Moldova.

[B]oth sides underscored the importance of peaceful conflict resolution and both leaders reaffirmed their strong mutual support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each other’s countries.

“The conversation also touched on the process of EU integration of the Associated Trio member states. Attention was paid to the implementation of the European Council’s recommendations, steps taken so far, and plans for the future,” the Government Administration reported.

Georgian PM Garibashvili and Moldovan Deputy PM Serebrian also discussed the regional and global security challenges, and underlined the importance of joint efforts of addressing them.

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“Georgia and Moldova are linked by various issues of mutual interest…among them are the restoration of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our countries within their internationally recognized borders, accession to the European Union, and the overall deepening of bilateral cooperation,” Thea Akhvlediani noted.

In his remarks, Moldovan Deputy PM noted that both Moldova and Georgia share the similar challenges related to separatism which is “supported by the Russian Federation.” In this context, Serebrian added that “now we need to coordinate our actions” in reintegration, as well as the EU integration efforts of the both countries.

Deputy PM Serebrian, accompanied by State Minister Thea Akhvlediani, also visited the village Odzisi near the occupation line. “It was interesting to hear also from our Georgian colleagues about problems with human rights in the Tskhinvali [South Ossetia] region and in Abkhazia: the problem with the schools, the ethnic cleansing in both regions….I think we have many issues in common, that is why we should coordinate more our actions between Tbilisi and Chisinau with our European Colleagues as well,” Serebrian commented.