Georgian FM : Tehran-Tbilisi Ties, Model For Regional States

New York, Oct 2, IRNA – Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze here Tuesday asked for boosting Georgia Republic’s cooperation with Iran, evaluating current level of bilateral ties as a good model for regional countries. Vashadze was speaking in an exclusive interview with the IRNA correspondent at the UN New York Headquarters. Referring to the historical, cultural, linguistic, and other commonalities between Iran-Georgia, Vashadze said: “We, as two neighbors, enjoy good and broad cooperation in various fields.” The Georgian top diplomat referred to the visits of the two countries’ citizens of each others’ cities as tourists, as well as the cultural ties and historical relations as very major fields for bilateral cooperation, adding, “We also have good relations in such fields as agricultural, scientific exchange, and transportation fields.” The foreign minister reiterated, “I am very glad to say that the relations between the two countries, in a region where tensions prevail, is at a good, and I had better say excellent level, and can serve as an appropriate model for the regional countries, showing how two neighbors can have constructive, good and friendly cooperation.” Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze on Tuesday on the sidelines of the 67th UN General Assembly met and conferred with his Iranian counterpart Ali-Akbar Salehi, and asked for further expansion of bilateral economic cultural, scientific and technological relations between Tehran and Tbilisi. In the meeting between both the foreign ministers in addition to exchanging viewpoints on international developments, the existing challenges in the world and the regional issues, they discussed ways for bilateral cooperation in agricultural field, increased presence of the Iranian companies in Georgia, increased visits of the Iranian tourists of Georgia, and broader air transportation between the two countries. Iran and Georgia have had relations for centuries, although official diplomatic relations between the two nations in the 20th century was established on May 15, 1992./end