Georgia–Slovenia relations

Georgia–Slovenia relations are the diplomatic relations between the Republic of Georgia and the Republic of Slovenia, two European nations with a communist past that established their bilateral ties in 1993. Their relations have been highly represented with a close diplomatic partnership, with Slovenia being one of the staunch supporters of Georgia's territorial integrity and pro-Western path.

Georgian–Slovenian relations

Georgia	Slovenia
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of Georgia, Ljubljana	Embassy of Slovenia, Kyiv
Envoy
Ambassador Irakli Koplatadze	Chargé d'affaires Mateja Kračun

History

The diplomatic relations between Georgia and Slovenia were established on 18 January 1993:,[1] less than two years after the independence of both states (Georgia from the USSR and Slovenia from Yugoslavia). Slovenia has consistently supported Georgia's territorial integrity in the face of Russia's military occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In 2008, Prime Minister Janez Janša of Slovenia stated following a meeting with his Czech and Latvian counterparts in the aftermath of the Russo-Georgian War,[2]

We are united on the need to ensure peace, stability, territorial integrity in Georgia and the broader region and to give the region a European perspective.

Slovenia was one of the several nations to call on Russia to follow its ceasefire obligations during a 2015 Council of Europe meeting and to withdraw its military troops from Abkhazia and South Ossetia.[3] That same year, Slovenia became the 21st member state of the European Union to ratify in a 69-3 vote of its National Assembly the EU-Georgia Association Agreement.[4] Slovenia has consistently voted in favor of the Georgia-sponsored United Nations resolution calling for the return of internally displaced persons to Abkhazia and South Ossetia since 2008.[5]

Bilateral ties have been enhanced by the high amount of high-level meetings and visits between the two countries. While Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili held several meetings with the Slovenian Foreign Affairs Minister, President Giorgi Margvelashvili became the first Georgian head of state to pay an official visit to Slovenia in July 2016,[6] during which bilateral agreements were signed on economic cooperation and visa liberalization and a "Bench of Friendship" was inaugurated on Ljubljana's Tbilisi Street.[7]

On 26 May 2018, to celebrate the 100 years since the independence of the Democratic Republic of Georgia, the Ljubljana Castle was lit up with Georgia's red and white flag colors.[8]

As a member of NATO, Slovenia has consistently supported Georgia's attempt to seek closer relations and an ultimate membership with the Organization. Slovenian military experts participated in the 2017 Noble Partner military exercises in Georgia.[9]

On 13 June 2019, Slovenia became the 14th country of the Schengen Zone to recognize Georgia as a "safe country", highlighting Georgia's political and economic reforms, and thus removing Georgian citizens' right to seek asylum in Slovenia.[10]

Both countries' capitals, Ljubljana and Tbilisi, have a sister city partnership, as well as Georgia's Kutaisi and Slovenia's Maribor.[11]

Diplomatic missions

Georgia appointed its first ambassador to Slovenia in 2001, when it accredited its ambassador to Austria to also cover its relations with Ljubljana. Following a short period in 2004 when the Georgian ambassador operated from Georgia itself and then from Slovakia, an embassy of Georgia was opened in 2014 in Slovenia. The embassy is located at 7 Cankarjevacesta Street in Ljubljana. The heads of the mission have been:

• 2001–2004: Giorgi Arsenishvili (residence in Vienna)
• 2004–2005: Zaur Gamsakhurdia (residence in Tbilisi)
• 2006–2011: Nikoloz Nikolozishvili (residence in Bratislava)
• 2011: Alexander Nalbandov (residence in Bratislava)
• 2011–2014: Alexander Chkuaseli, chargé d'affaires (residence in Ljubljana)
• 2014–2018: Zurab Bekaia
• 2018–: Irakli Koplatadze

Slovenia accredited its first ambassador to Georgia in 1999. Until 2007, the Slovenian ambassador resided in Athens. Since then, the ambassador of Slovenia to Ukraine has also covered Georgia. The heads of the mission have been:

• 1999–2002: Boruth Mahnik (residence in Athens)
• 2002–2006: Josefa Puhar (residence in Athens)
• 2007–2008: Primij Sheligo (residence in Kiyv)
• 2010–2018: Nataša Prah (residence in Kiyv)
• 2018–: Mateja Kračun, chargé d’affaires (residence in Kiyv)

Georgian pharmaceutical executive Gocha Gogilashvili has served as the Honorary Consul of Slovenia to Georgia since 2009.[12]

Bilateral agreements

Georgia and Slovenia have signed seven bilateral agreements, including[13]

• The Protocol on Cooperation between the MFA of Georgia and the MFA of the Republic of Slovenia, signed in April 2002 and enforced since January 2008
• The Agreement between the Executive Authority of Georgia and the Government of the Republic of Slovenia on Cooperation in the Fields of Culture, Education, Science, Sport, and Youth, signed in April 2002 and enforced since December 2005
• The Agreement between Georgia and the Republic of Slovenia for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital, signed in December 2012 and enforced since September 2013.
• The Memorandum of Understanding between the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Georgia and Slovenia, signed in 2016.

Two more bilateral agreements were signed during Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili's official visit to Slovenia in 2016, notably on economic cooperation and on visa liberalization between Georgia and Slovenia.

See also

• Foreign relations of Georgia
• Foreign relations of Slovenia
• Georgia–EU relations

References

1. Relations between Georgia and the Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
2. Three EU premiers call for Caucasus peace, stability, Xinhua, archived from the original on 2016-03-04
3. The Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister has addressed the Committee of Ministers' Deputies of the Council of Europe, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
4. The National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia has ratified the EU-Georgia Association Agreement, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
5. The UN General Assembly within its 73rd session adopted the Resolution on "Status of Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia and the Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, Georgia", Ministry of Foreign Affairs
6. The official welcoming ceremony of the President of Georgia was held in Ljubljana, President of Georgia
7. Relations between Georgia and the Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
8. The Medieval castle in Ljubljana, Slovenia has lit up in the red and white of the Georgian flag, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
9. Mikheil Janelidze – “Noble Partner - 2017 contributes to peace and stability in Georgia and in the region”, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
10. Slovenia recognizes Georgia as a safe country of origin, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
11. Relations between Georgia and the Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
12. Relations between Georgia and the Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
13. Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia