Vucic: Georgia successfully preserves the right to its own position; Kobakhidze: Firm support for Serbia's territorial integrity

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stated today, at a joint press conference with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, that a large part of the world is closely watching Georgia, a country that is successfully protecting and preserving its independence and right to its own position. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said that Georgia strongly supports Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Vucic said he was pleased to be the first President of Serbia to pay an official visit to Georgia since the establishment of diplomatic relations.

"We regard Georgia not only as a friendly nation, but as a brotherly one. We share a long Orthodox Christian tradition, and I was particularly pleased to be received by the Georgian Patriarch. From that conversation, I was able to learn and understand much about looking toward the future and the ties we must continue to build," Vucic said.

He expressed gratitude to Georgia's political leadership for always understanding each other's policies.

Vucic particularly praised Georgia's economic achievements, stressing that the country has recorded remarkable success since 2012.

"Georgia achieved economic growth of 8.2 percent in the first quarter. There is nothing comparable in Europe. We are proud of our 3.2 percent growth rate and are among the top three in Europe. Here we are talking about the rapid rise of a country. We will strive to learn from you," he emphasized.

Speaking about bilateral relations, he noted that trade exchange increased by 36.4 percent in the first four months of the year.

He said he had discussed a free trade agreement with the Prime Minister and expressed hope that Kobakhidze would visit Serbia before the Wine Vision event, by which time the agreement could be signed at the latest.

"That agreement will serve as the foundation for the accelerated development of bilateral trade relations between our two countries," Vucic underlined.

He expressed gratitude for Georgia's decision to participate in Expo 2027.

"It is very important for us to open an embassy in Tbilisi soon, and it will be opened before the Prime Minister's visit to Serbia. I believe the Georgian side will make a similar decision," Vucic said.

He also noted that he and the Prime Minister discussed European integration and expressed confidence that the two countries would be able to assist one another on that path.

He wished Georgia much success in the future, saying that it had successfully overcome attempts by many external actors to weaken it and diminish its capacities.

Kobakhidze: Firm support for Serbia's territorial integrity

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated that Georgia strongly supports Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"Our countries understand very well the fundamental importance of independence and the protection of that independence. I am especially grateful to President Aleksandar Vucic for his strong support for our sovereignty and territorial integrity. Naturally, Georgia strongly supports Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Kobakhidze said.

He emphasized that this was the first visit by a Serbian president to Georgia and described it as a turning point in bilateral relations.

"I am convinced that this visit will provide an additional impetus for deepening our relations in every direction," Kobakhidze said, adding that at a time when global politics faces a shortage of leaders, Serbia has an outstanding leader who safeguards the country's sovereignty and independence, strengthens the state, and does everything possible to protect it.

He noted that Serbia and Georgia are connected by mutual respect, tradition, and centuries of Christian heritage.

"I must particularly highlight President Vucic's commitment to making Serbia a country that consistently preserves its religious and cultural heritage," Kobakhidze added.

He said the two sides had discussed key issues and announced an intensification of bilateral visits.

He stressed that Serbia's decision to open an embassy in Tbilisi is of great importance because it will further strengthen relations between the two countries.

"We also discussed bilateral trade and cooperation across various sectors. There is significant potential that should be utilized. We are making progress in building mutual understanding, we have agreed on concrete issues, and we are ready to sign a free trade agreement, which is important for the development of our countries and will further deepen economic relations," Kobakhidze said.

Regarding European integration, the Georgian Prime Minister stated that the two countries share a common vision, but also common challenges.

"It is very important that we exchange experiences bilaterally and maintain the closest possible cooperation and coordination on this issue," Kobakhidze added.