Meeting with Maia Sandu

On November 24, during the meeting with Maya Sandu, the Moldovan President, the two sides reaffirmed the close partnership between the two countries, which takes on particularly meaningful importance in the face of the shared challenges and goals, the Press Office of the Georgian Foreign Ministry reported.

President Sandu and Ilia Darchiashvili, the Georgian Foreign Minister, both called attention to and welcomed the historic decision to provide Georgia and Moldova EU candidate status. In that regard, they also discussed how each country was doing with putting the proposals of the European Commission into practice and emphasized the value of tight collaboration in the process of joining the EU.

The Ministry stated: "In this regard, they referred to the Associated Trio as a crucial structure to meet the goals established for the future." 

Sandu stated that the war in Ukraine has been seriously harming the region's energy and economic security and emphasized the need for unity and solidarity across governments to respond to present issues.

Meeting with Nicu Popescu

During his meeting with Nicu Popescu, his Moldovan colleague, Foreign Minister Darchiashvili, emphasized Georgia's readiness to increase cooperation and coordination further to exchange expertise and experience in its attempts to prepare for EU membership.

In that context, the Georgian FM stressed the value of the Associated Trio format and claimed it was concrete proof of the solid relationship on the EU route between Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova. Following the discussion, Foreign Minister Darchiashvili emphasized Georgia and Moldova's civilizational decision to join the EU. "We have been shifted to an enlargement package. The historic decision of the European Council in June officially opened the EU doors to our nations. We are also fully aware of the enormous responsibility that comes with securing the maximum level of political, economic, and legal convergence with the EU," he added.

FM Popescu said they decided to expand economic connections, business-to-business linkages, tourism links, and political-diplomatic ties. "We are planning to organize a businessmen’s forum next spring, as well as to set up a working group to assess the feasibility and discuss with private partners whether there would be sufficient interest for a direct sea route between the ports of Giurgiulesti and Poti, in Georgia, which could allow us to intensify our direct trade relations but also to connect the South Caucasus region with the rest of Europe through the Republic of Moldova," FM Popescu noted.

In the context of the war in Ukraine, FM Popescu also said that he informed the Georgian FM that due to the barbaric Russian bombing of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, Moldova was left without electricity for several hours on November 23. "It is clear that Russia’s war against Ukraine affects every citizen of the Republic of Moldova, regardless of their political or geopolitical preferences," FM Popescu remarked.

Meeting with Natalia Gavrilița

According to the Georgian Foreign Ministry, the meeting between Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilița and Darchiashvili noted with satisfaction the good dynamics in terms of the exchange of high-level visits, which contribute to the further strengthening and deepening of ties between the two countries.

Along with emphasizing the necessity for greater collaboration, FM Darchiashvili and PM Gavrilița stressed the reform process of the EU guidelines and the Association Agreement. The deepening of commercial and economic links and the efficient utilization of free trade with the European Union were all on the meeting agenda with the prime minister of Moldova.

Prime Minister Gavrilița emphasized, "Despite working in a crisis, we are very determined to advance on the reform agenda at the same time." She added, "Everything we do is for the benefit of the people, and our common goal—to anchor our countries on the European path—remains a priority in this regard. I am glad that Moldova and Georgia are aligned on many of the development visions of our countries."

Meeting with Igor Grosu

FM Darchiashvili met with Igor Grosu, the Speaker of the Parliament, while in Chișinău to discuss bilateral ties, the goals of European integration, and close cooperation in this process.

The two parties stressed the unique role of the Parliamentary component and the active engagement of the legislative body, especially in implementing the proposals issued by the European Commission. They emphasized the need to intensify bilateral cooperation in that area and welcomed the future visit of the Moldovan Speaker to Georgia as a result.

Speaker Grosu tweeted, "Moldova and Georgia share common issues and goals. Ilia Darchiashvili and I talked about regional security, Russia's conflict with Ukraine, the refugee situation, and the direction of Europe." He emphasized that they will continue cooperating in crucial areas for our nations.

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