President Margvelashvili Hosts Official Dinner in Honor of President Gül
06.05.2014
Participating in the official dinner that President Margvelashvili of Georgia hosted in his honor, President Gül highlighted the unshaken ties with very old traditions between the Turkish and Georgian peoples and declared that throughout history, this two friend nations have set a good example for the whole world in terms of living in peace and harmony.
President Abdullah Gül participated in the official dinner that President Giorgi Margvelashvili of Georgia hosted in his honor.
UNSHAKABLE BONDS BETWEEN TWO PEOPLES
Recalling that he paid one of his first foreign visits to Georgia after taking office, President Gül described Tbilisi as “the pearl that reflects an elegant understanding of art, architecture and aesthetics” and extended his thanks to his Georgian counterpart for his warm welcome.
President Gül highlighted the unshaken ties with very old traditions between the Turkish and Georgian peoples and reiterated that the Turkish people have always borne amicable feelings for the Georgian nation that he noted has established a deep-rooted and human oriented civilization in the Caucasus, which he said is one of the toughest geographies in the world. “Renowned traveler Evliya Çelebi, who visited this land in the 17th century, described the people of Georgia as ‘kavm-i necip’ meaning ‘pure-hearted people’. This phrase is a tangible demonstration of the trust the Turkish people have in the Georgians. As for the people of Georgia, they also have the same feelings for the Turks.Throughout history, this two friend nations have set a good example for the whole world in terms of living in peace and harmony. This is why King Solomon II, who fought against the Russian soldiers took refuge in the Ottoman Empire. The corpse of this important figure who passed away in 1815 was entrusted to us in the northern city of Trabzon until 1990. 17 sadrazams (grand viziers), hundreds of viziers and thousands of state officials in the Ottoman Empire were of Georgian origin. There have been many artists, statesmen and scientists of Georgian origin in the republican period as well.”
TURKISH-GEROGIAN STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
The deep-rooted human bonds that the two peoples enjoy serve as the strongest fulcrum of the bilateral relations between Turkey and Georgia, maintained the President, adding: “We now describe our relations as strategic partnership. We enjoy a multidimensional and multilateral partnership today.”
Pointing to the significance of the fact that Turkish and Georgian citizens have been able to travel to each other’s countries with their identity cards since 2011, President Gül said that Turkey is the country most visited by the Georgians and vice versa.
Another important element that connects Turkey and Georgia to each other is the common vision that they share for the sake of the stability and security of the Black Sea and Caucasus. “In this understanding, we have completed with our Azeri firends the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline Project and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum Gas Pipeline Project both of which are milestones for a regional integration. When we finalize the TANAP project, we will complete an important part of the Southern Gas Corridor. We are resolute to consummate the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway, which is also an important part of the Modern Silk Road, in the shortest time. Thus, we aim at consolidating the regional peace, stability and prosperity by weaving the whole Caucasus with energy and transportation lines. The Turkey-Georgia-Azerbaijan Trilateral Summit we held today will make an important contribution to the ‘win-win oriented’ regional partnership and cooperation.”
GEORGIA’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY
President Gül further underscored that Georgia shares such universal values as democracy, the rule of law and free market economy and declared that Turkey strongly supports Georgia’s efforts for integration with the European-Atlantic institutions.
Pointing out that some of the territories of Georgia are still under occupation, President Gül said: “We believe that our neighbor Georgia will achieve its territorial integrity by fortifying its democracy, the rule of law and economic standards. Turkey will continue to stand by Georgia in its steps in this direction.”
