Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili today began his official visit to the Kingdom of Denmark. He held his first meeting with Danish Prime Minister Andres Fogh Rasmussen, who shared his experience on how a country with minimal energy resources can be "energy independent".

Saakashvili commented after the meeting: "We are developing hydropower, we are working on nuclear energy as well, but this is a long process, one that will take a considerable amount of time."

The two countries' leaders then held a joint news conference at which Fogh Rasmussen noted that Denmark fully supports Georgia's integration with the EU and NATO.

Later on, the Georgian president opened a Georgian-Danish business forum, where Georgian wine was very well represented.

"Georgia is a very interesting place in terms of developing a business. I say this without any exaggeration. Our country has achieved unheard of growth. Georgia recently moved from 37th place to 18th place on the World Bank's ease of doing business ranking. Major successes have been achieved in the battle against corruption. Anatoliy Chubays himself said that Georgia's economic development should serve as an example for Russia," Saakashvili said at the forum.

At a wider meeting between the Georgian delegation and Danish officials held afterwards, the foreign ministers of the two countries signed an agreement on economic cooperation and discussed issues encouraging investment and operating flights between Georgia and Denmark.

At the joint briefing held with Rasmussen, a Reuters journalist asked President Saakashvili to comment on the recent events in Georgia concerning former Defence Minister Irakli Okruashvili. Saakashvili said that democratic principles were of primary importance and that freedom of expression was a key component part of these principles.

"We are a democratic country, where anyone can freely express their opinions. As for the question concerning the former defence minister, this is a great test for the supremacy of law and for justice. The investigation is none of my business, but as an observer, I can tell you that illegally misappropriated money is being returned through the use of civilized methods. We are a country where the yellow press often publishes allegations. You can hear all manner of accusations and if you read the Georgian yellow press, you will find even worse things. However, if the matter makes it to the courts, then you have to have evidence to back your accusations," Saakashvili said.

Press Office
of the President of Georgia