Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili is paying a visit to the Republic of Greece, where today he met Prime Minister Kostas Karamanls to discuss deepening trade economic relations between the two countries and prospects for Greek investment in Georgia. Karamanls expressed his political support for the Georgian president.

Also today, President Saakashvili met Athens mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis. The two discussed the need to intensify cooperation between Athens and Tbilisi. Kaklamanis awarded Saakashvili with the Athens Medal of Honour. Afterwards, the Georgian president invited Kaklamanis to visit Tbilisi.

"It is a great honour for me to receive the Athens Medal of Honour. Our countries are bound by strong historical ties. Greece's support for Georgia's integration with NATO and the EU is very important for us. The Greek people helped the Georgians during the war in Abkhazia. It was the Greek navy that evacuated Georgians when Sukhumi was in flames. I have the great honour to invite you to Georgia," Saakashvili said.

At the official meeting they discussed trade relations, prospects for simplifying the visa regime and opportunities for Georgian students to receive an education in Greece.

The Georgian president then had an additional meeting with his Greek counterpart Karolos Popoulias and then left for Thessaloniki to meet representatives of the Georgian diaspora.

At the end of his visit Saakashvili stopped at the Iviron Monastery on Mount Athos.

Press Office
of the President of Georgia