Presidents of both countries praised the successful efforts of Latvia, Baltic countries and Georgia in containing the spread of COVID-19 virus. Egils Levits told his Georgian counterpart that prime ministers of all three countries announced the reopening of the internal borders on 15 May following yesterday’s meeting. Baltic countries will be the first region in European Union to reopen its borders for movement of people since crisis began. President Zourabichvili underlined that Georgia has managed to keep the number of people affected by the virus very low and country is gradually planning its economic recovery, including relaunching of safe travel programme.
President of Georgia also pointed out that in given circumstances mass tourism is out of question, but so-called ‘safe travel plans’ could become available once all relevant safety arrangements are put in place. Georgia would be happy to welcome travellers from Baltic countries once programme is approved. President Levits noted that Georgia was a very popular travel destination for Latvians before crisis and expressed hope that direct airBaltic flights between Riga and Tbilisi will resume this summer.
Presidents of Latvia and Georgia spent a great deal of video call discussing the future and foreign policy of the EU, especially its Eastern Partnership policy. Egils Levits assured his Georgian colleague that Latvia will continue to offer its unwavering support for Georgia’s territorial integrity and further partnership dialogue in scope of EU Eastern Partnership initiative. According to Egils Levits, ‘Latvia and Georgia are friends, and Latvia fully acknowledges the progress demonstrated by Georgia in the context of Eastern Partnership. Latvia believes that the progress of each EU Eastern Partnership country should be viewed individually and Latvia is happy about cooperation with Georgia and reform process it has embarked on’.
