Ambassador’s Welcome Speech

I am glad to welcome you to the website of the Embassy of Georgia!

I hope, you will find the necessary information, as well as discover interesting news about the bilateral cooperation between Georgia and Sweden and other important updated on the developments in Georgia.

Strong friendly relations have been established between Georgia and Sweden through the past decades. Therefore, it is a great honour and responsibility for me to serve as an Ambassador of Georgia and in this capacity, I will do my best to contribute to the further development of our bilateral cooperation.

I wish to highlight that the diplomatic relations between Georgia and Sweden date more than a century and were formally established back in 1918 during the First Democratic Republic. Full-scale Georgian diplomatic representation was established in Stockholm in 1919. However, the Soviet Red Army invasion and forceful incorporation of Georgia into the Soviet Union led to the long-term isolation of our country.

After almost 70 years of the Soviet occupation, Georgia regained its independence and diplomatic ties between our states were restored and immediately dynamic and value-based relations started to develop.

Georgia is a valuable and reliable partner for Sweden. On many occasions, our country’s significant contribution at the international arena and on the bilateral level proved to be very important and timely.  

Today we enjoy intensive political relations. Cooperation between the executive and legislative branches of the government is strong and high-level exchanges are frequent that demonstrate the existing amicable relations that are based on trust and friendship.  

The assistance provided by the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden to support the economic and democratic development of Georgia is invaluable. SIDA’s contribution is crucially important in bringing Georgia closer to Europe. Cooperation in the field of education is also active – hundreds of Georgian students got an opportunity to study in the leading Swedish universities with the scholarships provided by the Government of Sweden that in its turn is an important investment in the future development of Georgia.

With Sweden, a renowned country in terms of tackling the problems related to global climate change, we continue fruitful cooperation in the field of environment protection.

I am delighted to underline the dynamic cooperation between our countries at the multilateral level. We stand strong in defence of the basic principles of the Charter of the United Nation and the Organization for Cooperation and Security in Europe and contribute our share to the resilience of the European security architecture. 

Sweden is a significant supporter of Georgia’s aspirations towards integration into the European Union. Under the “Eastern Partnership” that was initiated jointly by Sweden and Poland, Georgia achieved tremendous progress that has been acknowledged by our partners on many occasions. Through the comprehensive reforms free trade agreement with the EU has been signed and since 2017 Georgian citizens enjoy visa free travel to the Schengen Area that creates an additional stimulus to deepen economic and humanitarian cooperation with Europe.

Hereby, I wish to extend my sincere gratitude for the Swedish unwavering position towards the illegal occupation of Georgia’s territories and the policy of non-recognition.

I am highly enthusiastic to take part in the development of our bilateral economic cooperation that recorded growth during the past period – we pay high importance to the advancement of the tourism sector, also, Georgian wine must become a well-established brand in the Swedish market.

My colleagues and I will spare no efforts to achieve tangible results and to fully exploit the existing vast potential in the field of economy and trade.

I would like to take this opportunity to greet the representatives of the Georgian diaspora living in Sweden, who profoundly serve and succeed in their professions for the benefit of Sweden, as well as Georgia. On behalf of the Embassy, I extend our full support.

We shall back and embrace every activity that will promote Georgian culture, traditions, and values and are open for more intensive cooperation.

I wish you peace and good health!

Irakli Khutsurauli