Georgia: Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Dariashvili met with the newly appointed Ambassador of Italy to Georgia, Massimiliano D’Antuono, on January 16, 2024, who presented his credentials to the minister.
The meeting was an opportunity to review the bilateral relations between Georgia and Italy, characterized by close friendship and fruitful cooperation in various fields, such as trade, culture, education, and security.
The sides welcomed the close, friendly ties and fruitful cooperation between Georgia and Italy based on common European values and interests. The Minister of Foreign Affairs thanked Italy’s unwavering support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and stressed the importance of Italy’s support for granting Georgia EU candidate status.
Minister Dariashvili expressed his gratitude to Italy for its unwavering support for Georgia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and European aspirations. He stressed the importance of Italy’s backing for Georgia’s bid to obtain the EU candidate status, which the European Commission recommended in November 2023.
Ambassador D’Antuono congratulated Georgia on its progress on the reform agenda and reiterated Italy’s commitment to assist Georgia on its path towards future EU membership. He also praised the vibrant civil society and democratic institutions in Georgia and encouraged all political actors to engage in constructive dialogue and overcome polarization.
The two sides also discussed the regional and international issues of mutual interest. They agreed to enhance their coordination and cooperation within multilateral frameworks like the UN, NATO, and the Eastern Partnership.
Ilia Darchiashvili
Ilia Dariashvili was born on February 21 1981; he is a Georgian government official, diplomat, and former bank manager, serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia since April 4, 2022.
Darchiashvili graduated from the Tbilisi State University (TSU) with a degree in economics in 2002. He obtained master’s degrees in economics and business administration from the TSU in 2004 and Grenoble School of Management, France, in 2011, respectively.
The Minister worked as a manager for the Bank Republic in Tbilisi from 2003 to 2012, when he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia as a staff member of the Embassy of Georgia to Poland.
