Kavelashvili made evaluations to the AA correspondent within the scope of the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31) held in Antalya.
Emphasizing that he was very pleased to be in Antalya and to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Kavelashvili said, "I see President Erdoğan as a great friend. The basis of our personal friendship is the deep-rooted friendship and strong strategic partnership relations between Georgia and Turkey." he said.
Kavelashvili said, "There is an extremely close and strong cooperation between our countries. This cooperation manifests itself in many different areas." He stated that relations are deepening every year and cooperation is expanding in new areas.
"Most importantly, our countries have common values and similar political approaches. Both countries attach great importance to preserving their national identities, values and traditions and maintaining peace and stability." Using his expressions, Kavelashvili pointed out that in their meetings with President Erdoğan, they discussed the importance of peace and stability for both countries.
Kavelashvili said, "The policies we follow are shaped on the basis of mutual respect and trust. Strong dialogue between the leaders of the two countries and relations based on mutual trust contribute significantly to the development of cooperation between our countries in all areas." made his assessment.
"In a world where conflicts, disagreements, violations of international law and global problems occur, further strengthening the relations between Türkiye and Georgia is more important than ever." Using his statements, Kavelashvili said that he believes that, above all else, human values should be at the center.
Kavelashvili said, "As the President (Recep Tayyip Erdoğan) emphasized in his opening speech yesterday, it is of great importance to attach importance to human values, to protect and observe these values." He stated that these are of great importance not only for the bilateral relations between Georgia and Türkiye, but also for strengthening regional peace, stability and cooperation.
"I would like to congratulate the Turkish government and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for the successful holding of the COP31 Climate Conference." Kavelashvili said that many issues of global importance were discussed at the conference, especially the problems caused by climate change.
Reminding that many heads of state and government from different countries of the world attended COP31, Kavelashvili stated that the conference offers an important opportunity to strengthen international cooperation towards the solution of global problems.
The President of Georgia made the following statements:
"Turkey not only hosts a successful organization, but also makes significant efforts to contribute to the solution of the problems in question and take concrete steps in this direction. We appreciate these efforts."
Underlining that the two countries continue to cooperate in the fight against climate change and renewable energy, Kavelashvili stated that they are working together to develop common solutions and take concrete steps in these areas, especially energy efficiency.
Kavelashvili stated that Georgia is ready to further develop cooperation with other countries, especially Türkiye, in the fields of environmental protection and combating environmental problems.
Reminding that Türkiye and Georgia are countries exposed to natural disaster risks, Kavelashvili reminded that the effects of climate change have manifested themselves in the form of various natural disasters in both countries in recent years.
Kavelashvili stated that it is therefore of great importance to increase the sharing of knowledge and experience in order to reduce the risks of natural disasters, to be prepared for disasters and to minimize their negative effects.
Stating that he believes that coordination and coordination should be further strengthened in this direction, Kavelashvili stated that agriculture and food security are among the main issues that need to be emphasized.
Stating that all these issues discussed in the meetings and evaluations they made within the scope of the conference once again reveal the importance of joint effort and international cooperation, Kavelashvili said, "As Georgia and Turkey, we are not only neighboring countries, but also two countries that stand out in terms of biodiversity and natural landscape richness. Some regions of our countries are quite similar to each other in terms of their natural structures and landscape features." he said.
Kavelashvili stated that, for this reason, they do not view bilateral relations from a narrow perspective based solely on the security of their own countries and protection from the negative effects of climate change, and that they believe that it is necessary to act with a common understanding that aims to protect both Georgia and its neighbors from such negative effects.
"As Mr. President Erdoğan stated, we all have a common sky and a common earth. Therefore, it is not possible to think that the pollution in my country's sea will not affect the neighboring country's sea." Kavelashvili said that environmental problems know no boundaries.
Kavelashvili added that, therefore, cooperation should be further strengthened in order to act with the awareness of common responsibility in combating problems and to protect not only their own environment but also the common natural heritage.
