In Antalya, Kavelashvili says Georgia and Türkiye cooperate closely

Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili called Recep Tayyip Erdoğan a great friend in an interview with Anadolu Agency at COP31 and said relations between the two countries deepen every year. He urged Tbilisi and Ankara to step up the exchange of experience in protection from natural disasters and food security.

Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili said Georgia and Türkiye share “exceptionally close and strong cooperation” across many areas. He made the remarks in an interview with Anadolu Agency in Antalya, where the 31st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31) is being held.

Kavelashvili said he was pleased to be in Antalya and meet with Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. “I consider President Erdoğan a great friend. Our personal friendship is rooted in the long-standing friendship and strong strategic partnership between Georgia and Türkiye,” he said.

Mikheil Kavelashvili against the Georgian flag in Antalya

“Shared values and similar approaches”

The Georgian leader said relations between the two countries deepen every year, while cooperation extends into new areas. “Most importantly, our countries share common values and similar political approaches. Both countries attach great importance to preserving national identity, values and traditions, and to maintaining peace and stability,” Kavelashvili said. He added that the importance of peace and stability for both countries had also been discussed during his talks with Erdoğan.

“The policy we pursue is based on mutual respect and trust. Strong dialogue and relations of trust between the leaders of the two countries make an important contribution to developing cooperation in all areas,” the president stressed. In a world where conflicts, disputes, violations of international law and global problems continue, he said, strengthening Georgian-Turkish ties is more important than ever—not only for bilateral relations, but also for peace, stability and cooperation in the region.

Climate, natural disasters and food security

Kavelashvili congratulated the Turkish government and Erdoğan personally on the successful organization of COP31, which brought together heads of state and government from many countries. “Türkiye is not only hosting a successful conference, but is also making serious efforts to contribute to solving these problems and taking concrete steps. We highly value these efforts,” he said.

Georgian President Kavelashvili answers Anadolu Agency’s questions

The president said Georgia and Türkiye were continuing joint work to combat climate change and develop renewable energy, particularly in energy efficiency. Both countries face the risk of natural disasters, and in recent years climate change has manifested itself in the form of natural catastrophes. Kavelashvili therefore said the countries needed to step up the exchange of knowledge and experience in reducing risks and preparing for disasters, strengthen coordination, and pay special attention to agriculture and food security.

“Georgia and Türkiye are not only neighbors, but also two countries distinguished by their rich biodiversity and natural landscapes. Some regions of our countries are very similar in terms of their natural environment,” he said. Referring to Erdoğan’s remark that we all share the same sky and the same earth, Kavelashvili added: “It is impossible to think that pollution of the sea in my country will not affect the sea of the neighboring country.” Environmental problems know no borders, so they must be addressed with a sense of shared responsibility, the Georgian president concluded.

Photo: Anadolu Agency

In Antalya, Kavelashvili says Georgia and Türkiye cooperate closely