Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze said Egypt has not refused Georgian help during current democratic change, confirming the positive relations between both countries. He also said, during a meeting with Egyptian journalists, "Georgia has not offered Egypt any help during the current period." He stressed his country's readiness to provide Egypt with Georgia's experience in democratic change though. The top Georgian diplomat attributed the decision to establish an Egyptian embassy in Georgia down to the Egyptian authorities. He added an agreement was already in place with his former Egyptian counterpart for establishing the embassy prior to the January 25 Revolution. He said there is political coordination between both countries across a wide range of issues, adding that Egypt enjoys a leading role in the Middle East. Vashadze said the trade cooperation between the two countries extends to tourism, transportation and medicine, expressing his ambitions to expand economic relations during the coming period. Regarding the Palestinian issue, he said his country supports the Palestinian rights of an independent state, adding that Georgia was one of the first countries to recognize the Palestinian state in 1993. He raised the necessity of establishing Israeli and Palestinian states that can live in unison. He expressed anxiety at the humanitarian situation in Syria, adding that the international community and Arab League are exerting their biggest efforts to solve the Syrian crisis. Georgia's senior official expressed his country's insistence on restoring its territories previously occupied by Russia, stressing his country's willingness to negotiate with Russia in this regard. He added that his country will not recognize any political changes in these territories.
