Tbilisi-Minsk relations becoming more active, Belarusian tourists' interest in Georgia growing - Georgian foreign minister
MINSK. Sept 4 (Interfax) - The number of Belarusian tourists visiting Georgia has grown by one third over the past year, Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze said following talks with Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei in Minsk on Monday.
"I am delighted to note that Belarusian tourists' interest in Georgia has grown over the past several years. Growth [in the number of Belarusian tourists] of 32% has been recorded over the past year," Janelidze said.
The relationship between Tbilisi and Minsk has recently become more dynamic, which is evident, among other things, in more intensive top- and high-level visits, he said.
"The exchange of visits between the presidents of Georgia and Belarus and the Georgian prime minister's visit to Belarus have made a special contribution to more active relations," he said.
Janelidze praised the opening of the Belarusian embassy in Georgia, saying that the diplomatic missions of the two countries were facilitating deeper relations.
Georgia and Belarus have also been successfully developing their relationship in the realm of culture, he said.
Janelidze thanked Belarus for assistance in fighting forest fires in the Borjomi Gorge.
"I must acknowledge that Belarusian specialists have displayed high professionalism and provided considerable support to Georgian firefighters and rescuers. And this prompt support provided by Belarus was very important in that critical situation," he said.
"Our countries have been deepening and developing their friendly relations from day to day," he said.