Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili's three-day official visit to Poland began with a face-to-face meeting with Polish President Lech Kaczynski in Warsaw. The presidents discussed future relations between the two countries. Kaczynski said that it was agreed to set up a special Polish-Georgian Presidential Committee to foster mutual relations. Poland has already established such committees with Ukraine, Turkey and Lithuania.

"Georgia and Poland's relations are exemplary. Poland plays a key role in ensuring Europe's energy security. The summit to be held tomorrow on Poland's initiative is one example of this. The fact that other presidents are meeting at same time as this summit further underscores its importance. We welcome Poland's initiative to create a presidential committee with Georgia. Through this committee the two countries' relations will grow even closer. We welcome Poland's initiative, as cooperation with this country brings us closer to Europe," President Saakashvili said.

Also today the Polish and Georgian presidents unveiled a memorial dedicated to Georgian military officers who fought with the Polish army in the Warsaw Uprising during World War II and against the Bolsheviks in the 1920s at the Museum of the Warsaw Uprising. A Georgian folk music ensemble sang at the ceremony.

"This is a monument to the people who fought against Bolshevik Russia and fascist Germany. Yesterday we marked the 62nd anniversary of the end of World War II. The fact that we are unveiling this monument today shows just how inextricably linked our countries' fates have been. When Georgia was begging all of Europe to recognize its independence, the only European country which fully recognized us was Poland. The location of this memorial in a place that is so holy to all Polish people - the premises of the Warsaw Uprising Museum - is an expression of the very noble nature of the Polish people," Saakashvili said.

Tomorrow Saakashvili, Kaczynski and the presidents of three other regional countries will take part in a summit devoted to European energy security issues in Krakow.

Press Office
of the President of Georgia