Austria–Georgia relations

Austrian-Georgian relations

Austria	Georgia

Austria–Georgia relations are foreign relations between Austria and Georgia. Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1992 and Georgia opened its Embassy in Vienna in 1996.^[1] Austria is represented in Georgia through a non resident ambassador based in Vienna, and through an honorary consulate in Tbilissi. Georgia has an embassy in Vienna and an honorary consulate in Graz.

History

At the end of World War I, Austria-Hungary was, together with the other central powers, the German Empire and the Ottoman Empire, one of the first and only nations that recognized the independence of the short-lived Democratic Republic of Georgia in 1918.^[2] The first ambassador was Georg von und zu Franckenstein.^[3]

During the 2008 South Ossetia war, Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik urged "Russia to respect the territorial integrity of Georgia, considering the UN resolution."^[4] She also said that Russia's military intervention in Georgia had seriously undermined its credibility as a reliable partner of the West.^[5]

Bilateral agreements

The following bilateral agreements are in place:^[6]

• Agreement between Georgia and the Republic of Austria on Bilateral Foreign Economic Relations
• Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic Austria
• Air Transport Agreement between the Austrian Federal Government and the Government of Georgia
• Agreement between the Government of Georgia and the Government of the Republic of Austria for the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments
• Agreement between the Government of Georgia and the Government of the Republic of Austria for Avoidance of Double Taxation
• Protocol on the Amendment to the Air Transport Agreement the Austrian Federal Government and the Government of Georgia

Official visits

The following occurred:^[6]

• January 19–21, 2006; A visit by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Gela Bezhuashvili to Vienna for the International Conference on "European Strategies of Development of Democracies in Post Soviet Countries"
• February 22–26, 2006; Visit of Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia Nino Burjanadze to Austria
• March 26–29, 2006; Working visit of Prime Minister of Georgia Zurab Noghaideli to Austria
• May 4–5, 2006; Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia Ivane Merabishvili to Austria
• October 27, 2006; Prime Minister of Georgia, Zurab Noghaideli, to Austria

See also

• Foreign relations of Austria
• Foreign relations of Georgia

References

1. "Embassy of Georgia to Austria". Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
2. Anti-Bolshevik Bloc of Nations, ABN correspondence v. 16 (Press Bureau of the AntiBolshevik Bloc of Nations, 1965), 9.
3. Seidl-Hohenveldern, Ignaz; Stephan Verosta (1996). Die völkerrechtliche Praxis der Donaumonarchie von 1859 bis 1918: eine Auswahl von Dokumenten (in German). Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften. pp. 79–81. ISBN 978-3-7001-2233-3.
4. "Plassnik demands Russian ceasefire". Wiener Zeitung. August 12, 2008. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
5. "Austrian minister says Russia no longer a reliable partner". Agence France-Presse. August 23, 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-09-04. Retrieved 2009-06-11. Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik said Saturday that Russia's military intervention in Georgia had seriously undermined its credibility as a reliable partner of the West.
6. "Relations between Georgia and the Republic of Austria". Georgia. Retrieved 2009-06-11.

Bibliography

• Agstner, Rudolf (1999). Österreich im Kaukasus 1849-1918 (in German). Diplomatische Akademie. ISBN 978-3-902021-12-0.
• Bihl, Wolfdieter (1992). Die Kaukasus-Politik der Mittelmächte (in German). Böhlau. ISBN 978-3-205-05517-4.

External links

• Austrian Foreign Ministry: list of bilateral treaties with Georgia (in German only)
• Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Austria