Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili awarded Teimuraz Janjalia, his Deputy, and Vakhtang Makharoblishvili, Ambassador of Georgia to the European Union, with a prize recognising their contributions to the work that ensured the country received the EU membership candidate status.

The Minister presented the award, named after the Georgian writer and diplomat Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani, to the officials during an event celebrating national Diplomat’s Day.

The annual event is coincided with the birthday of Orbeliani, who represented the country in Europe in the early 18th century, and is typically observed on November 3. This year’s celebration was however held following the granting of the EU candidacy to Georgia.