The Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Georgia, Gareth Ward, has been invited to a meeting with the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, George Zurabashvili.

The meeting focused on Georgia`s compliance with international sanctions regimes and the efforts undertaken by the Government of Georgia and relevant state authorities in this regard.

It was underscored that the persistent speculations surrounding the issue remains unclear, particularly in light of the fact that there has not been a single instance of Georgia violating international sanctions, and with Georgian authorities maintaining thorough cooperation with the international partners.

In this regard, it is concerning that the statement issued by the British Embassy, places particular emphasis on Georgia in connection with the sanctioned vessel "SILVAR" (IMO 9291262), which reinforces misleading perceptions and serves to deliberately undermine Georgia`s interests. The First Deputy Minister stressed that referring Georgia in the Embassy`s statement is unacceptable, particularly given that, at the time of the vessel`s entry into Georgia and throughout its operations, not any international sanction had been imposed on it. Moreover, the vessel held a valid class issued by Lloyd`s Register (UK), had been operating on numerous international maritime trade routes, visiting European, Asian, and African ports, including Malta, Denmark (Skagen), Egypt, Malaysia, India, China, and others. At the same time, all the competent authorities of Georgia have been acting in full compliance with the national and international obligations.

The British side is also well-informed that, just a few weeks prior to entering Georgia, the vessel had undergone a Port State Control inspection in the Kingdom of Denmark and it has not been detained on that ground, hence confirming its compliance with international maritime safety and technical supervision requirements.

During the meeting with the British Ambassador, George Zurabashvili underscored that the spirit underlying the Embassy`s statement is unacceptable, as such manipulative narratives undermine the relations between Georgia and the United Kingdom. At the conclusion of the meeting, special emphasis was placed on the importance of constructive cooperation between the parties.