"We are proud of the friendship that has developed between Georgia and Italy. One expression of our close relationship is the opening of the Consulate General in the city of Milan.

This is yet another step that will contribute to further deepening the relations between Georgia and Italy," – said Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze during his speech at the official opening of the Consulate General of Georgia in Milan and at the celebratory event marking Georgia’s Independence Day.

In his speech, the Head of Government highlighted the special bond between the Georgian and Italian peoples and noted that Milan holds particular emotional significance for Georgians for one specific reason – “Georgia was represented in Milan by the Mayor of Tbilisi, Kakha Kaladze.”

"Georgians have a special attitude toward Italy and the Italian people. We believe that among all European nations, we most closely resemble Italians, and this is a unique source of pride for us. We are inspired by everything related to Italy – its unique culture, history, sports, cuisine – all tied to this incredibly beautiful and fascinating country."

"As for the main topic, Milan is emotionally significant for one very specific reason – Mr. Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi, represented our country in this city. For many years, he proudly defended the honor of Georgia here and brought many victories to our country in this city. We are proud of the friendship that has formed between Georgia and Italy. One expression of our close relationship is the opening of the Consulate General in Milan, which we visited today. This is another act that will further strengthen the ties between our countries."

"There is a large Georgian diaspora in Italy, especially in the northern part of the country, and of course, this further promotes the development of our partnership. We will continue to do everything possible in the future to deepen the friendship between our countries even more. Finally, I would once again like to express my gratitude to Italy and the Italian people for the many years of friendship that we have always felt from your side. Once again, thank you all for being here today," the Prime Minister concluded.