Austria–Georgia relations
Encyclopedia
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. 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
.
, 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. The first ambassador was Georg von und zu Franckenstein
.
During the 2008 South Ossetia war
, Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik
urged "Russia to respect the territorial integrity of Georgia, considering the UN resolution." She also said that Russia's military intervention in Georgia had seriously undermined its credibility as a reliable partner of the West.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
. Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1992 and Georgia opened its Embassy in Vienna in 1996. Austria is represented in Georgia through a non resident ambassador based in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, and through an honorary consulate in Tbilissi. Georgia has an embassy in Vienna and an honorary consulate in Graz
Graz
The more recent population figures do not give the whole picture as only people with principal residence status are counted and people with secondary residence status are not. Most of the people with secondary residence status in Graz are students...
.
History
At the end of World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
was, together with the other central powers
Central Powers
The Central Powers were one of the two warring factions in World War I , composed of the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Bulgaria...
, the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
and the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, one of the first and only nations that recognized the independence of the short-lived Democratic Republic of Georgia
Democratic Republic of Georgia
The Democratic Republic of Georgia , 1918–1921, was the first modern establishment of a Republic of Georgia.The DRG was created after the collapse of the Russian Empire that began with the Russian Revolution of 1917...
in 1918. The first ambassador was Georg von und zu Franckenstein
Georg von und zu Franckenstein
Georg Freiherr von und zu Franckenstein was the eldest son of Karl Baron von und zu Franckenstein and his wife, Elma née Countess von Schönborn-Wiesentheid and a member of the Franckenstein family.thumb|Sir George FranckensteinHis younger brother was the composer and General Intendant of Munich...
.
During the 2008 South Ossetia war
2008 South Ossetia war
The 2008 South Ossetia War or Russo-Georgian War was an armed conflict in August 2008 between Georgia on one side, and Russia and separatist governments of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on the other....
, Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik
Ursula Plassnik
Ursula Plassnik is an Austrian diplomat and politician. She was Foreign Minister of Austria between October 2004 and December 2008.-Early life and career:...
urged "Russia to respect the territorial integrity of Georgia, considering the UN resolution." She also said that Russia's military intervention in Georgia had seriously undermined its credibility as a reliable partner of the West.
Bilateral agreements
The following bilateral agreements are in place:- 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:- January 19-21, 2006; A visit by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Gela BezhuashviliGela BezhuashviliGela Bezhuashvili is a Georgian politician and the current head of the Georgian Intelligence Service since February 1, 2008...
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 BurjanadzeNino BurjanadzeNino Burjanadze is a Georgian politician and lawyer who served as Chairperson of the Parliament of Georgia from November 2001 to June 2008...
to Austria - March 26-29, 2006; Working visit of Prime Minister of Georgia Zurab NoghaideliZurab NoghaideliZurab Noghaideli is a Georgian businessman and a politician who served as the Prime Minister of Georgia from February 2005 until he resigned, citing health problems, on 16 November 2007...
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