“Abkhazia and Tskhinvali are Georgia’s open wounds” – the Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia Ilia the Second said during the meeting with the United Nations Development Programme’s Administrator Helen Clark at Svetitskhioveli Patriarchate’s residence.

The Patriarch spoke about the oldest culture of Georgia and Orthodox Church of Georgia. The Patriarch noted that for centuries Georgia has been protecting its culture, language, land and independence.

“We want Georgia to become a part of European structures, have close ties with the UN, European structures. We have hopes about your visit and think that these people will assist Georgia’s economic-political development. It’s very difficult for us that territorial integrity of Georgia has not been restored. Abkhazia and Tskhinvali are Georgia’s open wounds. We hope the territories will return. As Abkhazia, also Tskhinvali are the oldest territories of Georgia”, - Ilia the Second declared at the meeting.

Ilia the Second declares that for 11 years he was the archbishop of Abkhazia and then he was elected as the Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia. The Patriarch said that a lot of Georgia’s young people receive education in the West, trying to get knowledge, study European culture and be introduced to the European structures. According to Ilia the Second, for five years, he chaired the World Church Council, the centre of which is in Switzerland.

Helen Clark addressed Patriarch by saying that he is spiritual leader of the Georgian people. Clark says that internal confrontations must be solved with dialogue.

“You are the spiritual leader of Georgian people. It’s important that internal confrontations should be solved by dialogue. As we know, you call on the political parties for this. We are amazed by the success Georgian people are reaching in this transition period”, - Helen Clark said.

She said, she visited Kakheti yesterday and there is great potential for agricultural development in the country. She voiced hope that the politicians will shift attention to the important issues like agriculture.

The second part of the meeting was held behind closed doors. After the meeting, Helen Clark went to Svetitskhiveli Cathedral.