The Chairman of the State Agency for Religious Issues, Zaza Vashakmadze, met with the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Georgia, Meline Arakelian, at the Administration of the Government of Georgia. The introductory meeting started with congratulations. Zaza Vashakmadze expressed hope that the newly appointed Ambassador will successfully continue his active cooperation with the Agency.

The purpose of the meeting was the introduction of the activities of the State Agency for Religious Issues. Projects implemented by the state of Georgia to protect religious freedom and promote a tolerant environment, religious diversity, the format of the Interreligious Council and its functions, trainings conducted within the framework of the governmental human rights action plan - these were the main topics of the conversation. According to Zaza Vashakmadze, the main priority of the Georgian state is human rights, including freedom of religion and expression, and in this regard, cooperation with the Embassy of the Netherlands will be useful for the Agency.

The chairman of the Agency paid special attention to the facts of violation of religious freedom in the territories of Georgia occupied by Russia, the harsh reality of the Georgian population remaining there and the deplorable condition of the cult buildings of various religious denominations, especially the Orthodox churches, attempts to erase the Georgian traces in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region. According to him, the fact that all denominations, except the Georgian Orthodox Church, have the right to go to the occupied territories and worship there, is disturbing.

Meline Arakelian thanked Zaza Vashakmadze for hosting her and expressed full support of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for Georgia's European integration. According to the Ambassador, in this context, freedom of religion and expression are the most important issues, and in this direction, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands will actively cooperate with the State Agency for Religious Issues.

At the end of the meeting, Zaza Vashakmadze gave the Ambassador the publications of the Agency - Interreligious Calendar, "Occupied Heritage", "Functioning Cult Buildings in Tbilisi as of 2020" and "Religions in Georgia" as a gift.