President Saakashvili has been invited to attend inauguration ceremony of Colombian President-elect Juan Manuel Santos Calderón planned for August 7, the Georgian president’s press office reported on Tuesday.

The written announcement by the President administration does not specify whether Saakashvili will travel to Bogota or not to attend the inauguration, which coincides with second anniversary of the August war with Russia.

Alana Gagloeva, head of the President’s press office, told Civil.ge few hours after the written statement was released, that as of now Saakashvili’s plan was to visit Colombia.
 
Temur Iakobashvili, the Georgian state minister for reintegration, said President Saakashvili “should definitely visit Colombia”, because Latin America was an important region for Georgia “at least in terms of non-recognition” policy towards Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

“The visit will also give opportunity for meeting with other leaders, who will be also attending [the inauguration],” Iakobashvili said.

“Colombia, which is a democratic country and the United States’ partner, is an interesting partner for us and deepening relations with this country is desirable for our country,” Giorgi Baramidze, the state minister for Euro-Atlantic integration issues, said.

President Saakashvili visited Costa Rica in early May, where he attended inauguration of President Laura Chinchilla.