German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier spoke by phone with Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili on November 11 and expressed gratitude for the courage of Georgian troops in repelling attack on the German Consulate General in the Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

Georgian soldiers, serving at German army`s Camp Marmal near Mazar-i-Sharif, along with German, Belgian and Latvian forces involved in the NATO Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, helped to repel the attack after a suicide bomber rammed a truck into the German consulate in Afghanistan, killing at least six civilians. All German staff from the consulate were unharmed.

“The Georgian Prime Minister noted that such facts further intensify already strong ties between the two countries,” the Georgian PM’s office said.

According to the same report, the sides also discussed the importance of duly finalization of visa liberalisation process with EU.

Georgia’s hopes for finalizing visa liberalisation process this summer have waned after last-minute objection from Germany. The relevant procedures are still underway.

The German Foreign Minister said that he would spare no efforts for solving this issue duly, according to PM’s office.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier congratulated PM Kvirikashvili on his party’s victory in the October parliamentary elections and pledged political support to the Georgian government.

“The sides also discussed the current situation in the region and the perspectives of future cooperation between the two counties,” according to the Georgian PM’s office.