Tweet
news.az, Azerbaijan
July 16 2010
Georgia was always a member of Europe, Saakashvili
Fri 16 July 2010 | 07:07 GMT Text size:
Mikheil Saakashvili Baroness Ashton on her side reiterated EU`s clear
support to Georgia and stressed the reforms carried out in the
country.
Catherine Ashton, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and
Security Policy of the European Union visited Thursday the seaside
town of Batumi in Adjara Region.
Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili received the EU High
Representative. The face-to-face meeting behind the closed doors
lasted for two hours.
After the meeting, Mikheil Saakashvili and Catherine Ashton held a
joint press conference on Piazza Square in the centre of Batumi.
Georgian President said Georgia was always a member of Europe. He said
the county has done very much on its way to constructing an European
state, although much has been left to do and support by EU is
necessary for that.
The president spoke in details about Catherine Ashton`s first visit to
Georgia and the first round of EU-Georgia talks on the agreement on
Georgia's associated membership to EU.
`This square is a symbol of contemporary Georgia, because right here
today we are launching talks on Georgia`s associated membership to EU,
which will be followed by Free Trade Agreement and visa -free regime.
Few years ago, this town was the most unpromising, the most criminal
on the Black Sea coast, but today it is the most fast-developing town.
This square is unfinished, the reforms are also unfinished. But the
construction started here on March 1 and this demonstrates that
Georgia is being constructed so rapidly. Georgia is not going to
Europe, it is already in Europe and it is returning to European
institutions`, the president said.
`The purpose of our reforms is to create the first European state in
teh Caucasian history. We have done so much and we need your
assistance to do much. We would like to walk this way with you.
`The symbol of Free Batumi is also hope for future free Sukhumi and
free Tskhinvali, hope for free Georgia based on principles of
liberty.`Our Freedom Today`, the words from our national anthem is the
main motive principle of me and all members of my government`, Mikheil
Saakashvili said.
`We have always had a strategic stability and prosperity and
development of democracy in our Eastern neighbourhood. The Eastern
Partnership to be established last year, has given new impetus to our
efforts to create the close possible links between EU and its Eastern
neighbours. Our relations with the South Caucasus in particular are
developing rapidly. To the point we will be now able to launch these
negotiations here today. And as you know, negotiations for association
agreements for Azerbaijan and Armenia will be launched tomorrow in
Baku and in Yerevan on Monday.
`I am confident that all these agreements will be ambitious and
forward-looking. And they will provide the framework for new
relationship based on political association and economic integration.
And I firmly believe, by strengthening these relationships between EU
and Georgia, we can contribute Georgia`s democratic development, help
to secure its long-term stability, build prosperity and eradicate
poverty. The ambitions, that I know you hold, are the core of your
work for this country.
`The negotiations will of course require the considerable efforts on
all sides. And this context the EU is committed to start negotiations
for a deep and comprehensive free trade area. Georgia is of course
ready for this. And to make that step, Georgia needs to make a
sufficient progress on its way to building democracy.
`We support Georgia`s territorial integrity and do not recognize
independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. We continuingly call on
Russia to fulfil the six-point cease-fire agreement. We of course
always support peaceful resolution of problems. We welcome the
Georgian government`s action plan towards the conflict regions. We
consider Georgia`s efforts to establish relationship with Europe very
important and we hope Georgia also will become EU`s reliable partner`,
Catherine Ashton said.
Rustavi2
From: A. Papazian
July 16 2010
Georgia was always a member of Europe, Saakashvili
Fri 16 July 2010 | 07:07 GMT Text size:
Mikheil Saakashvili Baroness Ashton on her side reiterated EU`s clear
support to Georgia and stressed the reforms carried out in the
country.
Catherine Ashton, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and
Security Policy of the European Union visited Thursday the seaside
town of Batumi in Adjara Region.
Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili received the EU High
Representative. The face-to-face meeting behind the closed doors
lasted for two hours.
After the meeting, Mikheil Saakashvili and Catherine Ashton held a
joint press conference on Piazza Square in the centre of Batumi.
Georgian President said Georgia was always a member of Europe. He said
the county has done very much on its way to constructing an European
state, although much has been left to do and support by EU is
necessary for that.
The president spoke in details about Catherine Ashton`s first visit to
Georgia and the first round of EU-Georgia talks on the agreement on
Georgia's associated membership to EU.
`This square is a symbol of contemporary Georgia, because right here
today we are launching talks on Georgia`s associated membership to EU,
which will be followed by Free Trade Agreement and visa -free regime.
Few years ago, this town was the most unpromising, the most criminal
on the Black Sea coast, but today it is the most fast-developing town.
This square is unfinished, the reforms are also unfinished. But the
construction started here on March 1 and this demonstrates that
Georgia is being constructed so rapidly. Georgia is not going to
Europe, it is already in Europe and it is returning to European
institutions`, the president said.
`The purpose of our reforms is to create the first European state in
teh Caucasian history. We have done so much and we need your
assistance to do much. We would like to walk this way with you.
`The symbol of Free Batumi is also hope for future free Sukhumi and
free Tskhinvali, hope for free Georgia based on principles of
liberty.`Our Freedom Today`, the words from our national anthem is the
main motive principle of me and all members of my government`, Mikheil
Saakashvili said.
`We have always had a strategic stability and prosperity and
development of democracy in our Eastern neighbourhood. The Eastern
Partnership to be established last year, has given new impetus to our
efforts to create the close possible links between EU and its Eastern
neighbours. Our relations with the South Caucasus in particular are
developing rapidly. To the point we will be now able to launch these
negotiations here today. And as you know, negotiations for association
agreements for Azerbaijan and Armenia will be launched tomorrow in
Baku and in Yerevan on Monday.
`I am confident that all these agreements will be ambitious and
forward-looking. And they will provide the framework for new
relationship based on political association and economic integration.
And I firmly believe, by strengthening these relationships between EU
and Georgia, we can contribute Georgia`s democratic development, help
to secure its long-term stability, build prosperity and eradicate
poverty. The ambitions, that I know you hold, are the core of your
work for this country.
`The negotiations will of course require the considerable efforts on
all sides. And this context the EU is committed to start negotiations
for a deep and comprehensive free trade area. Georgia is of course
ready for this. And to make that step, Georgia needs to make a
sufficient progress on its way to building democracy.
`We support Georgia`s territorial integrity and do not recognize
independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. We continuingly call on
Russia to fulfil the six-point cease-fire agreement. We of course
always support peaceful resolution of problems. We welcome the
Georgian government`s action plan towards the conflict regions. We
consider Georgia`s efforts to establish relationship with Europe very
important and we hope Georgia also will become EU`s reliable partner`,
Catherine Ashton said.
Rustavi2
From: A. Papazian