Tbilisi, Georgia, April 4
By Nana Kirtzkhalia - Trend:
Georgia's European integration is a bilateral issue with the EU and it should be implemented without interference of a third party, the Georgian Foreign Ministry reported.
"It should be emphasized that Georgia's European integration is an issue of bilateral Georgian-EU cooperation and should be implemented without interference of a third party. Not a single third party has the right to influence foreign policy choices of a sovereign state," the Georgian Foreign Ministry said, which has become the answer to the question of the Civil.ge Internet portal about Tbilisi's position on a proposal put forth by French, German and Polish foreign ministers on EU-Russian talks with those Eastern Partnership countries, which aspire to EU integration.
"It is of special political importance for Georgia to be permanently part of agenda of the European institutions and leaders of EU member states. It is caused by Georgia's commitment to the European choice, "the statement said.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry noted that in a dialogue with Russia, the European Union should continue demanding from Russia to respect Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.
Foreign ministers of France, Germany and Poland have proposed EU-Russia talks with those Eastern Partnership countries, which aspire EU integration, namely Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.
Large scale military action was launched in South Ossetia on August 8, 2008. Later, Russian troops occupied Tskhinvali and expelled the Georgian military.
Russia recognised the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in late August. In response, Tbilisi ended diplomatic relations with Moscow and has called the two unrecognised republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia occupied territories.
Translated by S.I.