Georgia, Tbilisi, July 11 / Trend, N.Kirtskhalia/
The High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union Catherine Ashton will visit Georgia on July 15-16. Her arrival in Tbilisi connected with the start of negotiations between EU and Georgia on the association agreement.
EU adopted negotiating directives for future association agreements with three South Caucasus countries - Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia - on May 10.
"The adoption of these negotiating directives is a clear sign of our strong commitment to further deepen the relationship between the EU and the countries of the South Caucasus, on the basis of shared values and principles, including democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights," Ashton said on May 11.
Late last month, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili appointed Tornike Gordadze, who was a director of Caucasus Studies at the French Institute of Anatolian Studies, as new deputy foreign minister in charge of European affairs. Gordadze will be Georgia's chief negotiator on EU-related affairs.