Georgia, Tbilisi, Sept. 23 / Trend N. Kirtskhalia /
Talks on free trade between Georgia and the EU will start soon, the Director of the EU Foreign Service on the "Eastern Partnership" between Russia and Central Asia for regional cooperation and the OSCE Gunnar Wiegand said.
"However, I cannot give an exact date because it is necessary to take all necessary preliminary steps," he said. "The Eastern Partnership summit will be the determining factor in this issue, and will be held in Warsaw in late September."
He stressed that the terms will be determined at the summit.
Wiegand said that the EU wants to hold more "profound" and "meaningful" talks with Georgia, and stressed that it welcomes the ongoing reforms in Georgia.
"The EU remains Georgia's partner," he said. It is ready to cooperate with it."
The EU representative stressed that it is necessary to divide the countries of the "Eastern Partnership" into those which more quickly implement reforms and those who are stalling in this sphere. "The higher the pace of reforms, the more help from the EU," Wiegand said, expressing Brussels's formula.
He stressed that the EU wants democracy in Georgia to become more deep and wider.
Gordadze said that the issues of multilateral and bilateral cooperation between Georgia and the EU were discussed during today's meeting.
"The conversation was about the rule of law, strengthening democracy and protecting human rights," he said.
Gordadze also said that the situation in Abkhazia and South Ossetia was discussed.