Georgia, Tbilisi, Dec.29 / Trend N. Kirtskhalia /
2011 has been an important year in Georgia's integration into NATO and the EU, Georgian Deputy Prime Minister Giorgi Baramidze said on Thursday.
Baramidze said Georgia effectively uses such a tool as "NATO-Georgia Commission" and has already held about 20 meetings within it.
"NATO Secretary General's visit to Georgia and mentioning Georgia among countries - candidates for Alliance's membership were important," Baramidze said stressing that this happened for the first time. He also stressed that the decision of the NATO Bucharest summit that Georgia will be a NATO member remains in force.
"Our task in 2012 is maintaining high rate of integration into the NATO and EU," Baramidze stressed.
He said it is important that the negotiations with the EU on an association agreement continue.
"Decision on simplifying visa regime, start of negotiations on free trade, which will allow Georgia to enter the 500-million market, which will strengthen the country's economy, was also important," Baramidze said.
He said next year is also important as the negotiations will continue on an association agreement, and the consultations on the abolition of the visa regime will start by late spring.
"Georgia expects clearer signal on which steps should be taken for closer approximation," Baramidze stressed. "We will continue reforms to reach progress in this regard," he added.