Georgia, Tbilisi, July 13 / Trend, N. Kirtzkhalia /
Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Pandjikidze addressed the participants of "Georgia's European way" international conference in Batumi on Friday and spoke about the integration process to the EU and the country's progress in cooperation with the EU.
Georgia has reached significant progress in implementation of "Eastern Partnership" road map initiative which led to an important phase in the relations with the EU and an association agreement will lay a foundation to more intensify and develop these relations, Pandjikidze said.
"The Vilnius summit is an important moment for the development of "Eastern Partnership" initiative," Pandjikidze said. "It should make the Europeanization process of the region irreversible and clearly show that "Eastern Partnership" can really be a "game changer" as Commissioner Fule stressed in his speech in the European Parliament. We believe that this summit can be historical."
"Georgia also intends to achieve significant progress in implementation of the plan on liberalization of visa regime and the further goal is to complete the legislative phase of the plan," she said.
The minister named several priorities, as well as preparation for the association agenda, which is the main tool for the further implementation of the association agreement as the main goals in further development of relations with EU. The priorities include working out of a framework agreement with EU on Georgia's participation in the EU crisis management operations. Signing an agreement on Georgia's participation in EU programs, as well as launching the negotiations on Georgia's accession to EU energy associations will be the main directions.
Pandjikidze also stressed the importance of a free trade agreement, cooperation with EU within the "more for more" initiative and Eastern Partnership other initiatives.
In conclusion, Foreign Minister stressed that the Vilnius summit must be a strong signal for the "Eastern Partnership" countries as the confirmation of their long-term European perspective.
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