BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan.23
By Tamilla Mammadova – Trend:
Making deeper strategic ties with the US and the EU in the only way for Georgia to “survive in a region full of challenges”, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said, Trend reports via the press service of the government of Georgia.
He made the remark speaking at the New Ambitious for Europe Panel in Davos during the World Economic Forum.
Gakharia said that the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration is the “firm choice” of the Georgian people, with more than 70 percent of the country’s population supporting this.
"We will do our best for Georgia to always be on the agenda when you, our allies and partners, speak about the future of Europe,” Gakharia said.
He stated that Georgia has made “big achievements” over the past five years.
"We have signed the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area deal with the EU and signed a visa free agreement with the European Union,” Gakharia said.
However, Gakharia said Georgia faces “security and economic challenges.”
"Resolving the economic issues is among our top priorities. Georgia is a gate between Europe and Asia and when we speak about economic policy we see Georgia as the platform of trade turnover between the world's top economies,” Gakharia said
He added that Georgia “fully realizes that making investments in economy equals investing for security."
Gakharia stated that Georgia needs closer economic cooperation with the EU.
"We have a strong legal framework - the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area Deal, but have no land borders with the EU which is a problem and the challenge which should be overcome”, he said.
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