Within the official visit to Georgia, Foreign Minister of France Bernard Kouchner was hosted by president Saakashvili at the presidential residence on Thursday. After the closed-door meeting, Saakashvili and Kouchner held briefing for media and talked about the French and EU support to the country.
Mikheil Saakashvili assessed the principle support of France to Georgia as very important.
`We are old friends and it is symbolic that Bernard Kouchner marks the national holiday of France here with us. Today we are officially launching negotiations on Georgia's associated membership to EU. This is very significant and we know that we have the support of France in this process,` president said.
President welcomed the constructive position of France in the process of Georgia`s integration into the NATO and European structures.
Saakashvili touched the issue of Russian occupation and said that Georgia had 500,000 IDPs from occupied territories, which are not allowed to return to their homes.
`Today we are having many honourable guests in Georgia and this is very significant, because such simultaneous visits of European diplomats to Georgia has not taken place in Georgia so far. This is a confirmation of our democratic development,` Saakashvili said.
In his speech, French diplomat reiterated support to Georgia`s territorial integrity and added that Russian forces should free Georgian territories.
`I am glad to meet the National Holiday of France with you. We are connected with old friendship and partnership. France has not forgotten its obligations taken in regards with Georgia with August 12 six-point ceasefire agreement. Some points of this document are not fulfilled so far and we keep on working to press Russia comply with its commitments,` Bernard Kouchner said, adding the negotiations on official and informal levels are held for this.
`I want to reiterate that Abkhazia and South Ossetia are inseparable parts of Georgia and they must return into its composition,` Kouchner said and welcomed the beginning of negotiations on Georgia's associated membership to EU.
