"Nothing
can stop Georgia from signing the Association Agreement with the EU" Prime
Minister Irakli Garibashvili assured EU counterparts in his first visit to
Brussels since his appointment to the premiership in November 2012. Georgia is
well on track to meet the EU's conditions for signature of the landmark trade
and aid accord, expected in August.
"The
major priority for Georgia is to sign the Association Agreement as soon as
possible," Garibashvili commented at joint briefing with EU Commission
President Jose Manuel Barroso on Monday. "The Georgian government stands
ready to deliver on its commitments," the Prime Minister added, referring
to EU-mandated reforms under terms of the Association Agreement, reports GHN
based on press release published at Georgian Government’s web site.
According
to Garibashvili the reform process is accompanied by strong economic growth, which
is expected to result in 5 to 6 percent increase this year according to the
World Bank’s forecasts. He also pointed out that Georgia investment conference
has been planned to take place in Brussels in June.
Prime
Minister expressed his hope that with “EU's solidarity and strong political
support as well as technical and financial assistance," Georgia would
attain European standards within three to five years.
"We
need to have this agreement signed to seal this historical development for our
bilateral relations," said Barroso referring to the accord initialed at
the Vilnius summit last November. He commended the Georgian government for its
"determination" in carrying out the necessary reforms. "I'm
confident in the future of our relations and in Georgia's European path.",
he added.
Garibashvili
also met with European Council President Herman van Rompuy, who said he would
be "glad to visit Tbilisi in the coming months," in a show of support
for the signature of the Association Agreement.
Regarding
Georgian regions Abkhazia and South Ossetia which are occupied by Russia,
Barroso underlined that continued contacts between Georgia and Russia where
"an important way to ensure stability and security in the region,"
while insisting on Georgia's "territorial integrity".
Garibashvili
welcomed "the EU's vital role in promoting peace and stability in
Georgia." and talked about the possibility of Georgia inviting Abkhazia
and South Ossetia "to share the benefits" of the Association
Agreement and of eventual membership in the EU, with a single market of nearly
a half billion people.
"It is also in Russia's
interest to see a stable, prosperous and united Georgia in a volatile region on
its border." Garibashvili concluded.
