Georgian President continues his visit to France. Mikheil Saakashvili held several official visits on June8 and attended the events within the Georgia Cultural Days in France. The president`s visits are scheduled for today as well.
After having held face-to-face talks with his French counterpart Nicola Sarkozy, Mikheil Saakashvili held meetings with political experts and scientists. He delivered a special report on `Georgia - laboratory foe democratic reforms in the post-Soviet space`, at the Institute for Political Sciences. Mikheil Saakashvili in his speech underlined Georgia`s post-Soviet legacy and the reforms carried out in the country in recent years. The president talked about the tolerant environment created for ethnic minorities in Georgia and the local self-government elections held on May 30.
`Despite the tanks of the aggressor country standing in 32 kilometres from our capital, I arrived here to deliver a message of hope. The European and Euro Atlantic model is very attractive for Georgia, this is the model, which guides us to the social, economic and political transformation. If our big neighbour allows us to implement this model, Georgia will be the best example of it.
`The 2010 local self-government election was very important, as it was the first election after Russia`s invasion. The election demonstrated people`s confidence and support for the reforms carried out in the country. The process was held in a transparent and civilized fashion. I mean the political debates held during the election campaign and free accessibility of media`, Saakashvili said.
After the speech the Georgian President answered questions of political experts, philosophers and students at the Institute for Political Sciences.
`Georgian Presidents visit to France is important, because Nikola Sarkozy played a significant role during the August war. We support Georgia`s European integration, although I think it already is Europe`s worthy member. As for NATO membership, it is just the issue of time. Resolving Georgia`s problems for Europe means resolving its own problems`, Christian Leuven, the director of the Institute for International Studies said.
After the official meetings, Mikheil Saakashvili attended teh Georgian Cultural Days in Pierre Cardin Centre. The world-famous designed personally hosted the Georgian president and first lady.
Paris-based Georgian Director Nino Kirtadze`s film Little about Georgia was also presented in the French capital the Film shows Europe`s reactions and the Georgian president`s working environment during the 2008 August war.
