Georgia far from EU Accession

(Tbilisi, July 9, 2003, Civil Georgia) – Georgia cannot count on the accession to the European Union in the near future, Head of the delegation of the European Union Ministerial Troika, Deputy Foreign Minister of Italy Margherita Boniver said after the meeting with Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze today.

The EU Ministerial Troika’s visit, which started on July 8, is in the line of the process of strengthening the EU’s cooperation with the South Caucasus region.

Margherita Boniver said Georgia should pay more attention to the struggle against corruption and terrorism, comply with the European standards on human rights and develop democratic processes in the country.

The EU delegation urged the Georgian government to settle the problems with the International Monetary Fund. Otherwise, the European Union will find difficult to implement aid programs in Georgia.
 
During the meeting with Parliamentary Vice-Speaker Gigi Tsereteli, the EU delegation showed interest in the pre-election situation in Georgia, saying fair elections will greatly define further cooperation with the country.