Solana Pledged EU’s Support to Georgia

Solana: We want EU-Georgian relationship to strengthen and deepen.

Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), who arrived in Tbilisi on January 14, today hailed the activities of the new leadership of Georgia and expressed readiness for rendering any type of assistance to the country. 

“We want our [EU-Georgian] relationship to strengthen and deepen. We will wait for the working plan established by the Georgian government to see how we can help. We have to see what are the priorities of the [Georgian] government,” Javier Solana said at a news briefing on January 15 after the meeting with Interim President Nino Burjanadze.

Javier Solana pledged that the EU would assist Georgia in solving the political and economic problems, as well as eradicating corruption in the country.

He said, Georgia should establish ties with the world leading countries, including Russia. At the same time, he said Russia, as a member of the OSCE, should honor its commitments, undertaken at the 1999 OSCE Istanbul summit, and withdraw its military bases from Georgia.

Javier Solana pledged the EU support for holding free and fair parliamentary elections in Georgia. “In case of necessity we will render technical and financial assistance to Georgia,” he added.

Speaking about Georgia’s integration into the European Union, Javier Solana said, much is still to be done for it.

The EU High Representative has already held meetings with President-elect Mikheil Saakashvili, State Minister Zurab Zhvania.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)