Foreign Minister Outlines Georgia’s Priorities for 2006

Georgian Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili briefed reporters on January 31 about the priorities which will top the country’s foreign policy agenda in 2006.

He listed restoration of territorial integrity, integration into NATO and EU, strengthening of Georgia’s role in the region and diplomatic efforts to ensure the country’s economic and energy security among the country’s top priorities this year.

“The top priority for us will be to consolidate the support of the international community in restoring Georgia’s territorial integrity,” including peaceful resolutions to the conflicts in the country and implementation of the peaceful initiatives of 2004-2005 said Bezhuashvili.

“The next priority is consolidation of processes launched after the 2003 Rose Revolution. In regards to internal affairs it is further strengthening of democratic processes and in regards to foreign affairs it is strengthening of Georgia’s role as a democratic state in the post-Soviet space, hence protecting democratic values in this region and beyond,” the Foreign Minister stated.

Bezhuashvili said that Georgia wants to finalize the implementation of the Individual Partnership Action Plan with NATO and launch a Membership Action Plan by the end of 2006.

“The next priority is Georgia’s membership into NATO. In this respect we plan to sucessfully implement Georgia’s Individual Partnership Action Plan [IPAP] with NATO this year and move towards NATO’s Membership Action Plan [MAP] by the end of this year,” he said.

“A higher level of integration with the European Union is another priority. In 2006 we should finalize talks over Georgia’s Action Plan in frames of the EU’s Neighborhood Policy and we should sign this document. It is desirable to launch the implementation of this plan by the end of this year,” Bezhuashvili continued.

“Another important priority for the Foreign Ministry will be ensuring, strengthening and developing the country’s economic security. We are planning serous measures in this respect. This involves: encouragement of exports from Georgia, attracting foreign investments, putting transit routes through Georgia into place and developing regional economic cooperation,” he said.

He noted that separate aspect of the priorities will include the country’s energy security. “We plan to carry out very intensive diplomacy so that the country may diversify its energy supplies,” Bezhuashvili added.

He also said that “structural perfection” of the Foreign Ministry “to improve management” is also a priority during the year.
 
Bezhuashvili said that in one month the Foreign Ministry will unveil “a strategic document under the name ‘Georgian Foreign Policy Goals and Tasks in 2006-2009’ which will outline our strategic goals and tasks for this period.”

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