Slovak PM Says Georgia Deserves EU Visa Liberalisation

PM of Slovakia, Robert Fico, said after meeting his Georgian counterpart Irakli Garibashvili in Bratislava on November 13, that his country fully supports EU visa liberalisation for and granting of NATO membership action plan to Georgia.

Speaking at a joint news conference with his Georgian counterpart, the Slovak PM said that he declared openly, without any hesitation, “full support of Slovakia for Georgia’s ambitions for visa free relations with the EU.”

He said that the EU-Georgia relations are developing in “positive direction” and Georgia “deserves” support.

“I consider visa liberalisation as fair towards Georgia,” PM Fico said. “I see no reason whatsoever for placing obstacles for people – be it from business, culture or sports – to undergo difficult, strenuous Schengen visa application procedure.”

“I am saying this openly in the light of recent influx of hundreds of thousands of migrants, who are flooding Europe now without any identification documents or visa,” said PM Fico, whose government plans to challenge EU’s decision over quotas to relocate 120,000 asylum seekers throughout the 28-member bloc to Court of Justice of the EU.

“I’d like to wish Georgia all the best on its path towards membership; our country is the best example of major benefit that EU membership can give to small countries,” the Slovak PM said and also added that Slovakia is ready to share its experience with Georgia on “pre-accession process” in the EU.

“Slovakia will also be supportive of approval of an action plan for Georgia’s NATO membership,” he said. “We are fully supportive to Georgia’s NATO aspirations and we are ready to raise our hand in favor.”

The Georgian PM thanked his Slovak counterpart for supporting Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic aspiration.

“European choice is the choice of the Georgian people and we are strongly committed to this choice,” PM Garibashvili said.  “There is no alternative to this choice of the European integration and my government is fully committed to make this happen… Europe will become stronger with Georgia and of course Georgia will become stronger with Europe.”
 
“Visa liberalisation is very important; Georgians have the right to travel to Europe without any restrictions,” the Georgian PM said.

The prime ministers also spoke about the need to intensify efforts for boosting bilateral economic and trade relations.

PM Garibashvili, who started his official visit to Bratislava on November 13, also met with Speaker of Parliament Peter Pellegrini.

The Georgian delegation also includes Foreign Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili; Interior Minister Giorgi Mgebrishvili and Agriculture Minister Otar Danelia.