FM Janelidze: EU Helps Georgia in Peaceful Resolution of Conflict

Georgia’s Foreign Minister and Vice-Premier Mikheil  Janelidze says the European Union supports Georgia's territorial integrity and continues to assist with all its instruments to resolve the conflict peacefully.

The Minister made the statement following the EU-Georgia Association Council meeting held in Brussels on February 5.

“It was very important for us to first speak about security issues; the Georgia-Russia conflict and the situation in the occupied regions where living conditions are grave in terms of human rights and security. The EU has a very important role in this direction,” Janelidze said, adding that the EU seeks to ensure stability and more opportunities for the unification, reconciliation and involvement of the populations living on each side of the occupation line.

The Minister assessed the fourth EU-Georgia Association Counci meeting as both "very successful and fruitful."

“The EU and Georgia discussed bilateral relations and Georgia's integration process in the EU, which is a very complex process for political, sectoral and trade integration fields,” he noted.

According to the Minister, the meeting participants also talked about the aid packages prepared by the EU for Georgia - €450 million to help Georgia implement reforms that will bring it closer to the EU in all directions.

“We also talked about our ambitions to do more than the Association Agreement requires, including in the direction of sectoral integration, and we will also work together to be more closely integrated with specialized agencies and European programs, and this will bring concrete benefits to our citizens,” he said.

By Thea Morrison