The Meeting of Government was held on 19 March 2010. The Agenda covered 46 issues.
Prior to beginning of the meeting the Georgian Prime Minister focused on several issues.
"The visit to Brussels was a success. Some wish Georgia to lose support of the EU , in fact everything is just the opposite. Today we have the best relationships with the Eu. It proved not only by the meetings and the statements made by Mr. Van Rompuy and Mr. Barosso, but also in particular agreements.
We have never signed simultaneously so many agreements. During the last 4-5 months negotiations on visa facilitations came to an end. This is vitally important for our society.
negotiations on air flow and geographic names agreements also finished. In the said three cases, negotiations are finished technical procedures are ongoing in the EU. Very soon we'll fix date for a signature.
As to visa regime, Georgian citizens will enjoy simplified procedures. Visa fee will be reduced practically twice. Some categories will not need visa at all. Among such categories are students, professors-pedagogues, sportsmen. Businessmen, students and professor-pedagogues will be able to get a five-year visa with simplified procedures. As Mr. Barosso stated "Georgia is the only country in the region to have successfully negotiated the agreement. We can soon fix date for a signature, possibly early June and it will take effect in September-October. "
As to aviation agreement, they will be signed in the nearest months. And this means that any airline will be able to fly to Tbilisi.
As you know today the number of airlines which have flights to Tbilisi is limited. The names of those European cities which we directly contact from Tbilisi are also limited. The area will be increased (according to the agreement). This step is crucial for establishment of closer relations between Georgian and the European countries.
Very soon we'll start negotiations on Free Trade Agreement. This is one of the most important documents and if we sign this Agreement we'll have absolutely all legal documents signed with the EU (in economy) which the country not being the EU member can have.
I want to tanks my colleagues in Brussels for such nice meetings and I believe that we'll start official negotiations over the Free Trade Agreement in the nearest months.
The Prime Minister also asked the Minister of Environmental protection and Natural Resources Goga Khachidze and the Minister of regional development and Infrastructure Davit Tkeshelashvili to make their reports on the natural disaster in Georgia and inform the members of the Government and the society to that effect.
Press Service of the Prime Minister