On 25-26 July 2006, Prime Minister of Georgia Zurab Noghaideli was on a working visit to the Kingdom of Belgium.
The first day of the visit started with the meeting with Vice-President of European Commission Mr. Franco Frantini. At the meeting, the parties discussed the opportunity for intensification of cooperation with the European Union in such areas as border management that entails the formation of a border service and control bolstering. The parties also touched upon the opportunity to sign a free trade agreement with the European Union. Besides, continued efforts are made to get the European Union to soften VISA requirements for certain categories of Georgian citizens (businessmen, diplomats, students).
On 25 July, the Prime Minister also met Victoria Nuland, the US Permanent Representative to NATO. At the meeting, the discussion also revolved around the opportunity of Georgia to integrate into NATO. According to Victoria Nuland, NATO is watching closely over the democratic reforms taking place in Georgia. The members of the alliance are impressed with the results that the country has achieved in such a short period. This serves as a precondition for further strengthening NATO-Georgian relations. In turn, Zurab Noghaideli said that the reforms launched in Georgia are irreversible and that Georgia is ready to go through all the stages leading to Georgia's accession to NATO.
On the second day of his visit to Brussels, Zurab Noghaideli met NATO General Secretary Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and thereafter attended the Meeting of North-Atlantic Council.
In his speech, the Prime Minister highlighted the reforms currently underway in the country and the issues of resolution of conflicts and restoration of the territorial integrity of Georgia. The Prime Minister's 20-minute speech was followed with a discussion, at which the ambassadors of the NATO member countries expressed their good will and support to Georgia in general and the Prime Minister in particular.
At the meeting, NATO member countries demonstrated a strong support that makes real the opportunity for Georgia to move to intensive dialogue.
At the joint press conference, Zurab Noghaideli stated: "NATO and we are ready for the next step. The agenda has one specific item: when the decision will be made but I am sure that it will be very soon."
In turn, the NATO General Secretary said that the question of putting Georgia on the stage of intensive dialogue would probably be discussed at the Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of NATO Member Countries.
Prime Minister's Press Service