13-15 June: working visit of the Prime Minister to the Kingdom of Belgium where besides the Government of the country Zurab Nogaideli arranged meetings with high rank representatives of NATO and EU.
The Prime Minister met the Secretary in General of the EU Javier Solana. The parties discussed the perspectives of the Georgian integration to EU. They also discussed the ongoing reforms in Georgia. Zurab Nogaideli focused on providing reforms in courts and local-self-government. The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the EU for the assistance provided in the process of Georgian reforms. He especially focused upon the active role of the EU in settlement of the conflicts available on the territory of Georgia. The Prime Minister expressed the position of Government of Georgia on the necessity to activate the role of the EU in settlement of Tskhinvali Region conflict and received a positive response from Mr. Solana. Additional evaluation was given to the progress of negotiations of the Neighborhood Policy Action Plan. It was noted that adoption of the free trade regime is one of the most important issues in the relations between Georgia and the EU.
A more efficient meeting was with the European Commissar for Energy Andris Pibalgs. They discussed the regional safety matters in Europe. According to Mr. Pibalgs, the Georgian transit potential plays a key role in the process of delivery of alternative sources of energy carrier for European continents. They considered the particular directions of future cooperation between the EU and Georgia in this aspect.
During the meeting with the EU Commissar for foreign relations Benita Ferero - Valdner they discussed the process of integration of Georgia with Europe. The considered the progress of agreement of the Georgian Action Plan of the European Neighborhood Policy. The parties gave a thumbs up to the results of the third round of the negotiations.
Zurab Nogaideli also met the EU Commissioner for Trade Peter Mandelson. The main subject of their discussion was an opportunity of signing a Free Trade Agreement between Georgia and the EU. According to Mr. Mandelson, the European Commission will study this issue to find the ways of positive settlement thereof. The Commissar rated high the policy carried out in terms of economic and fiscal liberalization in Georgia.
Euro Atlantic integration of Georgia and ongoing reforms in the country was the main subject at the meeting with the NATO Deputy Secretary General, Alessandro Minuto Rizzo. It was noted that upon successful completion of the Individual partnership Action Plan it would be important to quickly move to a new stage that would, in its turn, facilitate the future development of Georgia.
Zurab Nogaideli also was present at the opening of the conference dedicated to rehabilitation of Tskhinvali Region. Zurab Nogaideli and the OSCE Chairman-in-office Karel De Gucht welcomed the conference participants. Zurab Nogaideli reviewed the urgent issues of the conflict settlement process. He focused on the fact that first problem was still demilitarization of the region. The Prime Minister said that he believed that the conference would increase the number of persons participating in this peaceful process.
At the meeting with Karel De Gucht the parties discussed the results of the donors conference and considered the progress of the peaceful process in Tskhinvali Region in detail. The Prime Minister also spoke about the ongoing reforms in Georgia. They discussed the important issues of mutual relations between Georgia and Belgium. They agreed that Mr. De Gucht would visit Georgia at the turn of June.
According to the statements made by of NATO and EU representatives in connection with the results of the visit, this visit of the Prime Minister will significantly promote the process of integration of Georgian into Euro Atlantic space.
Prime Minister's Press Service