The FINANCIAL — On 23 June 2016, Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze paid a working visit to Brussels, according to MFA of Georgia.
In the frames of the visit, the Minister met High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini, according to MFA of Georgia.
Talking points included priorities of the co-operation between Georgia and the EU, including the implementation of the Association Agreement, the current reforms in the country, visa liberalisation process, the ongoing developments in Georgia’s occupied territories and the role of the EU in promotion of stability in the country.
Federica Mogherini reaffirmed the EU’s strong support for Georgia’s European integration and for the Government’s efforts in the process of implementation of large-scale reforms provided for by the EU Association Agenda. The High Representative called upon the Georgian Government to continue reforms in order to strengthen common values, inter alia, to consolidate democracy, good governance and the rule of law, and to protect human rights.
The two sides welcomed the entry of the Association Agreement from 1 July, as a result of which the Agreement will fully and effectively enter into force and will become a basic legal framework of the enhanced co-operation between Georgia and the EU.
Federica Mogherini reaffirmed the EU member states’ unequivocal support for Georgia getting visa liberalisation and underlined that Georgia fulfilled all benchmarks. The two sides expressed the hope that the issue will be duly discussed at the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament and the Georgian citizen will be able to travel visa free in the Schengen zone in the near future.
Special emphasis was put on the current security environment in Georgia, including the recent developments and the current situation in Georgia’s occupied territories. The High Representative expressed her concern over the murder committed on 19 May in the village of Khurcha and underlined the need to launch an immediate investigation in order to maintain stability on the ground. Federica Mogherini reaffirmed the EU’s strong support for Georgia’s territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. The Georgian Foreign Minister thanked the European Union for active participation in the process of the peaceful solution of the conflict, in particular, through the monitoring mission, which is the only international mechanism on the ground. Mikheil Janelidze welcomed the extension of a mandate of the monitoring mission until December 2018. The sides underlined the role of the Geneva International Discussions.
Federica Mogherini thanked Georgia for the significant contribution to the EU crisis management operations.
In the frames of the meeting, Mikheil Janelidze and Federica Mogherini signed the Agreement between Georgia and the European Union on Security Procedures for Exchanging and Protecting Classified Information.
Mikheil Janelidze also held meetings at the European Parliament.
The Georgian Foreign Minister met rapporteur on Georgia in the European Parliament Maria Gabriel and thanked her for the report in support of Georgia, in which a member of European People’s Party (EPP) recommends Committee of Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs to support the legislative initiative about Georgia’s visa liberalization.
Mikheil Janelidze also met member of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group Jussi Halla-Aho, Rapporteur of the European Union on Georgia Andrejs Mamikins and Vice-Chair of the Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament Victor Boştinaru.
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