Saakashvili, EU's Van Rompuy discuss Georgia progress
By Sabina Idayatova
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy discussed the latest progress in Georgia in Brussels on Wednesday.
Van Rompuy particularly emphasized the results achieved by Georgia's previous government toward integration into European institutions.
The October 1 parliamentary election in Georgia, won by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili's opposition coalition Georgian Dream, was followed by the formation of a new cabinet in which Ivanishvili now serves as prime minister.
President Saakashvili and European Council President Van Rompuy mulled the agreements on free trade and issues pertaining to visa-free regulations and highly assessed the successes achieved in this regard. Highlighting the recent achievements of the country, Van Rompuy expressed hope that the new government will continue on this course.
After the meeting, Saakashvili and Van Rompuy made a joint statement.
"We talked of Georgia's aspiration of joining the EU, free trade and progress made towards a formal agreement on visa-free travel," Van Rompuy noted. "The EU also reiterated its support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia."
Saakashvili in turn expressed his determination to "make miracles happen" on the path of Georgia's European integration, if the country does not fall a victim of confrontations.
"Otherwise, we will be unable to sign an agreement and become a full-fledged member of the EU," Saakashvili said.
On the same day, Saakashvili met with European Parliament President Martin Schulz, who is from Germany.
At a joint press conference, Schultz said former ministers are not arrested in his country. He refrained from making an assessment of the arrests in Georgia, saying he intends to study the situation.
"My assistants have been instructed to scrutinize the situation and submit to me their reports, which I will use to make my evaluating statement," Schultz said
According to Schultz, some of his colleagues have submitted reports, but he would not hurry to make any conclusions as the situation in Georgia is "very important" for the EU. He said he considers Georgia a "good partner" of the EU and expressed readiness to continue cooperation.
Georgia's former chief of staff Giorgi Kalandadze, as well as former Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia and former military commander, Zurab Shamatava, are charged with abuse of soldiers. A jail sentence of five to eight years could be handed down.
Akhalaia was also charged with illegal suppression of freedoms,
which is punishable by up to twelve years imprisonment.
All three detainees deny the charges.
Schulz called on Georgia's new government to cooperate with Saakashvili until his presidential term expires in October 2013.
He touched upon the situation in Georgia after the parliamentary election, noting that for stable development of the country it is necessary to comply with the rule of law and respect the Constitution.
"The EU is closely and anxiously following the situation in Georgia. Georgia is not the first country where the president is a member of one party, and the prime minister of another. There is a similar situation in France, and it is normal. The main point is respecting the Constitution," Schultz stressed.
Saakashvili said Georgia is currently close to executing the NATO requirements as never before, and is ready to conclude a series of EU agreements that will allow the country to develop more dynamically.
"This process should be continued, and I think that the new
Georgian government will take decisive steps in this direction,"
Saakashvili added.
Schultz also said at the press conference that he has accepted
Saakahsvili`s invitation to visit Georgia.
"I have a busy schedule, so I cannot say exactly when I will be able to come to Georgia, when I can find time for it, but it will happen," he said.
Schultz said he was looking forward to visiting a country that has managed to turn from an undecided country into an EU partner in a short period of time.
Saakashvili also met in Brussels with Hannes Swoboda, chairman of the European Parliament Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, the Georgian President's administration said.
The parties discussed Georgia's achievements on the path of European integration after the Rose Revolution.
Swoboda noted that Georgia should not only maintain these achievements, but also continue the path of reform toward democracy and development.
He believes that in terms of democracy, Georgia has become an example that was confirmed by the October 1 election and the subsequent transfer of power.