Azernews.Az

By Sabina Idayatova

The EU attaches great importance to constructive cooperation between the new Georgian government and its president, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton stated prior to her visit to Georgia.

Ashton told Radio Liberty that in Tbilisi she plans to urge all Georgian parties to seek common ground following the country's October parliamentary elections.

"I will say to President Saakashvili that he has his legacy already in Georgia in a sense, that it is important that he continue to work closely with the new government, important that he continue to push forward for Georgia on the things he believes in, especially, of course, the relationship with the European Union, which is, I think, of great significance for Georgia and of great importance to us," she said.

Ashton also said that she is waiting for the meeting with Georgian Premier and the President.

"We have a lot of issues to discuss including the country's progress, the issues of the association agreements and free trade. Also I want to emphasize the need for the fair use of the principle on the rule of law and justice and the values that are shared by Georgia and the EU," Ashton noted.

Before departure, she schedules to hold briefing for Georgian media at 17:00 at Sheraton Metekhi Palace.

Ashton will be in Georgia only for several hours and will also meet with Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Pandjikidze. After Georgia, she will pay a visit to Central Asia in particular Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan, Trend reported

Ashton said that in Central Asia she plans to voice support for "civil society [and] the movement forward for these countries economically."

"Part of the reason for me to meet the ministers is to be able to try and work through with them what ways and in which areas [we can] be most successful in our collaboration," Ashton said.

"We are doing quite a lot of work on border issues, for example. I want to do more work on education. We want to try and support civil society [and] the movement forward for these countries economically. And we need to make sure that we've got in place the measures, the relationships, and the resources to be able to do that."

It will be Ashton's first major tour to Central Asia as EU high representative for foreign policy and security.