President of European Council to visit Georgia
By Jamila Babayeva
President of European Council Herman Van Rompuy will visit Tbilisi in the near future, Georgian prime minister's press service reported.
Rompuy made a relevant statement after meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on February 4 and mentioned that he plans to visit Georgia at the end of next month.
Rompuy voiced concern over the erection of barriers within the territory of Georgia.
"I confirmed the EU's support for Georgia's territorial integrity and our commitment to support the conflict settlement through our co-chairmanship at the Geneva international negotiations, as well as with the help of the observer mission in Georgia," he said.
Rompuy also commended the steps taken towards the liberalization of the visa regime and reiterated readiness to sign the EU Association Agreement with Georgia in the nearest future.
Garibashvili , in turn, stressed that Russia has gradually begun to open its market for Georgian goods.
"We must convince Russia that the country's proximity to the EU does not pose a threat," Garibashvili said. "Stable Georgia is in the interests of Russia."
Garibashvili also voiced the commitment of the Georgian government and people to sign the Association Agreement. He spoke about the challenges facing Georgia and pointed out that the role of the European Union in these processes is essential.
Georgia and Russia, its giant northern neighbor, have maintained no diplomatic relations since a brief war in 2008. Tbilisi broke off relations with Moscow in August 2008 when Moscow crushed a Georgian assault to reassert control over two rebel regions -South Ossetia and Abkhazia- and later recognized the regions. Georgia announced the two unrecognized republics as occupied territories in September 2008.