Ashton To Travel To Georgia, Stresses Need Of PM And President To Work Together

Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission, will travel to Georgia on Monday where she will meet Prime Minister Ivanishvili and President Saakashvili.

Speaking ahead of her trip, Catherine Ashton said, “I am very much looking forward to meeting the Prime Minister and President of Georgia in Tbilisi and to making progress on the significant agenda of EU-Georgia relations together with them. Our cooperation is wide-ranging and we have much to discuss, including the rapid progress being made towards an Association Agreement and a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area.”

Ashton said she will reiterate her congratulations to the Georgian people on the positive democratic conduct of the recent parliamentary election, as well as the importance of the new Government and the President of Georgia working constructively together.

“Georgia can count on the EU’s support for its efforts in this regard. I also want to place particular emphasis on the impartial application of justice and the rule of law, values which Georgia and the European Union share,” Ashton said.

The High Representative will also meet Foreign Minister Panjikidze. Other issues for discussions during the visit will include Georgia’s cooperation with the European Union’s Common Security and Defence Policy, Georgia’s contribution to international security, and the work of the EU’s Monitoring Mission in Georgia.