GEORGIANBULLETINEmbassy of Georgia to the Kingdom of Belgium and

Grand Duchy of LuxembourgMission of Georgia to the European Union

www.belgium.mfa.gov.ge

Monthly IssueJune – July 2012

Mikheil Saakashvili and Herman Van Rompuy held a bilateral meeting

Mikheil Saakashvili met the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy. The sides focused attention on the progress reached between Georgia and the EU within the scope of the existing cooperation. According to Herman Van Rompuy’s statement, the European Union supports Georgia’s aspirations on the road to EU integration, its peaceful policies and implemented reforms, which according to him have become exemplary for the region and many other places.

The sides also discussed the upcoming elections and regional security issues. According to the President of the European Council, the EU especially values Georgia’s readiness to host as many European election observers as possible. At the end of the meeting the guest once again expressed support of the ongoing processes in Georgia on behalf of the European Union. According to him, Europe supports territorial integrity of Georgia and welcomes the effort of the government of Georgia to reconcile the conflict between Georgia and Russia through peaceful means. After the meeting, the Presidents made official statements for the representatives of the media.

4/7/2012

http://www.president.gov.ge/en/PressOffice/News/MeetingsAndVisits?7674

AGENDA

23/07/2012 The 3rd Eastern Partnership Ministerial was held in Brussels

04/07/2012 Mikheil Saakashvili and Herman Van Rompuy held a bilateral meeting

27-28/6/2012 The President of Georgia held bilateral meetings in Brussels

28/6/2012 Giorgi Baramidze met Deputy Secretary General of NATO

25/6/2012 The 5th EU-Georgian Cooperation Sub-committee on Justice, Freedom and Security

05/6/2012 The Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and the US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton held talks in Batumi

4/6/2012 Information on launch of the EU-Georgia Dialogue on visa liberalization, June 4, 2012

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• The 3rd Eastern Partnership Ministerial was held in Brussels •Mikheil Saakashvili and Herman Van Rompuy held a bilateral meeting•The President of Georgia held bilateral meetings in Brussels• The Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and the US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton held talks in Batumi•EU-Georgia Dialogue on visa liberalization was officially launched

GEORGIAN BULLETIN June-July 2012www.belgium.mfa.gov.ge

The President of Georgia held bilateral meetings in Brussels

The President of Georgia, who was in Brussels as a result of a personal invitation by the EPP President, held bilateral meetings with the leaders of the EU. The Head of State held several meetings in Brussels, where the progress in the EU-Georgia relations and future plans were discussed.

Mikheil Saakashvili met with the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz. The sides focused attention on the existing progress in terms of negotiations with the EU. The results of the negotiations over the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreements were also discussed as well as regional security and the internal political situation in the country.

The President once again expressed readiness to have as many observers from the European Parliament as possible during the Parliamentary elections in October. In his turn Martin Schulz once again expressed his support of Georgia in the process of Euro Integration.

The process of negotiations with the EU was the main topic of the meeting between Mikheil Saakashvili and Catherine Ashton. During the meeting with High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Baroness Catherine Ashton, the sides discussed the priority issues which will accelerate integration of Georgia in the structures. During the meeting, Catherine Ashton also emphasized the progress that the sides have reached in terms of negotiations over Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement and visa free travel. One of the main topics of discussion was opportunities of accelerating this process and strengthening the country’s economy as well as addressing the unemployment problem.

  

Mikheil Saakashvili stressed the necessity of holding parliamentary elections in a Democratic environment and stated that Georgia is ready to receive as many European observers as possible. After the meeting, the President spoke about the importance of the ongoing negotiations. According to him, the government is working on a new program, which also envisions intensifying the process of integrating in the European structures. The Head of State also spoke about the importance of the ongoing negotiations with the EU and expressed hope that the dialogue regarding the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement and visa free travel will end in a year and a half.

The President of Georgia also met with the European Commissioner for Energy Gunther Oettinger. The main topic of discussion was deepening energy cooperation and intensifying the role of Georgia as an energy transit country. The Commissioner noted that Europe considers Georgia as energy producing country and a trustworthy partner. During the meeting of Mikheil Saakashvili and the President of EPP in Brussels, the sides discussed a wide spectrum of future relations and issues of supporting Georgia in terms of the European integration process. The discussion also touched on the internal political situation and the upcoming elections. Mikheil Saakashvili is visiting Brussels on a two day visit, where he will participate in the EPP Summit as result of a personal invitation by Wilfried Martens.

27/6/2012 Full text available at

http://www.president.gov.ge/en/PressOffice/News/MeetingsAndVisits?7658

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GEORGIAN BULLETIN June-July 2012www.belgium.mfa.gov.ge

The Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and the US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton held talks in Batumi. The Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and the US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton held talks on Tuesday, June 5th in Batumi.

They commemorated the 20 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between the US and Georgia and reviewed all the topics covered by the Charter for Strategic Partnership uniting both nations, from security to democracy, economy and people-to-people contact.Georgian President thanked Secretary Clinton for the US support to the territorial integrity and the sovereignty of Georgia, its euroatlantic aspiration and the clear american condemnation of the illegal Russian occupation of 20% of Georgian territory.

President Saakashvili and Secretary Clinton discussed the way to enhance the security cooperation between the two nations, especially the new steps taken in order to strengthen Georgian self-defense capabilities and modernize Georgian armed forces.

They agreed that upcoming Parliamentarian elections in October will be decisive in order to make the democratic achievements irreversible in Georgia. More generally, they expressed their satisfaction about the active cooperation of both nations in the fields of political, institutional and social reforms. President Saakashvili thanked Secretary Clinton for the quick American response to the Georgian request of international observation missions before and during upcoming elections and expressed his gratitude for the work done by US organizations in Georgia in order to strengthen institutions and civil society. Secretary Clinton stressed the importance of the recent start of the high level dialogue on economic cooperation, with the perspective of a Free Trade Agreement between both nations.  

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She praised Georgian economic performances and role as a model in the fight against corruption and public service reforms. Secretary Clinton expressed her support to the Georgian government policies towards minorities and its engagement strategy towards the Georgian citizens leaving in the occupied territories. She announced that the US is ready to recognize the Status Neutral Documents for the inhabitants of these territories. The President and the Secretary of State expressed also the need for a continuous effort in Afghanistan. The Secretary of State thanked the Georgian President for the country’s major contribution to the ISAF. President Saakashvili thanked her for the US Administration role in the run up to and during the Chicago NATO summit. Secretary reiterated the US firm support for Georgian integration into the North Atlantic Alliance.

 05/6/2012http://www.president.gov.ge/en/PressOffice/News/MeetingsAndVisits?p=7605&i=1

  The 3rd Eastern Partnership Ministerial was held in Brussels

The 3rd Eastern Partnership Ministerial was held on the 23rd of July 2012 in Brussels and brought together representatives of EU member states, of Eastern European Partner countries (Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and Ukraine), of the European Commission, of the European External Action Service (EEAS) and of the Civil Society Forum. The meeting was chaired by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Catherine Ashton; the European Commission was represented by the Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Mr. Štefan Füle; the Georgian delegation was headed by the Vice Prime Minister and State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Mr. Giorgi Baramidze. The meeting's participants discussed the basis of the Eastern partnership as defined in the Prague and Warsaw Declarations as well as prospects for making further progress and developing the initiative before the next Summit (to be held in Vilnius in 2013). The participants stated that they will be guided by the Eastern Partnership Roadmap in the process of guiding and monitoring the further implementation of objectives. They also highlighted the importance of common European values and the need to implement the main principles of the Eastern Partnership.

GEORGIAN BULLETIN June-July 2012www.belgium.mfa.gov.ge

The representatives of the partner countries underlined the value of the EU's role in the prevention and peaceful resolution of conflicts in the Eastern Partnership region. The ministers present agreed that the next Eastern Partnership Foreign Ministers' meeting in 2013 would be an occasion to review the implementation of the Roadmap and to discuss the future development of the Eastern Partnership in preparation for the next full summit in Vilnius.

23/7/2012

http://www.mfa.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=30&info_id=15390

Giorgi Baramidze met Deputy Secretary General of NATO

Alexander Vershbow, Deputy Secretary General of NATO, paid an official visit to Georgia. He held a bilateral meeting with the Vice Prime Minister Giorgi Baramidze at the Government Chancellery of Georgia.While meeting, the parties discussed the results reached at the Chicago NATO Summit, as well as the important decisions made during the Summit, which had vital importance for Georgia , It was another step forward to Georgia’s NATO Integration. Furthermore, the meeting addressed the importance of the planned visit of the NATO Military Committee and its Chairman General Bartels.

During the meeting, the significance of the reforms, which Georgia effectively implements on its way to NATO membership was once again highlighted. It was also noted that Georgia effectively applies its key instruments for NATO membership – the Annual National Plan (ANP) and the NATO-Georgia Commission. It was also noted, that despite the internal and external challenges of Georgia, the decision of the Bucharest summit, that Georgia will become a NATO member, was once again re-confirmed during the Chicago Summit. In this regard, it is necessary to continue the reforms in the areas of defence and security;

further strengthen democratic institutions and Rule of Law; conduct elections in line with international standards and continue the contribution to strengthen common Euro-Atlantic security. As Giorgi Baramidze stated after the meeting, Georgia steadily moves forward to NATO membership, which was clearly depicted in the decisions made at the Chicago Summit; he also underlined the importance of the visit of the Deputy Secretary General of NATO in Georgia.

 28/6/2012http://eu-nato.gov.ge/index.php?que=eng/news&info=553

The 5th EU-Georgian Cooperation Sub-committee on Justice, Freedom and Security

On 25 June 2012, Tbilisi hosted the 5th session of the EU-Georgian Cooperation Sub-committee on Justice, Freedom and Security.

From the Georgian side the meeting was attended by representatives of relevant government agencies and from Europe, the representatives of the service of foreign policy actions, the European Commission and the EU delegation in Georgia.

At the Sub-committee sessions, the delegations discussed in details the issues of EU assistance in the spheres of legal and illegal migration, border management, document security, internally displaced persons, visa dialogue and implementation of readmission agreements and the fight against drugs, terrorism, money laundering and corruption, legal cooperation, freedom and security. The meeting was held in an open and constructive atmosphere.

At this stage, this subcommittee is of special significance in the context of the subsequent progress of cooperation between Georgia and the EU in the framework of the visa dialogue (EU-Georgian negotiations on the visa free travel began on June 4, 2012).

The EU-Georgian Cooperation Sub-committee on Justice, Freedom and Security represents one of the institutes of the EU-Georgian cooperation at the level of experts.

25/6/2012http://belgium.mfa.gov.ge/index.php?

lang_id=ENG&sec_id=223&info_id=15338

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GEORGIAN BULLETIN June-July 2012www.belgium.mfa.gov.ge

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Information on launch of the EU-Georgia Dialogue on visa liberalization, June 4, 2012

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Mr. Grigol Vashadze met EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ms. Cecilia Malmström during his visit in Brussels on June 4, 2012. As a result of the meeting the EU-Georgia Dialogue on visa liberalization was officially launched.

Opening of the Visa Dialogue is based on the decision voiced at the EU-Georgia Cooperation Council in December 2011. According to the council`s decision the visit of an expert mission to Georgia took place on March 12-14, 2012. The expert mission positively assessed the readiness of Georgia to start the visa dialogue with the EU.

The establishment of visa-free travel regime with the EU marks a significant political milestone in the EU-Georgian relations and is of a great importance for citizens of Georgia.

It should be mentioned that the successful and effective implementation of EU-Georgia Visa Facilitation and Readmission agreements (entered into force on 1st march 2011) was an essential precondition for opening of the Visa Dialogue with Georgia. The implementation process of these agreements was positively assessed at the joint committees, as well as at the "Eastern Partnership" Summit (Warsaw, 2011) and EU-Georgia Cooperation Council in 2011.

Furthermore, a number of actions and reforms were carried out by Georgia, in order to support the successful and effective visa liberalization process with the EU.

In accordance with the established procedures, the next step foresees the elaboration of the relevant Action Plan, which will be officially presented to the Georgian side, during the forthcoming visit of Commissioner Malmström to Georgia planned in autumn 2012.

The Action Plan will define the further actions to be taken by Georgia according to the 4 standard blocks (document security; irregular migration; public order and security; external relations and fundamental rights). The successful implementation of the Action plan will lead to the establishment of visa-free regime between EU and Georgia.

4/6/2012http://belgium.mfa.gov.ge/index.php?

lang_id=ENG&sec_id=223&info_id=15135