Foreign Minister in Tbilisi voices support for Georgia's territorial integrity

On 12 May, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins together with Dmitrij Rupel, the Foreign Minister of Slovenia, which holds the presidency of the EU, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Petras Vaitiekunas during a visit to Georgia met with senior officials of the state: President Mikheil Saakashvili, Prime Minister Vladimer (Lado) Gurgenidze, and Foreign Minister Eka Tkeshelashvili.   

The Foreign Minister noted with satisfaction that the initiative proposed by Latvia at the last EU General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting, for EU member state foreign ministers to make a joint visit to Georgia, was carried out. In this way the officials received information on the situation in Georgia directly, and showed political support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia. 

During the visit, ministers discussed the current situation in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, relations between Georgia and the Russian Federation, as well as the future of Georgia-EU relations, including trade liberalisation and easing travel requirements.  

"The visit to Tbilisi and the information provided by Georgian officials on the present situation regarding the issue of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as an insight into future developments will allow EU foreign ministers to conduct a more in-depth debate on the situation in Georgia," notes Minister Riekstins.

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