EU Parliament rapporteur supports Georgia’s European future

"Georgia is a very European state,” said European Parliament member and rapporteur on Georgia Andrejs Mamikins after meeting Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.

Garibashvili met with the Latvian journalist and politician in the country’s Government Administration today. The sides discussed the relationship between the European Union (EU) and Georgia.

As it was noted at today’s meeting, after Georgia signed the Association Agreement (AA) with the EU, its European perspective has become a reality and a new phase of cooperation with the EU has begun.

In addition, Garibashvili and Mamikins also spoke about the prospect of deepening the level of cooperation Georgia had with the European Parliament.

"We have discussed important issues of Georgia-EU relations, such as justice, freedom of speech and media, regional topics and the issues of cooperation with the EU,” Mamikins said.

"Georgia is a very European state. Throughout the years you are representing a part of the European civilisation. I hope that the European Parliament with ratify the AA in December. My position is that it should happen as soon as possible,” he said.

The European official also met Parliament Speaker David Usupashvili and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for European Integration Viktor Dolidze today.

Afterwards, Dolidze drew attention to the AA relation resolutioncurrently being prepared in the European Parliament and expressed hope that all important issues will be properly reflected in it.

The MP also noted that democratic reforms recently implemented in Georgia was also discussed during the meeting.

"Andrejs Mamikins clearly stated that he supports reforms and clearly sees that [the reforms] are on the right track, which will be appropriately reflected in the resolution,” Dolidze said.

During his two-day visit, the rapporteur of European Parliament will also meet with Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili, the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs David Zalkaliani, Minister of Justice Thea Tsulukiani, State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Alex Petriashvili and Deputy Minister of Economy Mikheil Janelidze.

Mamikins will also visit Georgian Patriarchate and meet the Patriarch Ilia II. Furthermore, he is scheduled to meet with representatives of the Georgian national platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum at the Tiflis Development hotel tomorrow.

At the end of his visit, Mamikins is expected to go to Gori and visit the occupation line and those living near the contested border.