PM starts Latvia visit, meets EU high official

Georgia will do everything it can to positively resolve the visa liberalisation issue, said Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili at today's meeting with the European Union's (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini.

The meeting was held within the international conference The European Year of Development, which is set to open in Riga, Latvia, today.

At the meeting the EU official and the Georgian leader discussed Georgia-EU relations, effective implementation of the Visa Liberalisation Action Plan and the threats facing Georgia’s territorial integrity.

PM Garibashvili noted Georgia would do anything it could to positively solve the visa liberalisation issue. 

Mogherini expressed hope that Georgia would become a "successful example” at the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit, due to be held in Riga on May 21-22.

In response, Garibashvili informed Mogherini that Russia planned to sign an 'Alliance and Integration' treaty with Georgia's breakaway region Tskhinvali (South Ossetia). Russia signed a similar agreement with Georgia's other breakaway region Abkhazia last month. This move was condemned by Georgia and the wider international community. 

At the meeting Garibashvili stressed the importance of the EU highest officials having a clear position on this issue.

He also spoke about the reforms Georgia had implemented to develop the country's economy and strengthen democratic institutions. He particularly mentioned the country had made efforts to begin a major reform of the Chief Prosecutor's Office.

After the official part of the talks ended, PM Garibashvili invited the EU High official to Georgia.

Within his visit to Riga, Garibashvili is scheduled to meet the President and Prime Minister of Latvia and deliver a speech at the opening ceremony of the European Year of Development.