Georgian Foreign Minister discusses ties with EU in interview with French TV

The cancellation of visa requirements for Georgian citizens is a natural extension of the ongoing development processes in Georgia, says Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze.

Janelidze discussed Georgia’s ties with the European Union (EU) and NATO in an interview yesterday with Paris-based TV channel France 24.

The host presented Janelidze as ‘firmly pro-European’.

You can watch the whole interview below.

The Georgian Foreign Minister said that last year Georgia was an exemplary country in the region as concerns the implementation of European standards, the transformation and developing state institutions as well as ensuring border security and migration.

He noted that since the Association Agreement with the EU came into force in 2016, Georgia has been able to more closely politically associate and economically integrate with the EU.

"And a logical continuation of all of these is the recent visa waiver”, Janelidze said.

He added that after Georgia signed the EU association deal, Georgia became the number one trade partner for the EU. The Minister stressed that European investments had increased in Georgia and this trend seems to be further intensifying this year.

Janelidze stressed that Georgia had met all requirements set by the EU since the country started the implementation of its Visa Liberalisation Action Plan (VLAP). He added Georgia carried out a number of reforms in order to meet all EU criteria and these efforts had been recognised in the latest positive report issued by the EU.

"As for the Suspension Mechanism, we understand that Europe needs to be sure it has the opportunity to revise its decision and suspend it if needed, thus Georgia was actively participating in this process and we worked together to come up with a mutually beneficial result where all sides’ interests were considered”, Janelidze said.

He also spoke about the changes in the ex-Soviet sphere with questions looming about US President Donald Trump's approach to the Baltic states and what his election means for the conflict in Ukraine.