Donald Tusk: EU opens its borders to Georgia

President of the European Council Donald Tusk said today is a special day as visa free regime for Georgian citizens to the European Union (EU) has entered into force.

Tusk believes Georgia has done great job so that this long journey has "brought us closer together” as well as help reform and develop Georgia.

He took to Twitter to congratulate the Georgian nation in the Georgian language.

შედეგი მიღწეულია. ვზეიმობთ უვიზო მიმოსვლას საქართველოსთვის და გაერთიანებულ ევროპას, რომელიც დაპირებებს ასრულებს #VisaFree@KvirikashviliGipic.twitter.com/XCKgxnpPym

— Donald Tusk (@eucopresident) March 28, 2017

In his speech Tusk denounced the recent developments in Russian-occupied regions of Georgia - Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) especially closure of crossing-points.

I know in this context why the EU is opening its borders to Georgia: you have a neighbor who assists in creating new borders to limit your freedom even inside your sovereign country”, Tuks said reaffirming the EU’s support towards Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and commitment to peaceful resolution of conflict in Georgia.

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili arrived in Brussels, Belgium today within his first historic visa free flight to Europe.

• It’s official now: Georgians no longer need visa to EU

He said "the visa-free regime is a landmark accomplishment, which is going to bring tangible benefits to our citizens and be a strong incentive for further achievements towards EU integration”.

You can listen to the press statements by President Tusk and Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili below: