Atlantic Council: “Keeping Georgia’s NATO Dream Alive”

Georgia’s new Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili says progress in European and Euro-Atlantic integration will be a "good incentive” for Georgian support for continuing reforms, writes Ashish Kumar Sen in a piece for the Atlantic Council.

In a wide-ranging email interview with Kumar Sen, the Georgian Prime Minister discussed why Georgia qualifies to be part of NATO, the country’s improving relations with Russia and its efforts to reconcile with Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Kvirikashvili also stressed Tbilisi’s expectations from its Western partners and his plans to fix Georgia’s economy by utulising the country’s potential to develop itself as a "vital commercial link” between Europe and Asia.

The European Commission’s recent recommendation to offer visa free travel to the European Union (EU) for Georgian citizens was "a major step forward for Georgia’s European integration” and this decision was "significant on a number of levels,” said Kvirikashvili.

[The decision] recognizes our commitment to European values and the Government’s ability to implement demanding and effective reforms,” said the Georgian Prime Minister.

Most importantly, it means the dream of many generations will come true in 2016 when Georgians can travel to Europe without a visa and stay for ninety days per six months. This marks the beginning of a new stage in our country’s development. Brand new opportunities that were once unimaginable will open up for the Georgian people.”

He added: "Georgia is fully committed to reforms that further strengthen liberty and democracy.”

Looking ahead Kvirikashvili said his Government’s goal was to "make the dream of a better life a reality for all Georgians”.

While we’ve made significant investments in the healthcare, education, and agricultural sectors that have improved people’s well being, there is still more work to be done.

We are focused on growing our economy to provide more jobs, while taking our country ever closer to European integration in order to provide tangible benefits to our people.”

Read the full article here: www.atlanticcouncil.org