President Margvelashvili addressed European leaders in Vilnius

The Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili addressed the European leaders in Vilnius at the 3rd Eastern Partnership Summit at an official welcomeing ceremony for the heads of delegations on November 28.

The newly-elected President expressed gratefulness to the European Union for its political support and economic assistance over many years while addressing the 33 leaders of European countries at the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. The speech was released by the Georgian Presidential press office.

"We Georgians know that we are Europeans, but for historical and geopolitical reasons, we were not able to take part in the initial phases of European integration. The vast majority of Georgian citizens and all of our major political parties support European integration as the cornerstone of our foreign policy, Margvelashvili said.

The President of Georgia talked about the advantages of the Association Agreement and DCFTA for Georgia including

• the rule of law
• protection of human rights
• responsive and responsible government
• sustainable, market-based economy with protections for the less fortunate members of society.

 Margvelashvili promised to continue transformation into modern country based on common values of EU.

"Our commitment to these values is evident from the 2012 parliamentary elections. Resulting in our first democratic transfer of power and free and fair European standard of the 2013 Presidential elections, by which our voters chose to peacefully change the political party in power, Margvelashvili said.

At the official welcoming ceremony the EU leaders summed up the tangible results Eastern Partnership initiative over the first four years of its implementation.