President Margvelashvili gives speech at Vilnius Summit

"For Georgia, Association with the EU is a choice based on shared values, President Giorgi Margvelashvili stated while giving a speech at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.

In his three-minute address, Margvelashvili underlined that in the past two years, Georgia has consolidated its democratic transition with a peaceful transfer of power in two free and fair national elections.

He also stressed a "much-appreciated support and cooperation from the EU towards Georgia, and stated that the Association Agreement is a master plan for transforming Georgia into a modern, genuinely European state.

"Association is the key to peaceful reconciliation with our compatriots in occupied Abkhazia and Tskinvali Region and the reunification of our country, because it is by attraction that we will draw these regions back into the Georgian state, the President said.

Margvelashvili noted that the recent developments show that the European path is challenging for countries in this region. This is why the EUs support and assistance are crucial so that Georgia will be able to sign the Association Agreement and attached Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) in 2014.

"I note that we also welcome the EUs dialogue with Russia, explaining that the Eastern Partnership is not a policy directed against Russia but a win-win-solution that will increase economic prosperity, security and stability in our region, and will also benefit Russia, the Georgian President said.

According to Giorgi Margvelashvili, Georgia looks forward to continued support from the EU to

• mitigate the threats posed the Russian militarys recent activities along the occupation line with the occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions;

•  and to respond in a coordinated way toward any substantial pressure exerted by Russia in an attempt to divert Georgia from its goal of signing the Association Agreement and DCFTA in 2014.