Eastern Partnership Roadmap after Vilnius Summit

The Eastern Partnership Vilnius Summit results and the roadmap after Georgia initialed the Association Agreement with EU were discussed at the conference entitled 'Eastern Partnership Roadmap after Vilnius Summit' at the Tbilisi Marriot Hotel on December 9.

The conference is dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the late Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, who died in February of 2005 and is organized by the Parliament of Georgia and Konrad Adenauer Foundation, a German-based political foundation.

The conference was opened with the welcoming speech of the Head of parliament Davit Usupashvili with the well-known words of Zurab Zhvania "Im Georgian, and therefore I am European.

These are the words of late Georgian Prime Minister while speaking in front of the Council of Europe in 1999. During the speech, he expressed Georgias EU aspirations and outlined the countrys foreign policy agenda for the next decade.

"Todays conference is dedicated to the successful efforts of Georgia in becoming a full-fledged member of the big family of European democratic countries. Usupashvili announced.

He said that Georgia strived for many centuries to fulfill the dream of becoming a part of the developed Europe and the Vilnius Summit was a significant step forward in this direction.

According to him, Zhvania said his famous words after Georgia finished an important stage in getting closer to Europe and became the member of the Council of Europe. Usupashvili described Zhvania as an outstanding political leader, who contributed to many significant events throughout the history of Georgia. He greeted Zhvanias family and friends, who were also attending the conference.

"We once again wanted to underline the simple truth, that the most important issue is the historical process, in which we are lucky to make a small contribution. European integration is not an achievement of any political leader, or political party. It is a path that proceeds [previous efforts] and Zurab Zhvania made huge contribution to this, - announced Usupashvili.

He also stressed that the most important topic of this conference is to think about the future plans of Georgia, followed by the Eastern Partnership Summit.

"We have to think how to make the process of European integration irresistible, how to bring peace to Georgia, and fulfill our national and strategic cases, Usupashvili added.

The conference was also attended by the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili, the President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelahsvili, the Head of EU Delegation in Georgia, Ambassador Philip Dimitrov and the family members of Zurab Zhvania.

Garibashvili and Margvelashvili also reinforced Zurab Zhvanias words when they noted that it was extremely exciting words for all Georgians, as well for Europeans to consider.

"It was the first step towards Europe. Our ancestors felt themselves as the part of Europe and aspired towards it. Actually, only our generation managed to implement the initial Associated Agreement with the EU. We are responsible for how swiftly Georgia will move forward to become the full member of the EU family. Thats why it is paramount and historical moment for Georgia, the Prime Minister said.

Margvelashvili called the absence of Zurab Zhvania on this historical road, a historical injustice.

"Zhvania had said many times that the Georgians way as the creator of the element forculture is identical to what we see and face in Europe. When we talk about the Knight in the Panther's Skin (Georgia's national epic), and the individualism that was expressed in the 12^th century of Georgia - individualism was the main fundamental of European values, Margvelashvili noted.

Before the conference, the photo exhibition of Zurab Zhvania was displayed that reflected the political way of the late Prime Minister.