16th Batumi Int’l Conference opens: ‘welcome to Georgia - a proud European state’
Georgian top officials called for a new era in EU-Georgia relations at the Batumi 16th International Conference.Photo: President's press office.
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The Batumi 16th International Conference, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the EU’s Eastern Partnership initiative, has opened earlier today, with an “unprecedented number” of foreign guests, including the president of the European Council Donald Tusk, the Georgian Foreign Ministry reports.
Welcome to Georgia, which is [not only] a pro-European state, but a proud European nation,” Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili said while addressing the audience.
The XVI #BatumiInternationalConference is dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the #EasternPartnership. ???????????????? https://t.co/AdlerSU9zY
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) July 11, 2019
The Georgian president and prime minister stated that after signing the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) deal with the EU and the establishment of visa free travel, it is time to start a new era in EU-Georgia relations.
Both for Georgia and the EU the time has come for a new course to be launched. Our values, culture and everything are European and 80 per cent of our people supports the country’s EU membership,” Zurabishvili said.
Bakhtadze stated that new opportunities should be provided to further Georgia’s European integration.
Georgian Foreign Ministry wrote in a tweet.
Full house at the opening ceremony of the XVI #BatumiConferenceEaP10 taking place in #Batumi - #Europe’s leading emerging tourism destination #BatumiConference #BatumiEaP10 pic.twitter.com/JYFRFzbaRq
— MFA of Georgia (@MFAgovge) July 11, 2019
We want and we need sectoral integration with the EU. However, on the path, we need further support from you and access to financial instruments,” Bakhtadze said.
He stated that challenges have never influenced Georgia’s foreign course and the country has stood with its partners to ensure international security.
We have Russian bases in the heart of Georgia and witness the adduction, torture, murder and violation of rights of our citizens on a daily basis,” he said, adding that the Georgian government needs the support of the international community to support its citizens in the regions, help them receive access to education, healhcare and start businesses.
Bakhtadze stated that Black Sea security is of the utmost importance.
Without Black Sea Security, the security of Europe is less imaginable and Georgia is ready to become the EU’s top partner in this regard,” Bakhtadze stated.
European Council President Tusk cited iconic Georgian poet Vazha Pshavela’s “Patriotism and Cosmopolitanism” in his speech, saying that the Georgian poet was speaking about the importance of globalisation and state-to-state ties already 100 years ago.
European Commission head Donald Tusk wrore in a tweet.
My full speech at the #BatumiConferenceEaP10: https://t.co/YFP27AyOUv pic.twitter.com/rM85ving7q
— Donald Tusk (@eucopresident) July 11, 2019
He also stated that when he says the word Georgia, he means freedom, pride and bravery.
Never allow everyone to make you divided”, Tusk said.
The collapse of the Soviet Union was NOT the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century. Today in Georgia I want to say loud and clear: the USSR collapse was a blessing to Georgians, Poles, Ukrainians and the whole of Central and Eastern Europe. And also to Russians.
— Donald Tusk (@eucopresident) July 11, 2019
Tusk stated that the supports the EU enlargement.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani stated that the EaP is a “very important initiative,” and Georgia has been recognised as the leader country of the Eastern Partnership.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Archil Takakvadze said that Georgia has used all the potential of the EaP over the past 10 years.
While #European and #Georgian politicians are discussing #Georgia's #European Way, about 20 protestors are having a rally outside the #BatumiConference venue pic.twitter.com/hwPQhTsctw
— agenda.ge (@agenda_ge) July 11, 2019
Group of people, who have participated in anti-occupation rallies starting from June 20 in the capital of Georgia, have come to Batumi and are now standing in front of the hotel where the Batumi Conference is being held, demanding the resignation of Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia [for the rally dispersal in mid-June].
Georgian Defence Minister Levan Izoria has praised Georgia-US cooperation at the 16th Batumi International Conference adding more rotational military exercises with involvement of NATO countries are planned in Georgia. Izoria said that Georgia is preparing for another three-year cycle of cooperation to ‘increase Georgia’s self-defence capacity.’
Russian Foreign Ministry responded to the President of European Council Donald Tusk who said the collapse of the Soviet Union was “a blessing" to Georgians, Poles, Ukrainians and the whole of Central and Eastern Europe, and also to Russians.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani and Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Siijarto, as well as other Georgian and Hungarian officials, concluded deals on responding to emergency situations, teaching Hungarian in Georgia, agricultural development in addition to a deal on cooperation between the Georgian Partnership Fund and the Hungarian Export-Import Bank.
“When I say Georgia, I mean freedom, when I say Georgia, I mean pride, when I say Georgia, I mean courage. You are a small country, but a great nation. You have achieved impossible things, because you were, despite all the differences, united around a common goal, that was a free, independent and modern state,” Tusk stated.
The foreign ministers of Poland, Sweden, Bulgaria, Armenia, Hungary, Czech, Moldova and UK have met with top Georgian politicians to strengthen economic and political ties with the country.
German Bundestag VP Claudia Roth has called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to remember what the borders of Georgia and Ukraine looked like in 1991 before conflicts in the region broke out. Claudia Roth made the comment at the 16th Batumi International Conference, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Eastern Partnership.
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European Council President Donald Tusk says that the decision of Russia to ban direct flights to Georgia was “disproportionate and unjustified.” He said that Georgia has shown “devotion” to democratic reforms and the rule of law many times.
European Council President Donald Tusk has arrived in Georgia to participate in the international conference in the Black Sea town of Batumi, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the EU’s Eastern Partnership initiative.
The countries of the Eastern Partnership have created a catalogue of ongoing projects in need of investments, which will enable investors from the EU to examine the projects in detail, Deputy Minister of Economy Genadi Arveladze stated yesterday at a briefing.
The Batumi 16th International Conference, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the EU’s Eastern Partnership initiative, will open tomorrow with an “unprecedented number” of foreign guests, including the president of the European Council Donald Tusk, Georgian Foreign Ministry reports.
President of the European Commission Donald Tusk stated on the 10th anniversary of the EU’s Eastern Partnership format that there is more Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine in the EU.
President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili has participated at the 5th Global Energy Efficiency Conference in Paris, France, where she spoke about developments in the energy sector both at home and across the globe.
President of the European Council Charles Michel and the presidents Moldova and Ukraine Maia Sandu and Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Georgia to participate in the Batumi International Conference beginning on Monday, July 19.