Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova united in common European goals - Georgian FM
Georgian foreign minister Ilia Darchiashvili held a joint press conference with his Moldovan counterpart Nicu Popescu în Chișinău on Thursday. Video grab
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Georgian foreign minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Thursday said his country was united with Ukraine and Moldova by common European integration goals.
Speaking at a joint press conference with his Moldovan counterpart Nicu Popescu în Chișinău, the Georgian official praised the “friendly relations based on close contacts, common goals and aspirations”, and said he had discussed hastening the integration of the Associated Trio states in the European Union following the recent “historic decision” of the bloc to grant them pathways to membership.
The EU in June officially opened the door for our countries to join it, and thus we became part of the enlargement package. We are well aware that this achievement imposes a great responsibility on us to ensure the highest level of political, economic and legal convergence with the bloc”, Darchiashvili told the briefing.
“Together with minister Popescu, we have talked at length about ways to coordinate the steps we are taking to make progress on this path”, Darchiashvili said, noting the two sides saw “need to further strengthen cooperation and coordination”, and to share the knowledge and experience gained during the accession process.
It is Darchiashvili's first official visit to Moldova as the country's foreign minister. Photo: foreign ministry press office.
Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova form a group of like-minded countries known as the Associated Trio. These countries are united by the goal of joining the EU”, said the official.
Noting his first official visit to Moldova, Darchiashvili reiterated his support for Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion and reaffirmed support for its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
We [the Georgian and Moldovan FMs] have confirmed our support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our countries as well, and emphasised the importance of maintaining a regular dialogue regarding the existing challenges", said the minister.
In reference to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Georgia and Moldova, the sides highlighted the importance of maintaining the “active dynamics” of high-level visits and the need to strengthen sectoral cooperation, particularly in trade, economy and tourism.
Georgian foreign minister Ilia Darchiashvili will hold meetings in Moldova to discuss bilateral cooperation and the European integration agenda of the two countries on Thursday, the foreign ministry said.
Georgia-European Union relations and reforms implemented or ongoing in the country within the framework of the Association Agreement were discussed on Thursday in Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili’s meeting with Marina Kaljurand, the Georgia-EU Parliamentary Committee Chairwoman and Sven Mikser, the Rapporteur on Georgia of the European Parliament.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili will visit Brussels on Wednesday to hold meetings at the European Commission and European Parliament, the foreign office said on Tuesday.
Georgia meets the “necessary parameters” and is ready to receive the status of an European Union candidate country, Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili said on Friday at a plenary meeting of the Georgian Parliament.
Georgian foreign minister Ilia Darchiashvili and Moldovan president Maia Sandu on Thursday reaffirmed the close friendship and partnership of the two countries, considering their common challenges and goals, including the European Union integration, at the high-level meeting within the framework of Darchiashvili’s visit to Chișinău.
The existing agenda of bilateral relations and the possibility of their deepening, as well as strengthening trade and economic ties, including effective use of opportunities of the free trade regime with the EU, were discussed on Thursday by the Georgian foreign minister Ilia Darchiashvili and the Moldovan prime minister Natalia Gavrilița.
Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilița on Saturday said Moldova “lagged behind” Georgia and Ukraine in harmonising legislation with European standards.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and Enrique Mora, the Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service, on Wednesday discussed the country’s European Union integration prospects and security challenges amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Georgia’s foreign office said.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and Christian Danielsson, the Swedish State Secretary for European Union Affairs, reviewed Georgia’s fulfilment of the 12-point conditions outlined by the bloc last year for granting it the membership candidate status.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili will on Tuesday have “important meetings” with officials at the European Commission ahead of the body’s reports on the country’s European Union membership candidate status, Vakhtang Makharoblishvili, Georgia’s representative to the bloc, has told the media.
The implementation of the European Union conditions for granting Georgia the membership candidate status was discussed on Tuesday in a meeting between the Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and Oliver Varhelyi, the European Union Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.