Georgian President awards Javier Solana with Golden Fleece Award

Javier Solana has been given the Golden Fleece Award in Georgia. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has personally rewarded the former EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union.

Solana has been rewarded for his big personal merit to strengthening Georgia's sovereignty and statehood and the support to Georgia`s national interests on the international scene.

"With support of the West we avoided the war last year and hopefully we will be able to avoid worse in the future. It`s your merit. Of course there was a political will as well. You were working very hard to support our peace plan right before the war started. You also supported us in the difficult period," Mikheil Saakashvili told Solana.

"I am happy to be here and to receive this important medal that represents the friendship of our country with the European Union. I am very happy you called me a true friend. You also said I always gave you good advises. Well at least I always tried to do so. I`d like to ensure you that I will continue to assist your country. You will always remain my friend. I am very glad, Georgia sign very important documents on easing of the visa regime and trade cooperation with the European Union," the former EU High Representative said.

Along with Javier Solana, the Golden Fleece Award has also been given to Strobe Talbott, the president of the Brookings Institution and former Secretary Assistance of the US.


/Georgian Times/