Free trade with EU important for Georgia

In March, the European Commission's representatives will visit Georgia to address technical issues on commencing negotiations on visa-free regime with the European Union countries, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili told journalists following his meeting with the European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in Warsaw.

Saakashvili and Barroso's meeting run more than an hour in a bilateral format behind closed doors. President Saakashvili said that the negotiations on free trade, which will begin in January, are very important for Georgia. In turn, Barroso stressed that the EU supports Georgia's territorial integrity and will take all steps to confirm this principle.

"We always raise the issue in negotiations with Russia, and demand the fulfillment of the ceasefire agreement dated Aug.12, 2008, which envisages complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia," he said. Barroso stressed that the issue will again be on the agenda of the EU-Russia commission's meeting.


/Trend/