GEORGIA: Undeterred by Ukraine, EU to sign association agreement with Georgia on June 27
Record ID:
643464
GEORGIA: Undeterred by Ukraine, EU to sign association agreement with Georgia on June 27
- Title: GEORGIA: Undeterred by Ukraine, EU to sign association agreement with Georgia on June 27
- Date: 14th May 2014
- Summary: TBILISI, GEORGIA (MAY 14, 2014) (REUTERS) GEORGIAN GOVERNMENT HEADQUARTERS EXTERIOR ENTRANCE TO GEORGIAN GOVERNMENT HEADQUARTERS GEORGIAN PRIME MINISTER IRAKLY GARIBASHVILI AND EUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT HERMAN VAN ROMPUY WALKING INTO BUILDING, SHAKING HANDS, POSING FOR PHOTO VAN ROMPUY SHAKING HANDS WITH GEORGIAN GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES VAN ROMPUY SITTING FOR MEETING DELEGATIONS AT TABLE FOR MEETING GARIBASHVILI SPEAKING VAN ROMPUY AND GARIBASHVILI APPROACHING PODIUMS FOR NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Georgian) GEORGIAN PRIME MINISTER IRAKLY GARIBASHVILI, SAYING: "We've had confirmation today that Georgia will sign an association agreement on June 27. I'd like to thank Mr. President (Herman Van Rompuy) once again. I'd like to reiterate once again that Georgia follows its Euro-integration course. We've been saying it many times before. It's a milestone of our external and internal policies. And more importantly, it's our people's choice." NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT, HERMAN VAN ROMPUY, SAYING: "I see that there is a lot of pressure to prevent that you and others sign those agreements (association agreements with the EU). But we are persisting, we are continuing. Although there are a lot of external pressure of some of the countries. So, we are going on with our policies to have even with neighbours of Russia good and strong relations. How successful our policies are? They are successful. Otherwise I would not be here, otherwise we would not sign the association agreement with two or three countries in a couple of weeks." JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT, HERMAN VAN ROMPUY, SAYING: "After an illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol European Union has introduced sanctions against the number of individuals and entities. In case of further destabilisation the European Union remains committed to further increase the cost for Russia should it take more steps to destabilise the situation. For now the immediate goal is to ensure free and fair presidential elections on May 25. European Union will continue to insist on the work for dialogue and negotiations and this is the only way forward to come to the stable, democratic, inclusive and modern Ukraine." FLAGS OF GEORGIA AND EUROPEAN COUNCIL VAN ROMPUY AND GARIBASHVILI LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 29th May 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Georgia
- Country: Georgia
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVABHFKTE0ZGG64Z3YUK8R3ALX26
- Story Text: Strained relations with Russia will not deter the European Union from making association agreements with countries, such as Georgia, now scheduled to sign agreement on June 27, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said in Tbilisi on Wednesday (May 14).
"I see that there is a lot of pressure to prevent that you and others sign those agreements (association agreements with the EU). But we are persisting, we are continuing, although there are a lot of external pressure of some of the countries. So, we are going on with our policies, to have even with neighbours of Russia, good and strong relations. How successful our policies are? They are successful. Otherwise I would not be here," Van Rompuy said during a news conference with Georgian Prime Minister Irakly Garibashvili.
Georgia plans to sign the accord on strengthening ties with the EU despite the fact that the prospect of Ukraine concluding a similar accord unleashed the crisis there.
Van Rompuy, who represents the European Union's 28 national governments, traveled to Ukraine on Monday (May 12) to discuss how to stabilise the situation there before the May 25 presidential election.
In Tbilisi, he said the European Union is committed to Ukraine's unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and would respond with further sanctions against Russia, if deemed necessary.
"After an illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol, European Union has introduced sanctions against the number of individuals and entities. In case of further destabilisation, the European Union remains committed to further increase the cost for Russia," Van Rompuy told journalists. "For now the immediate goal is to ensure free and fair presidential elections on May 25. European Union will continue to insist on the work for dialogue and negotiations and this is the only way forward to come to the stable, democratic, inclusive and modern Ukraine," he added.
Western countries are hoping the election will help stabilise the country. But Russia said last week it would be senseless to go ahead with the vote unless the Ukrainian government ended a military operation against separatists in the east and began a nationwide dialogue on constitutional reform.
The EU has said it is willing to provide $15 billion in loans and grants to Ukraine over several years to help get the shattered economy back on its feet.
The upheaval in Ukraine broke out after former pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovich turned his back last year on an agreement on closer trade and political cooperation with the EU in favour of a $15 billion bailout from Russia. That sparked street protests that ended with him fleeing Ukraine.
Russian forces entered Georgian territory in August 2008. Moscow said it was an operation to protect people in the separatist territory of South Ossetia from attacks by Tbilisi's troops, while Georgia and its Western allies accused Russia of an act of aggression.
Many Western politicians say Russia's intervention in Georgia was a dress rehearsal for Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula, which was annexed by Moscow after it sent in troops.
Georgia had been due to sign the EU agreement along with another former Soviet republic, Moldova, by the end of this year. However, EU leaders agreed earlier this year to aim to have the deals sealed by June because of fears that the two countries could come under Russian pressure.
Georgia has strategic importance because it is on the route of pipelines which carry oil and gas from the landlocked Caspian Sea - seen by many countries as an alternative to Russian energy - to world markets. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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