GERMANY: Georgian Prime Minister Irakly Garibashvili reiterates his country's desire to become a member of the European Union and says it is logical to see Georgia in the EU in about ten years

Record ID: 643474

  • Title: GERMANY: Georgian Prime Minister Irakly Garibashvili reiterates his country's desire to become a member of the European Union and says it is logical to see Georgia in the EU in about ten years
  • Date: 2nd June 2014
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (JUNE 2, 2014) (REUTERS) GEORGIAN PRIME MINISTER IRAKLY GARIBASHVILI ARRIVING FOR INTERVIEW GARIBASHVILI LISTENING TO QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) GEORGIAN PRIME MINISTER IRAKLY GARIBASHVILI [WHEN HE THINKS HIS COUNTRY WILL BE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION] SAYING: "It is in our hand." (QUESTION OFF CAMERA: 10 YEARS? 20 YEARS?) "10 years is very logical. Maybe less, maybe more. We'll see. It all depends on us. It all depends on how fast we'll modernize the country, how quickly we will develop the economy. And meet with the requirements of the European Union." CLOSE OF EYES (SOUNDBITE) (English) GEORGIAN PRIME MINISTER IRAKLY GARIBASHVILI, SAYING: "We have to modernize our country because we have to meet with the requirements and criteria of the European Union. And we consider the Association Agreement as a master plan for the country's Europeanization, and for the country's modernization. This is very important. And we are all very motivated to fulfil all our obligations." HANDS (SOUNDBITE) (English) GEORGIAN PRIME MINISTER IRAKLY GARIBASHVILI SAYING: "On the one hand we have very constructive policy with Russia, we are trying to normalize the relationship with them. On the other hand we are moving toward the European Union. We made it very clear that Georgia's foreign policy is firmly Western-oriented. And it has firmly European intentions." TIE ANDS MIC-CLIP (SOUNDBITE) (English) GEORGIAN PRIME MINISTER IRAKLY GARIBASHVILI SAYING: "We can never be relaxed. Yes, we can never be relaxed. We always have to be ... constructive, we continue our constructive policy towards our neighbouring country, towards Russia, and the future will show us what will be the next step." FACE CLOSE (SOUNDBITE) (English) GEORGIAN PRIME MINISTER IRAKLY GARIBASHVILI [ABOUT POSSIBILITY OF WAR] SAYING: "I don't think so. Georgia has proved that the new government is very stable, very predictable and very constructive and pragmatic government who wants to normalize relationships with all neighbour countries, especially with Russia." GARIBASHVILI SITTING IN INTERVIEW
  • Embargoed: 17th June 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4N0NVROLWOULXFB620UOPVJBZ
  • Story Text: Georgian Prime Minister Irakly Garibashvili reiterated on Monday (June 2) his country's desire to become a member of the European Union and said he sees Georgia in the EU in about ten years.
    In an interview with Reuters, Garibashvili said that the future was in their own hands.
    Asked whether that meant ten or 20 years, the Georgian PM answered: "10 years is very logical. Maybe less, maybe more. We'll see. It all depends on us. It all depends on how fast we'll modernize the country, how quickly we will develop the economy. And meet with the requirements of the European Union."
    Garibashvili, however, warned that there was still a long way to go.

    "We have to modernize our country because we have to meet with the requirements and criterias of the European Union," he told Reuters. "And we consider the Association Agreement as a master plan for the country's Europeanization. And for the country's modernization. This is very important. And we are all very motivated to fulfil all our obligations."
    At the EU summit on June 27, Georgia will sign the Association Agreement with the EU. That will, as Garibashvili said, make the convergence of Georgia towards the European Union irreversible.
    With a view towards Russia, he said that there haven't been any signals of provocation or pressure which has intervened in Ukraine's signing of the agreement
    "We can never be relaxed. Yes, we can never be relaxed. We always have to be ... constructive, we continue our constructive policy towards our neighbouring country, towards Russia, and the future will show us what will be the next step."
    At the same time, Garibashvili emphasizes that his country seeks a de-escalation of the situation with Russia.

    "On the one hand we have very constructive policy with Russia, we are trying to normalize the relationship with them. On the other hand we are moving toward the European Union. We made it very clear that Georgia's foreign policy is firmly Western-oriented. And it has firmly European intentions."
    Garibashvili added that he does not think that there will be a renewed military escalation in the region. "Georgia has proved that the new government is very stable, very predictable and very constructive and pragmatic government who wants to normalize relationships with all neighbour countries, especially with Russia."
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