Rosen Plevneliev: We Support Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic Orientation
2015-06-17 19:05:00
We firmly support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia and the right of the Georgian people to choose the path of Euro-Atlantic integration. This is what the Head of State said after the talks held with Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili in Tbilisi. “Neither does Bulgaria recognize the so-called “agreements” between the Russian Federation and Abkhasia and South Ossetia, which undermine the international efforts to stabilize the situation in the region,” the Bulgarian President emphasized at a joint news conference with his Georgian counterpart.
President Plevneliev voiced Bulgaria’s firm support for Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic prospects and recalled that Bulgaria was among the first countries to ratify the Association Agreement with the EU, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. “Georgia should continue the process of conducting reforms. The successful completion of the process will improve Georgia’s capability to cope with the challenges security and stability are facing,” President Rosen Plevneliev said.
The Bulgarian President also voiced Bulgaria’s support for Georgia’s candidacy for NATO membership and recalled that Bulgarian and Georgian servicemen participate together in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan.
Bulgaria welcomes Georgia’s significant progress with regard to the implementation of the Visa Liberalization Action Plan and supports the introduction of visa free travel in 2016, it further emerged from the talks held between the two Presidents. “We fully support the rights of the Georgian people to travel and trade freely in Europe,” the Head of State said.
In Tbilisi Rosen Plevneliev and Giorgi Margvelashvili discussed the opportunities for strengthening the economic cooperation and improving the trade in the Black Sea region. The two state leaders were unanimous that the Association Agreement with the EU creates new opportunities in the field of economic cooperation – in 2014 Georgia’s export to the EU grew by 18% compared to the same period in the previous year. At the same time Bulgaria is the second largest export destination for the Georgian goods and the largest among the EU member states.
“We take pride in this success and Bulgaria is ready to start the preparations for the 5th Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation,” the Head of State said. Our companies are also interested in participating in projects such as the enlargement of the ports of Batumi and Poti, the construction of gas/oil terminals and high-voltage electric grids, and the construction and rehabilitation of hydroelectric plants and others. Our country will also work to ensure diversification of our export portfolio in the fields of food industry, pharmaceuticals, perfumery and cosmetics, machinery for the food industry.
The two presidents also highlighted the potential for expanding the transport connectivity in the Black Sea Region through the development of modern transport infrastructure between Europe and Asia. Moreover Bulgaria and Georgia have a strategic location between the two continents, Presidents Plevneliev and Margvelashvili further highlighted. Bulgaria also supports Georgia’s membership in the Energy Community and the Caucuses country is a key partner in the implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor and the diversification of the sources and routes of natural gas in Europe.
In the capital of Georgia the Bulgarian Head of State was welcomed with an official ceremony in the President’s Palace after which he held a number of meetings with Georgia’s political leadership.
