Summary of Remarks by Javier SOLANA, EU High Representative for the CFSP, on His Trip to Georgia

FOR FURTHER DETAILS: Spokesperson of the Secretary General, High Representative for CFSP +32 (0)2 281 6467 / 5150 / 5151 / 8239 +32 (0)2 281 5694 internet: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/solana e-mail: [email protected]

COUNCIL OF Brussels, 6 June 2008

THE EUROPEAN UNION S197/08

Summary of remarks by Javier SOLANA, EU High Representative for the CFSP, on his trip to Georgia

Javier SOLANA, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), visited Georgia on Thursday, 5 June and Friday, 6 June 2008.

Mr. Solana travelled to Tbilisi and Batumi, where he had meetings with President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI, Prime Minister Vladimir GURGENIDZE, Foreign Minister Eka TKESHELASHVILI, the Presidential Envoy to the EU and NATO, David BAKRADZE, and with Georgia's opposition leaders. The High Representative also met the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative Jean ARNAULT and the local EU Presidency, French Ambassador Eric FOURNIER.

Javier Solana also visited Sukhumi in Abkazia, where he met the local leadership.

The High Representative said that stability and prosperity of Georgia and the region was of great concern and interest for the European Union. He conveyed the interest of the EU to step up its engagement in Georgia.

In comments to the press, Javier Solana said: “the European Union has already very deep relations with Georgia and we would like, as far as possible, to deepen them, not only on the economic and trade level but also from the political point of view.”

On the internal situation in Georgia, the High Representative recalled that the EU had followed the parliamentary elections of 21 May 2008 very closely and would very much like the Georgian authorities to take full account of the recommendations made by the international observers and engage in a constructive dialogue with the opposition.

Concerning the relations between Tbilisi and Sukhumi, Javier Solana insisted on the need to lower the temperature and said that it was important to resume and intensify bilateral contacts. He added: “the EU is willing to play a role in that direction.” He also reiterated that Russia was an important player and said that the latest measures taken by Moscow were unwise as they did not contribute to reducing tensions, which was now the most important thing to do. He recalled that the EU was attached to the respect of Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.