The European Union boosted Georgia's hopes of building closer ties with the West Thursday by launching talks on an association pact that would strengthen relations with the ex-Soviet republic. EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said at a joint press conference with President Mikheil Saakashvili that the eventual association agreement will "build a foundation to bring Georgia closer to the European Union."
"The agreement will provide the framework for a new relationship," she said in the Georgian Black Sea city of Batumi. "I strongly believe that by strengthening the relationship between Georgia and the European Union we can contribute to Georgia's democratic development, its long-term stability (and) prosperity," she said. "It's good for you and it's good for us. Stability and prosperity here enhances stability and prosperity in the European Union," she added.
Saakashvili hailed the launch of talks as a key step forward in the country's efforts to forge closer ties with the West. "Georgia is Europe, Georgia is coming back to Europe," Saakashvili said. "The goal of our reforms is to create the first European state in the Caucasus." Association agreements are treaties between the bloc and non-EU countries that create a framework for co-operation on political and economic issues. Ashton said negotiations on agreements usually take from one to four years.
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