Georgian PM 'deeply grateful' for Poland's support

Bidzina Ivanishvili (left) with Donald Tusk in Warsaw: photo - PAP/Radek Pietruszka

Bidzina Ivanishvili, whose Georgian Dream party won the general election in October 2012, sad he was “deeply grateful” that Poland has "stood by Georgia".

"We highly appreciate the position of our Polish partner has taken in supporting us on the path to integration with the European Union and NATO,” Bidzina Ivanishvili, who had talks in Vilnius, Lithuania on Thursday, told a press conference after his meeting with Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

Poland has led, with Sweden, the EU's Eastern Partnership programme, which seeks to draw ex-Soviet states closer to western structures.

"There are historical ties between our two countries, which form a very good basis for cooperation," the Georgian PM continued, adding that he had discussed strengthening economic cooperation between Poland and Georgia with Donald Tusk.

The Georgian government has recently welcomed an EU proposal that any future political association and trade pact with Georgia should also be given to breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Russia has supported the breakaways and has troops stationed in them. Prime Minister Tusk said that the Polish government respected Georgia's attempt to maintain its territorial integrity while “welcoming the firm, yet responsible position of our Georgian friends” to their relations with Russia.

“Georgia can always rely on our support,” Tusk said. (pg)

source: PAP