Georgia’s foreign minister discusses his country’s EU candidacy with his Polish counterpart

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili discussed his country’s bid for European Union candidacy and energy security in Europe during a meeting Thursday with his Polish counterpart Zbigniew Rau, who arrived in the capital Tbilisi earlier in the day.

The meeting focused on granting Georgia EU candidate status, which "will strengthen Georgia's unconditional belonging to Europe and pave the way for our country to become a member of the EU," Darchiashvili said during a joint briefing with Rau, according to a statement from the Georgian Foreign Ministry.

The statement said Darchiashvili stressed that Poland “unwaveringly” supports Georgia's pro-European approach, adding the meeting also focused on Georgia’s function as “a strategic link between Europe and Asia and the importance of connectivity.”

“Emphasis was placed on the need to strengthen Europe's energy security and on Georgia's role in this process. In this context, the importance of the Black Sea submarine electricity cable was noted,” the statement said.

The statement also said that Darchiashvili and Rau highlighted the importance of security in the Black Sea for Europe.

"Georgia remains one of the main allies of the EU in the region and continues to participate in common efforts towards peace and stability with the EU in different parts of the world," Darchiashvili said, according to the statement.

The statement added that Darchiashvili said significant attention was paid at the meeting to Georgian-Polish relations and “ways to maximize the potential in the fields of security, trade, economy, tourism and culture.”