EU foreign ministers confirm support for Georgia's European integration - Georgian FM

TBILISI. April 25 (Interfax) - EU foreign ministers have confirmed their support for Georgia's European integration at a meeting of the EU Council in Luxembourg, Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili said on Monday.

"Overall, I'd like to note that the foreign ministers of EU member countries have expressed a very positive attitude toward us. Almost every one of them expressed resolute support for Georgia's integration into the European family. Everybody has unequivocally stressed that they see Georgia in the European family, and this message is especially important to us, in terms of consolidating our reforms," Darchiashvili said.

Darchiashvili told reporters that he attended the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting, which was held at the foreign minister level, as an invited guest.

At the meeting, EU foreign ministers discussed current issues on the EU-Georgia bilateral agenda, including Georgia's implementation of 12 recommendations from the European Commission for obtaining EU candidate member status. Some "very strong" statements in support of Georgia were made at a meeting with EU diplomacy chief Josep Borrell, Darchiashvili said.

Regarding the prospect of Georgia obtaining EU candidate member status, the decision will ultimately be a political one, he said, but this political decision must be supported by facts.

"Of course, this will be a political decision, but when they consider this political decision we want our partners to be guided - and this is probably what is going to happen - by the specific, tangible results that our country has delivered in the process of complying with the 12 recommendations. This process will undoubtedly continue in the future. I unambiguously stressed that our country is committed to [implementing] reforms," Darchiashvili said.