“EU membership is a Constitutional norm of the country and constitutes one of the key priorities of our foreign policy”, - Foreign Minister, Ilia Darchiashvili stated at the plenary session when delivering the report within the Ministerial Hour.

He overviewed the foreign policy directions and accentuated the EU and NATO integration of the country. According to him, Georgia keeps its consistent progress at the EU membership road. As reported by him, compliance with the EU recommendations has advanced to the final stage.

“We actively strive to, through wide economic and sector approximation to the EU, ensure the tangible benefit for our society, which will facilitate our practical preparation for the EU membership”, - he stated.

According to the reporter, it is particularly noteworthy that Georgia enjoys clear and direct support in our European aspiration demonstrated by the EU institutions and high-rank officials of the EU member states in their public statements or at bilateral meetings.

As for NATO integration, Georgia has taken numerous effective steps, including high-level visits served to NATO headquarters, also hosting the NATO representatives and allies to discuss relevant cooperation issues and further prospects. As the Minister informed MPs, enhancement of our sovereignty and restoration of territorial integrity, as well as de-occupation and peaceful resolution of the Russia-Georgia conflict are set as the priorities for the country.

“Despite a full-scale Russian war against Ukraine, extremely aggravating already acute security milieu in the region, we spare no efforts to maintain the occupation of the Georgian territories by Russia and the necessity of peaceful resolution of the Russia-Georgia conflict on the international agenda”, - he stated.

The reporter overviewed the relations with the friend and partner states within the bilateral and multilateral formats and noted that in view of bolstering strategic relations and sector cooperation, numerous high-level visits have been served.

As reported by the Minister, since the very first moment of the commencement of a full-scale Russian military aggression against Ukraine, Georgia keeps supporting Ukraine in political, diplomatic and humanitarian directions.

“Solidarity of Georgia to Ukraine within the international platforms is expressed through intact positions, co-authoring of the resolutions, co-sponsoring and accession to the statements. A number of the supportive statements of Georgia to Ukraine in the international organizations, as well as declarations and the decisions transcends 500”.

In his report, the Minister noted that economic and cultural diplomacy is outlined as one of the key foreign policy priorities, along with the development of mutually beneficial cooperation with compatriots residing abroad.