Davit Zalkaliani, Georgian Foreign Minister says that Batumi International Conference dedicated to the 10^th anniversary of the establishment of Eastern Partnership Initiative will be an important forum this year since Georgia will host many high-ranking guests.

Zalkaliani said that Georgia underwent through a significant transformation during 10 years in the format of Eastern Partnership. He said that Georgia now had a roadmap as a domestic action plan. “This is an ambition but Association agreement is not enough for us, we seek full speed to membership of the European Union,” Zalkaliani said.

According to Foreign Minister, Georgia was doing its best to be functionally prepared for the membership with more sectored cooperation in different programs and agencies of the EU, economic cooperation and development of infrastructure projects.

In the video address released for participants of Batumi International Conference, Georgian Foreign Minister said that Eastern Partnership Initiative created new opportunities for East Europe and each partner benefited from those prospects such as Association Agreement, free trade, the introduction of visa-free regime and development of cultural, educational and scientific ties.

Zalkaliani claimed that Eastern Partnership established a multilateral forum for discussions about security issues, facing challenges and risks. “Eastern Partnership is grounded on democracy, the supremacy of law and respect of human rights that is most important,” Zalkaliani said in the video address.

The International Conference “Ten years of Valued Partnership – Passed Way and Perspectives” will take place on July 11-12 in Batumi city of Adjara region. Donald Tusk, President of the European Council will open the conference.

The Eastern Partnership is a joint initiative of the European External Action Service of the European Union together with EU, its Member States, and six Eastern European Partners governing its relationship with the post-Soviet states of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.