The President of Georgia met with the European Union’s High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy – Baroness Catherine Ashton, who has arrived in Georgia within the scope of a regional visit.

Mikheil Saakashvili and Catherine Ashton discussed the recent successes achieved by Georgian diplomacy at the Presidential Palace. They also talked about the free and dense economic cooperation of Georgia and the EU and future prospects of establishing a visa free regime.

During the joint briefing held after the meeting, Mikheil Saakashvili thanked Catherine Ashton for the policies of the European Union in the direction of defending the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia, and for the support that the EU is giving Georgia in the process of integration into international organizations.

During the meeting, Catherine Ashton drew attention to the agreement reached regarding the membership of Russia in the WTO and called it a progressive step from the Georgian side. Ashton also talked about not only the relationships of Georgia with the countries of the region, but with the entire world as well.

This is Catherine Ashton’s second visit to Georgia. Within the scope of her first visit in July 2010, the President of Georgia and the High Representative of the European Union officially opened the Georgian-EU negotiations regarding the association treaty.