Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani says any information that European Union is suspending the visa-free regime with Georgia is ‘a big lie’: Agenda GE reports.
Stressing that Georgia's EU integration is 'inevitable' Foreign Minister Zalkaliani mentioned that in the latest reports Georgia has a very positive assessment from the EU.
“Georgia is fulfilling all of its obligations and no suspension mechanism will enter into force. I know our opponents are very eager. It is unimaginable when the opponents are happy with the possible failure of the country. I would like to disappoint them by saying that this is a very big lie”, he says.
David Zalklaiani made remarks in response to an article published in EU Observer earlier, which said that ‘Germany leads objections to Balkan/Eastern visa-free travel’.
Based on the article, ‘unlawful residency and unfounded asylum claims from some western Balkan states, plus Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine, is triggering discussions on suspending visa-free travel to the EU’.
However, the Georgian FM underscored that German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier denied the information calling it fake news.
In its recent report on the monitoring of the EU visa free regime with eight countries, including Georgia, the European Commission stated that ‘overall Georgia continues to fulfil the visa liberalization benchmarks and took the action to address the European Commission’s recommendations.’
Georgian citizens holding biometric passports can travel to EU/Schengen Zone visa-free for 90 days within a 180-day period, whether it be for tourism, family visits, or business.
