Georgia, Ukraine & Moldova are approaching to their full-fledged dream as a member of the European Union.
Such remarks were echoed simultaneously by three envoys including Amb. Nikoloz Apkhazava of Georgia, Amb. Vasyl Marmazov of Ukraine, & Amb. Tomasz Kozlowski of the EU Delegation during a reception on the occasion of the signing The Association Agreement with the European Union.

   
▲ From left, Ambs. Nikoloz Apkhazava of Georgia, Tomasz Kozlowski of the EU & Vasyl Marmazov of Ukraine shake hands after the ceremony to mark the signing The Association Agreement with the European Union.
 
On June 27, 2014, we have embarked on the path of the political association and economic integration with the EU, said Amb. Apkhazava through his speech, held on July 2nd evening, at the downtown Lotte Hotel, Seoul.
With regard to Georgia's connection with the EU, he stressed: "Georgia has always been the part of the European civilization, culture and history and that was, first of all, determined by our common values", adding the history of Georgia has largely been the history of fighting to defend these very values.
On June 27, 2014, by signing the Association Agreement, we have moved to a qualitatively new level in our cooperation with the EU, Apkhazava said to the invited guests who included Amb. Dato Haji Harun Ismail, dean of the Seoul Diplomatic Corps., envoys of EU countries such as Amb. Matti Heimonen of Finland, Amb. Elisabeth Bergtagnoli of Austria, Amb. Petar Andonov of Bulgaria and so forth.
After the signature, the European integration, being the foregin policy priority of Georgia, has become the main direction of the internal policy as well, he proclaimed.
Concerning reforms to ensure the effective implementation of the Association Agreement, Amb. Apkhazava told: "We are committed to further continue reforms by approximating to the EU regulations and introducing the European standards in all sectors".

   
▲ From right, EU envoys, Paul Menkveld of the Netherlands, Nikoloz Apkhazava of Georgia, Tomasz Kozlowski of the EU, Vasyl Marmazov of Ukraine, & Krzysztof lgnacy Majka of Poland congratulate the signing The Association Agreement with the European Union.
Apkhazava expressed big expectations, underscoring that Georgia's economic potential, together with the opportunity to integrate with the biggest common market, creates significant opportunities for producers, consumers and investros.
Congratulating on The signature of Georgia-EU Association Agreement & Ukraine-EU Association Agreement with the EU, EU Amb. Tomasz Kozlowski who was on hand, however pointed out: "The signature of the Association Agreement is only the beginning of the path full with challenges and difficulties, which require vigorous efforts from the Government, political parties, society and each and every one of us, as far as this is the path leading to the realization of our European dream, our historic goal".
From the standpoint of Ukraine as well, "This is what we've been fighting for since the year 2007, when the concept of associate membership has been determined for the first time. The first and an extremely important phase is finished and the new one is about to begin," the Head of State of Ukraine noted through his statement.
Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko reminded that after the signature of the Association Agreement with the EU, Ukraine will have to work over the implementation and adaptation of national legislation to the requirements and standards of the European Union. "This work is in no way easier or less responsible but I am confident that we will carry it out qualitatively," the President said.
“The Government will promote the national capital and the domestic manufacturer with all possible means and tools through a political and economic dialog targeting to increase volumes of exported Ukrainian origin goods, diversify markets, create workplaces and improve quality and competitiveness of Ukrainian commodities,” the Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk also emphasized during a session of the Government on Wednesday, June 25, 2014. Prime Minister Iurie LEANCA of the Republic of Moldova, one of three countries which signed the Assocation Agreement with the European Union too said in a cabenet meeting, held on June 28th: "I want to congratulate you on the yesterday signing of the Association Agreement, I congratulate you all present here, those who are not present here, but who worked for four years on negotiations, on adjusting the legal framework, on adjusting practices, standards, which result from these adjusting. I want to congratulate our colleagues from the civil society for their extremely valuable contribution. I want to congratulate all Moldovan citizens, as yesterday was a historic day, but today is another day, let’s get over that festive moment and focus on other things, priorities.

   
▲ Georgia & Ukraine community celebrate the signing The Association Agreement with the European Union with envoys.
From my point of view, the priority is to continue activities, efforts to prepare the state’s institutions, the Moldovan economy, cooperation with entrepreneurs, trade unions, employers’ association, all our partners, so that when the agreement will be provisionally implemented, we get ready to benefit from its provisions, the premier added.
As we agreed, we will discuss in details in the days to come the action plan, plan on implementation of the Association Agreement, the Free Trade Agreement. We have a lot of work to do. We also have the financial support of the European Commission and two things depend the way we will honour these commitments, he explained regarding the significance of the Agreement;
First, to show that, as we set, this agreement is a historic one and society, the country, each citizen will benefit from this accord. Secondly, the next phase of our ties with the European Union will depend a lot on the way we will implement this agreement, as we have achieved a goal, but this is a very important stage, it is not the end, the final point is that we join the European Union, he said.

 

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