Europe needs to make clear what it aims to achieve in the eastern part of Europe and how it envisages the region's future in the context of recent geo-political developments, Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič said in his address during a meeting of senior European officials in Prague marking the 5th anniversary of the EU's Eastern Partnership initiative.
“Speaking on behalf of my country, I can say that we did more than a little, but we could've done more. As a country in direct contact with the eastern neighbours we've endeavoured to provide help, to share our transformation experience and lead an open dialogue with them, but this hasn't been enough for a major change,” said Gašparovič. The meeting was attended by presidents of the Czech Republic, Poland, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Lithuania, Moldova, as well as representatives of the EU, the Swedish Government and Ukraine. Gašparovič met his Georgian opposite number Giorgi Margvelashvili on the side-lines of the gathering. The Slovak official praised the fact that trade exchange between the two countries has enjoyed considerable uplift in the past few years. According to Gašparovič, Slovakia backs the territorial integrity of Georgia with its internationally recognised borders while not recognising the sovereignty of breakaway regions Abkhazia and South Ossetia. He went on to voice his appreciation for the reforms that Georgia has undertaken and stressed that Slovakia supports Georgia's European and NATO ambitions.
