The Messenger, Georgia
May 13 2005

Celebrating Europe Day
By Anna Arzanova

Head of the European Commission Delegation to Armenia and Georgia
Torben Holtze hosted a reception at the Courtyard Marriott on May 5
on the occasion of Europe Day. The whole government as well as other
important guests were invited to the event.

In an interview with The Messenger, Holtze stated that they celebrate
Europe Day every year as a sign of solidarity. “Last year, we
celebrated the expansion of the EU from fifteen to twenty-five member
states and this year we are also celebrating, because Romania and
Bulgaria have been accepted. We all expect they will become members
in 2007,” he stated.

He expressed hope for ever closer integration with Georgia and
Ukraine and all countries on the periphery of Europe.

“Georgia is a European country, so it can apply for membership, but I
don’t think it should focus on this for the moment, because what is
more important is economic development. It is mainly up to the
Georgian people – with support from the outside – to achieve this
progress,” he concluded.

Attending the event, State Minister for European Integration Giorgi
Baramidze said that Europe Day is rather important “and its
celebration also is very important.”

In the interview with The Messenger, he said that Georgia will make
every effort to become a member of the European Union. He believes
this will take about 10 years, “but we will do our best that this
process go forward in a timely manner.”

“Georgia is Europe,” he said, and membership will come sooner than we
hope.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress