Day: September 13, 2023

Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on Monday reviewed his visit to Georgia last week by saying the bloc wanted to “see Georgia succeeding on its European path”.

In an article over the visit, the bloc’s top diplomat noted “there is no doubt for the European Union that Georgia belongs to the European family”, and further highlighted the “overwhelming” European aspiration of Georgian citizens.

During my stay, all my interlocutors made a plea for Georgia to receive candidate status to the EU shortly. It is a call that we have heard over the past months consistently from the authorities, from the opposition and from the civil society representatives”, Borrell said.

The EU official stressed one of the “main” challenges on the European path for Georgia was the “strong” political polarisation, and for the country to become an EU candidate, “all political forces need to work together constructively”.

The EU accession process is a national endeavour that needs to stand over party politics. All institutions have to work together, i.e. cooperate. Georgian leaders should not miss this historic opportunity”, he noted.

Borrell added there were no “shortcuts” to EU accession neither for Georgia, nor anyone else as the enlargement process always followed “clear” criteria. 

It requires, for sure, hard work, political will and clear commitment to the European Union’s values. […] This hard work is worth it, not only to become a member of the European Union, but, more importantly, for improving the everyday life of citizens. Georgia has a robust administration and a vibrant civil society. It has all the potential to achieve this historic task”, he said.

The European official also welcomed the clear position of Georgia in international fora in support of Ukraine and noted “it is crucial to coordinate our efforts with our closest partners to isolate Russia internationally”.

In the piece, Borrell also reiterated the EU’s “unwavering” support to Georgia’s security, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and further pointed out that “our longstanding commitment to stand by Georgia is today as strong as ever in light of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine”.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have had a brief talk at Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Amur region, a Sputnik correspondent reported on Wednesday, Sputnik reported.

“Thank you for inviting us, despite your tight schedule,” Kim told Putin during the meeting.

The ceremony took place at the main entrance to the Unified Technical Complex Launch Vehicles assembly and test buildings.

Putin and Kim will inspect the Vostochny Cosmodrome and then will hold bilateral talks.

When asked about cooperation with North Korea in space, Vladimir Putin emphasized that this is the very reason why they came to Vostochny Cosmodrome.

“The North Korean leadership is interested in rocket construction, they are also trying to develop space technologies,” Putin said.

Referring to the issue of potential cooperation with North Korea in military and technological spheres, Vladimir Putin also said that “they will discuss all issues in no particular hurry” because “they have time”.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters earlier that the two leaders would discuss bilateral cooperation in various areas, as well as regional and international cooperation. Moreover, Peskov stated Putin and Kim would also discuss “sensitive” issues, which he stressed, “should not become the subject of any public disclosure or announcement”.

This is the North Korean leader’s first trip abroad in four years and his second trip to Russia. Kim last visited the country in 2019.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected the launch facility of the Soyuz-2 space rocket complex at Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Amur Region, a Sputnik correspondent reported.

The leaders have also inspected the process of construction of the launch facility of the Angara space rocket complex, which started in 2019.

Earlier in the day, Kim arrived at the railway station of the cosmodrome by train as part of his first visit to Russia since 2019.

RHM/PR

“Based on the agreement between Iraq and Iran, necessary measures were taken to remove these groups from the border areas and they were housed in camps deep inside Iraqi Kurdistan,” Hussein told a press conference on Tuesday.

Hussein said he would visit Tehran on Wednesday to deliver the message in person in the hopes that it would prevent any escalation on the border.

Iraq and Iran signed a border security agreement in March, according to which the Iraqi side is committed to disarming the armed separatist and terrorist groups in the Kurdistan region by September 19.

MNA/PR