Garibashvili Reiterates Georgia's Desire To Join NATO, EU

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has reiterated Tbilisi's desire to join NATO and the European Union.

In his address to the nation on October 1, Garibashvili said Georgia's "main action plan" is to implement its Association Agreement with the European Union, which Tbilisi signed in June.

Garibashvili also said Georgia's main goals include the unification of "our common homeland through reconciliation with our Abkhaz and Ossetian brothers."

Garibashvili made the speech on the second anniversary of the victory of his Georgian Dream coalition over former President Mikheil Saakashvili's United National Movement party (ENM).

A parliamentary minority leader, the ENM's Zurab Japaridze, told reporters on October 1 that the Georgian Dream coalition has failed to meet its promises during the last two years.

Japaridze said: "The national budget has not been met for the second year, unemployment is at a critical level, and the crime rate is worsening."

Based on reporting by apsny.ge and Interfax