EU's Fuele Visits Tbilisi, Pledges Support

European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fuele speaks in Tbilisi on March 4.

TBILISI -- EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele has expressed continued support for Georgia's efforts to pursue closer ties with the bloc.

Fuele met on March 4 in Tbilisi with Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze.

Fuele told reporters after the talks that the EU was considering a "number of measures" to support Georgia's choice to sign an Association Agreement with the bloc if that choice were to come under any "pressure."

Fuele is meeting with the Georgian leadership, as well as opposition, civil society representatives, and the head of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

He said that while the international community looks with increasing concern at events in Ukraine, "let us remember that Russia’s behavior here in Georgia is also a matter of serious concern."

Fuele said the signing of an Association Agreement with Georgia this year will elevate the bloc's "already unique relationship" with Tbilisi.

With reporting by Civil.ge