President Saakashvili held bilateral meetings with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton; Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip on the first day of EU Eastern Partnership summit in Warsaw on September 29.

Georgia's EU ambassador Salome Samadashvili said in televised remarks that during the meeting Catherine Ashton reiterated EU's policy of non-recognition of Georgia's breakaway regions and welcomed progress made by Georgia in meeting requirements for the launch of talks on deep and comprehensive free trade agreement (DCFTA) with EU.

Georgia hopes EU to open talks on DCFTA before the end of this year. In a statement ahead of the summit Ashton said, that EU "aim[s] to launch negotiations on Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas with Moldova and Georgia, once they have met the necessary requirements."

After meeting with President Saakashvili, the Estonian PM's office said, that Andrus Ansip noted progress made by Georgia to prepare for launch of talks on DCFTA, adding that Estonia supports start of these negotiations this year.

Azerbaijani President's office said that Ilham Aliyev discussed with his Georgian counterpart "successful" bilateral relations.