In a statement on March 5 President Giorgi Margvelashvili expressed confidence that “joint efforts of spiritual and political leaders will give a new momentum to the process of European integration and will substantially enrich the relationship between Georgia and EU.”

The statement was made as a reaction to remarks by head of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Ilia II, who said during a meeting with EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan in Tbilisi on March 4 that the Church “will do everything for making Georgia a full-fledged member” of the EU.

The President said in his statement that the meeting between the Georgian Church leader and the European Commission was “very important.”

“In his conversation with the European Commissioner, the Patriarch noted that he is convinced Georgia will become a full-fledged member of the European Union naturally with its traditions and values. The Church supports and will always promote the process of Georgia’s integration into the European Union,” Margvelashvili said.

“I have noted for multiple times that individual liberty, tolerance, respecting differences represent first and foremost the Christian values and the Georgian Orthodox Church has always stood guard for these eternal, supreme values. Progress of our country has been guided by these values for thousands of years, contributing to our ancient and unique culture. Georgia’s further progress is based on these values,” the President said.