European Parliament President, Jerzy Buzek, called for “renewed momentum” in Georgia’s reform efforts in order to deepen cooperation with EU.

Buzek, who visits Tbilisi on May 19 as part of his trip to three South Caucasus countries, was speaking at a joint news conference with the Georgian Parliamentary Chairman Davit Bakradze.

Buzek said Georgia should be “congratulated” for what it had achieved as a result of reforms in recent years.

“But I call for renewed momentum in your reform effort. We need compatibility between the European Union and Georgia; we want to cooperate more and deeply,” he said.

“To deepen our partnership further improvements are necessary in respect, especially, [of] judiciary system, rule of law, media pluralism,” Buzek said, adding that “cooperation” between the authorities and the opposition was also important.

“We would not like to impose anything to Georgia; it must your choice… but for better, more cooperation we need more compatibility of our system,” he said.

He also reiterated support to Georgia’s territorial integrity and said: “I deeply regret the continued presence of the Russian troops in the breakaway regions.”

Jerzy Buzek delivered a speech at the Community of Democracies Parliamentary Forum, held in Tbilisi on May 19-20.