U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry congratulated Georgia and Moldova on “historic” initialing of their respective Association Agreements and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreements with the EU at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius on November 28-29.

“We commend Georgia and Moldova for strengthening the rule of law, democracy, and free markets. Meeting the goals of the EU’s Eastern Partnership program is one of the surest paths to a Europe whole, free and at peace,” Kerry said in a statement on November 29.

The U.S. Secretary of State, who will be visiting Moldova next week, also said the U.S. “strongly supports” Euro-Atlantic integration of Georgia and Moldova.

“We reaffirm our commitment to deepening our partnership with the people of Georgia and Moldova, and we will continue to support their governments as they lay the groundwork for greater European integration and a better, more prosperous future,” he said.