Georgian Visas = Georgian Vodka
By 2013 Georgia is planning to lift visa restrictions for travel to European countries. It is President Mikhail Saakashvili’s goal to achieve visa-free access to Europe prior to the end of his term. Not only is President Saakashvili moving toward having a simplified visa process that features visa-free movement throughout Europe, but is promoting free-trade between Georgia and all of the European nations. There is a lot of red tape to cut through, but the president is determined to accomplish this goal.
In fact, Georgia is no stranger to commerce as archaeological research shows that Georgia was entrenched in commerce with several lands and empires since ancient times. Its prime location on the Black Sea and proximity to the Silk Road were of major importance to their prosperous past. Additionally, the Caucasus Mountains produced plentiful supplies or silver, copper and iron. Let us not forget the exquisite wines that have come from the region for generations. In fact, Georgia is the oldest wine producing region in the world (according to Wikipedia).
Georgia has strong European support, as evidenced in its role in “The Eastern Partnership” which is geared towards the improvement of political and economic relations between Europe and the former Soviet nations of Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Azerbaijan and Armenia. The European Council has also shown strong support of a free-trade treaty with Georgia.
Besides European support, the United States also has reassured Georgian president that they will assist him in achieving his goal of visa-free access to Europe. U.S. President Barack Obama expressed “the strong support of the United States for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the White House said in a statement.
Keep your eyes on this situation and by 2013 people all across Europe will be ordering Khizilala and Chacha (better known in English as caviar and Georgian vodka).