Georgia's nominated prime minister invited to visit EU headquarters

Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgia's nominated prime minister, said on Thursday that he would visit Brussels first in the capacity of a sworn-in premier. Ivanishvili, whose election coalition Georgian Dream won the 2012 legislative elections on Oct. 1, made the announcement after meeting visiting EU commissioner for enlargement and European neighborhood, Stefan Fule. "We had a very interesting conversation and we have also received many advices," said the billionaire, "I received an invitation and I have been convinced that first of all I have to visit Europe and my first foreign visit should be to Europe." On Oct. 3 the Georgian Dream leader said that he would pay his first foreign visit to Washington in November. The visiting EU commissioner told a press briefing in Tbilisi that he welcomed the patriotism and public awareness as demonstrated by both Bidzina Ivanishvili and Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. "The European Union hopes that constructive cooperation with the new government will continue," the commissioner said, "We appreciate the new government's willingness to maintain the aspiration to the EU." Fule also said that the European Union would thank Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and his government for the reforms and achievements. "They can be proud of the democratic transfer of power," the commissioner added. On Wednesday, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili nominated Ivanishvili as the candidate for the prime minister of the next cabinet. The country's current constitution regulates that the nominated prime minister would have up to 10 days to present to the president and the parliament the formation of his cabinet for confirmation and ratification by the parliament and president respectively.