Brussels, 18/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - The President of Georgia, Eduard Shevardnadze, defended his country's aim of EU membership and also that of the Southern Caucasus. He was speaking for the fist time since his entry into function before the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs. The EU must extend its borders to Central Asia, he said. He said that, culturally and historically, the southern Caucasus is the natural frontier and bridge towards Asia. Georgia and southern Caucasus have the natural resources necessary for the EU's energy security, he remarked, proposing the creation of a Euro/Asia working group on energy. Of course, said the Georgian president, it would be premature to fix a date as Ukraine has done by setting the aim of being ready for accession in 2007, but this date "should be in a not too distant future". He called on Europeans to distance themselves from a solely regional approach and recalled that Georgia is the first country of the southern Caucasus to have joined the Council of Europe without its neighbours taking umbrage: "it would be enough for one of the States of this region to receive a positive signal for creating stimulation for the others", he said. The EP rapporteur on this subject, Green member Per Gahrton, and Finnish member of the Liberal Group, Paavo Väyrynen, recalled that their groups are in favour of Georgia's aspirations for accession, if the conditions are fulfilled mainly in terms of stability. Eduard Shevardnadze said he was realistic and presented the problems of Abkhazia where there have been attempts at reconciliation. He explained the serious social situation of the country and the State's budgetary crisis. He also insisted on the measures taken by his government to counter corruption, which could undermine the foundations of the democratic State, he said. The problem is that, for historical reasons, Georgians do not have confidence in their own State, he continued. He insisted at length on the relations between Georgia and Russia, repeating that Russia should have nothing to fear from the presence of one hundred US military in the regions where there are some 8,000 refugees.