Brussels, 16/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - Javier Solana on a visit to Tbilissi where he met president-elect Saakashvili, the caretaker president Burjanadze and the minister of foreign affairs Japaridze, gave assurances to the new Georgian leaders of the "firm support" from the EU for their reform processes. He hoped that reform would allow for the 1999 partnership agreement to be "used to its full potential". In a press statement Mr Solana also explained that, "The new leadership has already taken measures to consolidate relations with their neighbours and particularly Russia. We have discussed this issue. This policy is clearly in the interest of Georgia and the EU encourages it". According to Reuters, Solana explained that the EU was ready to provide assistance over the question of withdrawing the Russian bases from Georgia (decided at the OSCE summit in Istanbul), while explaining that it did not intent to provide "financial aid".