Parliament official accuses opposition MPs of “feeding” EU groups lobbying against Georgia’s membership with “negative statements”
Botchorishvili said there were “forces among European Union member states” that were against a further enlargement of the bloc and therefore not in favour of Georgia’s membership prospects. Photo: ghn.ge
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Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s European Union Integration Committee, on Tuesday accused opposition MPs of “feeding” the groups lobbying within the European Union against Georgia being granted a member status with their “negative statements”.
Botchorishvili said there were “forces among European Union member states” that were against a further enlargement of the bloc and therefore not in favour of Georgia’s membership prospects.
I address those of you who find it difficult to understand the harm you are causing the country when you claim that the state has been captured by a mythical oligarch [...] that state institutions are broken [...] that the elections were stolen from you [...] that the former President [Mikheil Saakashvili] is being killed in prison, while the state is not only taking care of his health but also his mood,” the Parliament official said in her address that mentioned grievances voiced by a part of the local oppositions over the recent months.
The Committee Chair also accused a part of the opposition of creating “false narratives” suggesting Georgia did not support Ukraine, and thus “insulting” not only the country’s authorities but also “all eager individuals” fighting “for the freedom of Ukraine and Georgia at the same time”.
This is how you feed the forces that oppose our European future and with this, you fight against your own country and its European prospects. In today’s unique environment, you believe that if the country is deservedly granted candidate status, this will benefit the Georgian Dream [ruling party], and this worries you to such an extent that you are ready to sacrifice the interests of the country,” Botchorishvili said to opposition lawmakers in her comments.
The Parliament official underlined Georgia was an “integral part” of “European values, history, and culture,” and deserved the status of an EU membership candidate, which she called “the only way” to ensure the country’s European prospects.
Georgia deserves its European prospects because we, the vast majority of the citizens of Georgia, want to be part of the democratic world, where no one can threaten our statehood – which has been achieved with our blood – and the future of our children,” she concluded.
Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s European Union Integration Committee, on Tuesday said there were “forces among European Union member states” that were against a further enlargement of the bloc and therefore not in favour of Georgia’s membership prospects.
Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s European Union Integration Committee and Levan Karumidze, the First Deputy Chair of the body, on Friday discussed the country’s bid for EU membership and progress in European integration with German officials in Berlin.
Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s European Union Integration Committee, said during her visit to Germany on Thursday that German officials believed Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova faced the “same” prospects in their formal applications for joining the European Union, and said the three states should be granted integration opportunities simultaneously.
The significance of Georgia’s European Union membership application and future measures in the process were in focus of a meeting between Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, on Wednesday.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday said the European Union had "no reason to reject" Georgia's application for membership, "especially" if it granted candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova.
Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s European Union Integration Committee, on Tuesday said Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova “deserved” to become members of the European Union.
The United National Movement opposition party and its Western lobbyists, specifically the European People's Party, are "trying their best" to prevent Georgia from obtaining the European Union membership candidate status, Thea Tsulukiani, the Georgian Vice Prime Minister and Culture Minister, said on Wednesday.
The Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday said the European Union should demonstrate a “long-term interest” in the Black Sea region by granting membership candidate status to Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.
Citizens opposition party MP Aleko Elisashvili on Friday said there were “some disgraceful people” among the domestic opposition who may have campaigned with the country’s European partners against granting Georgia the European Union member candidate status.
Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s European Union Integration Committee, on Monday said the upcoming two weeks would be “very important” for the European Commission’s evaluation of Georgia’s EU membership bid.