European People’s Party statement shows UNM agenda diverges from interests of country - Parliament Speaker
Papuashvili was responding to a statement by the EPP, suggested by the domestic UNM opposition, which said “in recent years” the EPP had observed “with great concern” a trend of “democratic backsliding” in Georgia. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
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The statement by the European People's Party on Georgia shows the agenda of the United National Movement opposition party and a part of the opposition “absolutely diverges” from the interests of the country, Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, said on Wednesday.
Papuashvili was responding to a statement by the EPP, suggested by the domestic UNM opposition, which said “in recent years” the EPP had observed “with great concern” a trend of “democratic backsliding” in Georgia.
We saw the statement by the European People's Party, stating that this was a text prepared by the United National Movement. This text once again showed what we have been talking about - that a part of the [Georgian] opposition has been involved in the campaign to prevent Georgia from receiving the European Union membership candidate status,” the Parliament Speaker said.
Papuashvili noted with just a few days left for the European Commission and then the Council of the European Union to take a decision on Georgia’s membership bid, the “main issue” for UNM was “still” the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili.
This is another clear proof that in fact, the United National Movement and a part of the opposition have [an agenda] which diverges from the interests of the country and the [Georgian] people,” Papuashvili concluded.
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.
David Zalkaliani, the Georgian Ambassador to the United States, on Wednesday expressed gratitude to the US State Department for its support of Georgia's European aspirations.
Ned Price, the United States Department of State Spokesperson, said in a briefing on Tuesday the US “strongly supports" the European aspirations of Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova.
Department of State Spokesperson Ned Price said in a briefing on Tuesday the United States considered Georgia its strategic partner and was “well positioned” to encourage the country on its path of reforms.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Sunday said “all the crimes committed” by the United National Movement opposition party during their time in power were “secondary” to the European People's Party.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday criticised the European Parliament resolution on violations of media freedom and the safety of journalists in Georgia by saying the document was “not worth a dime”.
Sozar Subari, a member of People’s Power, a public movement composed of the former ruling Georgian Dream party MPs who exited the team in June, on Thursday said “all those” who wanted to “revive” the opposition United National Movement party and “bring it to power” had “realised” it was “impossible” to do so and “now switched to open struggle”.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday said the ruling team would support the domestic bill on transparency of foreign influence proposed by People's Power, a public movement established by former MPs of the party.