Georgian President appeals to European Commission President on “will of Georgian people” in country’s EU membership bid

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Tuesday appealed to Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, to take into account the “will of Georgian people” and the “road taken by the country” in the upcoming decision over granting European Union membership candidate status to Georgia.

Zourabichvili said she would send out “personal letters” to leaders of European Union member states to present “all the political, moral and strategic arguments” on why Georgia deserves a “historic decision” of being granted the candidate status. 

The President invited Georgian citizens, Government officials and all political parties to show public unity on the country’s European future by gathering on Europe Square in capital Tbilisi on Thursday, and invited EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell and foreign diplomats to the occasion.

Zourabichvili also addressed organisers of a rally announced for June 20 outside the Georgian Parliament in Tbilisi with the goal of expressing “commitment to EU integration”, and urged them to postpone their plans,  arguing there was “no time for political ambitions” and “attempts to divide” the public. 

In comments on the resolution adopted by European Parliament on June 9, which urged the Georgian authorities to “refrain from interfering in media freedom or pursuing politically motivated judicial cases against media owners or representatives”, Zourabichvili said the resolution was “more an expression of mood than an announcement of any decision”, but also highlighted the document closed with a “very positive call” expressing the belief that Georgia deserves to be granted EU membership status. 

The Georgian leader also said the section of the resolution that called for sanctioning Georgia’s former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili was “full of factual inaccuracies and unsubstantiated allegations”, adding the part’s inclusion had followed Georgian officials’ failure to provide arguments with the EP parties involved in drafting the resolution, noting they had chosen “silence or offensive answers to serious questions”. 

She also criticised the  Government by claiming the ruling party “should have done more” to maintain a “leading position” for European integration ahead the fellow Associated Trio countries Moldova and Ukraine, stressing “inactivity” had resulted in the approval of the European Parliament resolution. She also noted the Government’s “doubtful” decisions over the years that had “brought up questions” from European leaders on the country's European aspirations.

Zourabichvili also criticised what she called a “radical wing” of the domestic Georgian opposition for their “consistent work of spreading misinformation”, which she said had played a “damaging role” in the ongoing consideration of the country’s membership bid. The President urged the parties to “stop providing destructive information” at this “crucial moment” for “their own political interests in destabilising the Government”.