Hungarian FM: EU decision on Georgia “contradicts tasks of strengthening” bloc
The Minister highlighted Hungary's position that Georgia should be granted the candidate status in a short period of six months “without delay”, claiming the country deserved it “based on its experience”.Photo: Foreign Ministry.
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The European Union’s decision of not granting the membership candidate status to Georgia “contradicts the tasks of strengthening” the bloc, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Friday in a press briefing with his Georgian counterpart Ilia Darchiasvhili in Tbilisi.
Szijjártó called the EU decision “another missed opportunity and disrespect to Georgia”, adding he believed it was also “damaging from a European perspective”, noting “it was neither an attempt to appease nor a reassuring word”.
The FM also emphasised the conditions defined by the EU for receiving the status were “difficult to understand” and “general in nature”, while also being “quite meaningless” and based on “some people's subjective point of view” in some cases.
The Minister highlighted Hungary's position that Georgia should be granted the candidate status in a short period of six months “without delay”, claiming the country deserved it “based on its experience”.
Hungary will “do everything” to further strengthen collaboration between two countries, the visiting official also noted, adding his Government would send an “expert delegation” to the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assist in the process of European integration.
The Georgian Government will continue to pursue an “ambitious” reform agenda together with the European Union to ensure the country’s eventual integration into the bloc, the Georgian foreign office said on Friday following the decision of the European Council to recognise the country’s European perspective for membership.
Lorinc Nacsa, a member of Parliament in the National Assembly of Hungary, said on Wednesday Hungary would support granting Georgia and Bosnia-Herzegovina the European Union membership candidate status alongside Ukraine and Moldova.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday congratulated his Georgian counterpart on Independence Day, which was marked on Thursday, stressing his country supported Georgia's Euro-Atlantic integration.
Ilia Darchiashvili, the Georgian Foreign Minister and Peter Siarto, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary gave “high evaluation” to the completion of Georgia's European Union membership questionnaire, handed over by the country ahead of schedule this week.
Georgia has received “guaranteed promise” to become EU member
By having been granted the "European perspective" by European Union bodies, Georgia has received "a guaranteed promise" that it will "definitely become" a member of the EU, Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili said on Friday.
The European Council’s decision on granting Georgia the European perspective, and matters of close partnership between Georgia and Hungary were discussed on Friday in a meeting between Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and the Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó.
The growing trade dynamics between Hungary and Georgia, wider economic ties and potential of developing greater relations were discussed on Saturday in a meeting between Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili and Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Sunday said Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former Prime Minister and the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, could not fall under the definition of an oligarch as he had retired from politics by “his own decision” and there was “no evidence” of his interference in either politics or media since.
Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said it was “difficult to say" how long it would take for Georgia to receive the European Union membership candidate status, emphasising fulfilment of the conditions outlined by the EU for the outcome.
Introduction of a simplified employment mechanism for Georgian citizens in Hungary and “fruitful” cooperation between the two countries in economy, trade, tourism and education were discussed on Saturday in a meeting between Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and his Hungarian counterpart Péter Szijjártó, the Georgian Foreign Ministry said.