Ruling party Secretary decries “paradox” of EU status for CIS member state in contrast to absence of candidacy for Georgia’s “advanced reforms and democracy”

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said it was a “paradox” that a Commonwealth of Independent States member state enjoyed the European Union membership candidacy, while Georgia, which he said was “advanced in terms of reforms and democracy”, had yet to receive the status. 

In a clear reference to Moldova, which is still a member of the Russian-influenced regional intergovernmental organisation CIS - formed following the collapse of the USSR - Mdinaradze noted the ruling Georgian Dream party had “enshrined the inviolability” of the country’s European path in its constitution.

In terms of the reforms and the quality of democracy, Georgia is far ahead of its two friendly countries [Ukraine and Moldova] that have been granted EU membership candidate status. However strange this may be, this is a fact - the friendly country [Moldova] that has retained its place in the CIS has received the membership candidate status, while we have not, which is at least strange”, the GD official said.

On June 24, the European Council granted the membership candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova, and said it would be ready to grant the same status to Georgia once the outstanding priorities outlined by the European Commission were addressed by the Georgian Government.

On July 1, the ruling Georgian Dream party presented its strategy for fulfilling the 12-point conditions outlined by the European Council for granting the country the membership candidate status.