PM tells UN general assembly country deserves EU membership status, making “dream of generations a reality”

Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday told the United Nations general assembly that Georgia deserved the European Union membership candidate status, stressing it would bring the country to eventual membership and make the “dream of generations a reality”.

In his address, Garibashvili noted the “historic decision” of the European Council to grant the country a European perspective in June, noting the decision had created “a new set of benchmarks”. 

“Just as in the past, Georgia will meet and exceed those benchmarks. The prospect of acceding to the EU is a strong motivation for our country and our citizens”, he said. 

We are fully aware that the European perspective comes with a responsibility of the highest political, economic, and legal convergence with the EU. Georgia immediately responded to the European Council’s decision by presenting an action plan to address the EU’s 12 priorities”, the Georgian PM told the assembly.

Garibashvili stressed his government continued an “unequivocal path” towards European and Euro-Atlantic integration, with commitment to these goals backed up by “actions and real results”.

Let me be clear: Georgia deserves EU member candidate status, which will bring us to eventual membership and make the dream of generations a reality”, he continued.

The head of the government also reviewed the steps taken by the ruling Georgian Dream party in implementing an “ambitious” reform agenda that he said had brought the country closer to key international partners - the EU, United States, NATO and United Nations. 

For the first time since we regained independence, Georgia has enjoyed an unprecedented decade of peace, prosperity, and stability”, he concluded in his comments to the assembly.