German chancellor’s statement on expanding Europe from Lisbon to Tbilisi “particularly” important - ruling party head
Irakli Kobakhidze, the chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party and German chancellor Olaf Scholz at the Party of European Socialists congress in Berlin. Photo: Irakli Kobakhidze/Facebook.
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German chancellor Olaf Scholz’s statement that Europe should expand from Lisbon to Tbilisi is “particularly pleasant and important” to Georgia, as Germany has a special role in making relevant decisions in the direction of European integration, Irakli Kobakhidze, the chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party told reporters on Saturday.
Kobakhidze, who led the Georgian delegation at the Party of European Socialists congress in Berlin, said the congress had been “very interesting”, and there had been “very positive” messages about Georgia, voiced by “a number of political leaders”, adding such political support was “important” for Georgia, creating “optimism” that the country would soon receive the EU candidate status and become a member state.
Maka Botchorishvili, the chair of the Georgian parliament's EU integration committee also made comments on Scholz’s statement and said his “important” message has “determined” the future of the EU, and “today, when the European political forces are discussing the future of Europe, the future of Europe means the future of Georgia too”, she added.
The committee chair also stressed that within the framework of the Berlin congress, “quite strong” messages had been made regarding the expansion of the EU and, “specifically”, in relation to Georgia.
As Russia seeks to redraw the boundaries between freedom and autocracy, “we are the people of Europe”, our voice must resound throughout Europe, from the Mediterranean to the North Sea, from Lisbon to Tbilisi and beyond, the German chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday at the Party of European Socialists congress in Berlin, in which the Georgian delegation is participating.
The resolution adopted by the Party of European Socialists congress in Berlin is “especially important” for Georgia, which emphasises the significance of the European Union candidate status for Georgia and is a “direct appeal” to the European structures to grant the country candidate status, Irakli Kobakhidze, the chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party said on Friday.
Maka Botchorishvili, the chair of the Georgian parliament’s European Union integration committee, on Friday said it was “important” that European counterparts were informed about what the Georgian government was doing to fulfil European Union conditions for granting the country the membership candidate status.
Germany's role and support for Georgia's EU integration process, and a deepening of mutual cooperation were discussed on Friday in a meeting between Irakli Kobakhidze, the chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, and Lars Klingbeil, the co-leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany.
Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday praised Germany’s role in and support for his country’s European integration agenda, at an event in Berlin marking the 30th anniversary since the establishment of the diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The “friendly and productive” ties between Georgia and Germany were discussed on Wednesday in a meeting between the Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili and Bärbel Bas, president of the German Bundestag.
Nikoloz Samkharadze, the chair of the Georgian parliament's foreign affairs committee, on Thursday noted German support for granting the European Union membership candidate status to Georgia, in remarks over his visit to meet colleagues in the Bundestag.
Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili and his parliamentary delegation on Friday discussed the "difficult" security situation in the South Caucasus region with members of the South Caucasus parliamentary group of the German Bundestag.
Anri Okhanashvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee, on Friday said Germany was supporting the development of democracy in Georgia and the country’s integration into the European Union.
Shalva Papuashvili, the Georgian Parliament Speaker, on Sunday said the European Commission’s positive recommendation to the European Council last week to grant Tbilisi the European Union’s membership candidate status in December was the bloc’s “message” to Russia that the former saw Georgia as its part and not as an “abandoned periphery”.