Kakha Kaladze, the mayor of Tbilisi and the secretary general of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said Oliver Varhelyi, the EU commissioner for neighbourhood and enlargement, had voiced “clear messages” in support of Georgia's European integration, adding it was “very important” to see the progress the country had achieved on the path.
In his remarks over the matter, Kaladze noted it was “very important” to recognise the Georgian government was actively working on the implementation of the EU conditions for granting the country the membership candidate status.
It was important to recognise that there are positive changes in terms of judicial reform. The right steps have been taken from the economic point of view, [and it has been recognised] that Georgia is an advanced country in the fight against corruption. Our citizens know all this very well, they know how important it is to maintain peace and tranquillity in the country, which gives us economic development”, the GD official said.
Kaladze stressed Varhelyi’s “positive messages” were “another proof” that “we are on the right path and will do everything to protect the interests of Georgia and our citizens”.
Once again, I would like to call on the radical opposition to end the deepening of polarisation and to get involved in the processes of European integration of the country and the process of the implementation of the recommendations issued by the European Commission, which is very important”, he concluded.
Varhelyi on Tuesday recognised the “active work” of the Georgian government on fulfilling the conditions outlined by the European Union.
Speaking at a joint briefing with Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili in Tbilisi, the EU official said he was happy to see the steps being taken in the country for the objective, including “important decisions” and proposals being prepared in the Georgian parliament.