Georgian President announces European Parliament address to “voice” citizens' European aspirations
President Salome Zourabichvili delivered her annual speech in the Parliament on Friday. Photo: 1TV
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Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Friday announced she would address the European Parliament next month with remarks on the country’s European integration and for “voicing” the aspirations of the country’s citizens.
In her annual address to the Georgian Parliament, the President said she had received an official invitation from the EP President to address the body on April 18, “for the first time since 2010”.
I will address the European Parliament with a speech. I know it will not be easy, but it is necessary for Europe to understand and listen to what our people have to say", Zourabichvili said.
In her address, the President also criticised the country’s authorities for spreading “conspiracy theories” with their claims on attempts of domestic and foreign forces to “drag” Georgia into the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, and accused them of “misleading” the public with a position that she said alleged "European values" and the country’s national interests were in contradiction.
She also said the country’s authorities had shown “neither rationalism, nor diplomacy” in positions related to the war in Ukraine, despite them joining all international resolutions in support of Kyiv.
Responding to the speech, Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said “many" of Zourabichvili’s statements were "incomprehensible” and “concerning”, and said he hoped the President would “not cross the red lines”.
Fellow GD lawmaker Mamuka Mdinaradze accused the President of being “biased” and strengthening the “radical rhetoric” of the United National Movement opposition party.
The current situation in the South Caucasus region, the ongoing war in Ukraine, matters of Black Sea security and the situation in the Russian-occupied territories of Georgia were discussed on Monday in a meeting between the Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili and the United Nations Secretary General António Guterres.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili will start her working visit to the United States on Sunday, within which she is set to address the representatives of the United Nations member states on Monday at the 67th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women with a focus on the empowerment of women and girls.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Friday said the European Commission’s “positive” assessment of the country’s alignment with the European Union framework was “very important”, following the publication of the report that evaluated the progress of Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova in their work for membership in the bloc.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Friday claimed President Salome Zourabichvili had "strengthened the false campaign” of the opposition United National Movement party with her address to the Parliament on Friday.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has responded to the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine’s internationally recognised borders earlier today, calling it “shocking” for Georgia and expressing solidarity with the country.
The Georgian Government Administration on Thursday responded to the Presidential Administration’s statement, released earlier today, allegedly the Georgian Government had “artificially delayed” consent to the President’s visit to Strasbourg, causing its postponement, and rejected the claims as false and “misinformation”.