Parliament Speaker: EU failure to grant Georgia candidate status would embolden “radical scenario” by “destructive forces”
The Parliament official stressed the country was a “frontrunner” in the region in terms of democratisation, and was ahead of some EU member countries on “many issues”. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
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Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday said the European Union not granting Georgia its membership candidate status would work to embolden a “radical scenario” by “destructive forces” in the country.
In comments on the upcoming decision on the status by EU bodies later this year, the Parliament official claimed the country had “proved itself” as the “greatest ally” of the West in the region over the past 30 years.
“With all sincere, honest, objective assessments, Georgia deserves the membership candidate status. Therefore, if Georgia again faces such a decision that the status is not granted, first of all, we should think about what is behind such a decision and what is the motive”, Papuashvili said.
The Parliament official stressed the country was a “frontrunner” in the region in terms of democratisation, and was ahead of some EU member countries on “many issues”.
“If Georgia does not receive the membership candidate status, this may only have political implications - the destructive forces planning to disrupt Georgia will be given the opportunity to implement a radical scenario”, he said.
“We are wondering about how Europe sees its attitude towards Georgia, how it evaluates the 30-year struggle of the Georgian people to return to the European family”, Papuashvili added.
James Appathurai, the NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges, on Wednesday said he did not have an “exact answer” when Georgia would become a NATO member country, but noted it was “clear” that “sooner or later” it would happen, highlighting the country as “one of the closest partners” for the alliance.
Julianne Smith, the United States Ambassador to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, hailed Georgia’s “excellent and very close” relationship with the alliance and highlighted the country as NATO’s one of the “closest partners”, in an interview with Imedi TV on Friday.
Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Secretary General, on Tuesday described Georgia as “one of closest partners” of the alliance and pledged “continued political and practical support” for the country.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday expressed his Government’s “readiness” to further deepen political dialogue and practical cooperation with NATO "in all dimensions".
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and his Maltese counterpart Angelo Farrugia on Monday discussed bilateral cooperation, prospects of further strengthening legislative ties and Georgia’s European aspirations.
Malta supports Georgia’s European integration and intends to back its application for the membership candidate status in December, Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's European Union Integration Committee, said on Monday.