Ruling party official vows EU conditions will be implemented “soon”

Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday pledged all conditions set by the European Union for granting the country the membership candidate status later this year would be implemented “soon”.

Kaladze said the country’s authorities would fulfil the conditions - related to reforms in various fields and implementation of domestic legislation - despite a part of the domestic opposition refusing to participate in the process, a development he called a “sabotage” and an act “against the country”.

Although we deserved the [EU membership candidate] status [last year], and [...] were ahead of [the countries] that were granted the status [Ukraine and Moldova], we will definitely implement the 12-point [agenda]. By the end of June, everything will be implemented, and then it will depend on our friends what decision they make”, Kaladze said. 

“I declare with full responsibility that all 12 recommendations will be implemented very soon, despite the fact that the opposition does not participate in the mentioned processes”, he added.

We were told [by the country’s Western partners] we had to do it all together. They didn't just tell the Government to do it. When we get the status, or specific steps are taken in the direction of European integration, and we are successful, it is everyone's success”, the ruling party official said. 

Kaladze also stressed the steps taken on the country’s European integration path were “very important”, but accused a part of the domestic opposition of having chosen to “go against it”.