Georgia’s “historical” European choice has no alternative - Georgian President
She stressed Georgia’s request for EU membership started from the country’s European past, sharing common values and cultural foundations with Europe, emphasising that Georgia would “reunite with” its “European family”. The President vowed she would work hard for Georgia to overcome domestic and international challenges and move towards European integration. Photo via EP
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Georgia’s “historical” European choice is “not only legitimate, [but] it has no alternative”, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili said on Wednesday, addressing the European Parliament in Brussels.
Zourabichvili noted the Georgian Government, the people and the member countries of the EU should together decide the future of Georgia, “although the population of Georgia has already decided this issue [...] Georgia wants to become a member of the European family”.
She stressed Georgia’s request for EU membership started from the country’s European past, sharing common values and cultural foundations with Europe, emphasising that Georgia would “reunite with” its “European family”. The President vowed she would work hard for Georgia to overcome domestic and international challenges and move towards European integration.
Zourabichvili once again expressed Georgia’s “principled” solidarity of Ukrainian people amid Russia’s invasion of the country and expressed hope that “in the near future”, representatives of both Georgia and Ukraine would “sit side by side” in the European Parliament, recalling “the price Georgia’s people have paid in the face of Russian aggression” for independence and right to become a member of the free, democratic world.
The European Union stands by Georgia and is ready to support the country in its journey to become an integral part of the bloc, supporting its European path by providing “all the necessary assistance”, Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament, said on Wednesday.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Tuesday reiterated the “unwavering will of the Georgian people to join the European family” at the meeting with Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission.
Georgia’s European future and implementation of the 12 priorities outlined by the European Union last year for granting its membership candidate status to the country were discussed on Tuesday by Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili and the President of the European Council Charles Michel.
Georgia’s President Salome Zourabichvili will meet officials of the European Union in Brussels after departing for the official visit to the city on Monday, the President’s Administration said.