Despite internal, external sabotage, Georgia will receive EU candidate status - PM
The PM also told the media that his Government “repeatedly” warned the Georgian society about “the destructive sabotage” by the radical opposition, who continued to “betray the national interests of Georgia” and “ask European colleagues not to grant the country the status”. Photo via Government Administration
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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday said he wanted to “reassure everyone” that despite the internal and external enemies and sabotage, Georgia would receive the European Union candidate membership status.
Garibashvili also commented on yesterday’s statement by Khatuna Samnidze, an opposition MP and the Chair of the Republican Party, in which she said that “particular representatives” of the opposition were “hindering” the process of granting Georgia the EU candidate status and he called it “an admission of the shameful act and behaviour”.
The PM also told the media that his Government “repeatedly” warned the Georgian society about “the destructive sabotage” by the radical opposition, who continued to “betray the national interests of Georgia” and “ask European colleagues not to grant the country the status”.
He stressed these groups were using their resources and lobbyists to ensure that Georgia would not receive the status, adding “they do not want the country to progress under our Government”.
Some representatives of the opposition made all attempts last year, asking European partners not to establish visa-free regime with Georgia, Garibashvili said, stressing his Government was “dispelling the negative narrative and disinformation” of the radical opposition.
Responding to the statements of some representatives of the domestic opposition, who said “the EU candidate status must be obtained by only Georgian people”, Garibashvili said receiving the status would be “the merit of Georgian society and our Government, elected by the people”.
Our Government was fortunate to sign the Association Agreement, the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement and the Visa-Free regime with the EU, and to obtain a European perspective”, the PM said, adding everything was done by the ruling Georgian Dream party and “neither by opposition nor the country’s President Salome Zourabichvili”.
He also said Zourabichvili’s statements and actions towards Georgia’s EU candidacy and her “affiliation with opposition” in this regard can be explained by her “desire to stay in politics”, as her presidential term was “coming to an end”.