Georgian authorities congratulate citizens on obtaining EU candidate status
Georgian authorities have congratulated citizens on the country being successfully granted the EU membership candidate status by the European Council on Thursday. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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Georgian authorities have congratulated citizens on the country being successfully granted the European Union membership candidate status by the European Council on Thursday, praising the decision as “a dream come true”.
Kakha Kaladze, the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream and Mayor of the capital city of Tbilisi, on Friday said GD had “fulfilled” its “promise” on the matter, adding the country had “never stood so firmly” on the path of European integration.
With this historic decision, our European partners have told us that Georgia is a part of Europe that deserves a worthy place in the big European family. Georgia made a historic choice centuries ago, and today, we have a result of the joint efforts of our ancestors, the Georgian population, and the Government”, Kaladze said.
Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiasvili posted a video on social media showing celebrations by employees of his Ministry while watching live the statement of the President of the European Council on granting the status to Georgia.
The flag of the EU was also symbolically displayed on the offices of the Ministry in connection with the occasion.
Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili also congratulated citizens on the “truly historic decision”, praising the role of “many generations” in this “huge achievement”.
Congratulating my fellow citizens on the truly historic decision!
— Lasha Khutsishvili ???????? (@Lasha_Khutsish) December 14, 2023
Joining the European family w/ a status of ???????? #candidate #Country is a dream come true for many generations & this huge achievement is made by ???????? towards this end today!
Plemty of other milestones are ahead!
Natia Turnava, the Acting Governor of the National Bank, said “we were all able to write history together”, and added the country was “deservedly awarded” the status.
The cash centre of the National Bank in Tbilisi was illuminated in the colours of the EU flag.
Rati Bregadze, the Minister of Justice of Georgia, said December 14 was a “glorious day” in the “European history” of Georgia and a celebration of “historical justice”.
He congratulated the country and “all supporters” as well as all those who had contributed to the outcome, while extending “special congratulations” and gratitude to Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.
Bregadze said the country had achieved “worthy and deserved achievements” during the latter’s term, ranging from the 2014 Association Agreement between the country and the bloc to the visa-free travel deal, the 2022 resolution on the European perspective of Georgia and now the candidate status.
Otar Shamugia, the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, said EU member states had “unanimously” recognised Georgia's “progress” with the decision.
Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
He said out of the 27 environmental directives stipulated by the Association Agreement, legislative approximation had already been implemented with 20 legal acts, while “active work” was underway on the remaining seven.
Within the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area deal, the legislation of Georgia has already approached 130 normative acts from the 200 legal acts of the EU. We continue to work for full membership of the European family”, Shamugia said.
Ruslan Abashidze, the Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, said he was confident involvement of EU institutions would play a “decisive role” in ensuring peaceful reintegration of the Russian-occupied regions of Georgia.
To our Abkhazian brothers and sisters - you have a unique opportunity to take advantage of the gains and benefits that integration with Europe offers. It is the protection and care of European values that ensures preservation of ethnic, cultural, linguistic identity and inviolability of political rights for all citizens”, he said.
Abashidze added the Government’s peace policy and establishment of “European values” was the “best way” to ensure the country's “prosperity, democracy, peace and security” to create a “solid foundation for a better future for each citizen”.
David Gabaidze, the Chairman of the Supreme Council of Adjara, also congratulated Georgia on being granted the status and noted the country won a "well-deserved" victory with a "peaceful" and "consistent" policy. He said the Georgian authorities, together with people, were able to fulfil their obligations, which was confirmed by the decision of the European Council.