Georgian PM says Govt’s “ambitious objective” to become EU member state by 2030

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday told a reception dedicated to the Independence Day of Georgia, hosted in Berlin, that the country's Government had an “ambitious objective” to become a member state of the European Union by 2030, with the support of “our friends and the support of our German friends”.

Kobakhidze noted this support was “very significant” in the process of the EU integration, while also highlighting the “special importance” of the event dedicated to the country’s Independence, annually celebrated on May 26, marked after 1918 - the day the Act of Independence established the First Democratic Republic of the country.

During these four years, we felt even more strongly how important peace is and how important state independence, state sovereignty is. During these four years, we have gone through many battles to maintain peace and assert our state independence, our sovereignty, and this battle was ultimately very successful”, he said.

He noted he was certain that Georgia would “move firmly in the right direction” and the country’s Government would be able to continue to “strengthen our independence, our sovereignty and maintain peace in our country”, which he said was a “necessary condition for the development of Georgia”.

We have our dreams, and the main dream is, of course, the unity and to unite our country, and considering this it is symbolic that we are talking about this topic in Germany. Germany is a symbol of how you can patiently unite your own country. Germany waited patiently for decades for unification, integration and finally in 1989 [fall of the Berlin Wall led to the country’s reunification] the Germans' dreams came true”, the official said.

Kobakhidze told the reception the Georgian Government also had its policy of “strategic patience” and were certain that with this policy it would be possible to “realise the dream of Georgia, the dream of Georgians, and the country will become a united and whole state”.

We regained independence 33 years ago, in 1991. I remember, our generation and our older generation remember the 80s of the last century, when Georgians fought for the restoration of state independence”, the PM added.

The first large-scale dissident rally was held in 1988, and at that time no one believed that in just a few years our dream could come true and Georgia would continue to become an independent state, however, in just a few years this dream came true and in 1991 the restoration of Georgia's state independence was announced”, he said.

The PM said the country went through “quite a difficult history” with many trials, four wars the country overcame during these three decades, and noted it was a “very difficult way of developing and establishing statehood and the support of our friends was of particular importance” in this regard.

The official especially greeted Konstantine Gamsakhurdia, the son of Georgia's first president Zviad Gamsakhurdia, by saying it was “symbolic” that he attended today's event.

Since the 80s, we have felt this support and help from Germany, and after Georgia regained its state independence, we experienced the benefits of this support even more intensely”, the PM told the event.

The official also highlighted Germany’s “special contribution” to the development and formation of Georgian statehood since the 90s and extended his gratitude to the German state, the German people, and our German friends, German guests” for their efforts.

The reception was also featured Levan Izoria, the Georgian Ambassador to Germany, Ilia Darchiashvili, the country’s Foreign Minister, Irakli Chikovani, the country’s Defense Minister, as well as Georgian ambassadors, Levan Kobiashvili, the President of the country’s Football Federation, and representatives of the Georgian diaspora.