Prime Minister: Georgia is Committed to European Standards and Values
By The Messenger Staff
Monday, June 6, 2022
Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili said at a panel discussion in Bratislava that Georgia is moving forward in all directions, now it's Europe's turn to decide.
"As you know, Georgia went through the war in 2008 - much earlier than Ukraine, much earlier than Crimea. We paid the highest price. Who paid this price? Georgian people. We also had two wars with Russia in the 90s, after we gained independence - regained independence.
Therefore, it is our purposeful choice. I would say that this is our civilizational choice. I do not want to speculate. Of course, we talk to our friends about it. We talk to European friends. I have personally had conversations with my colleagues. I held many meetings with them and had telephone conversations too. I was in Brussels 10 days or 2 weeks ago and met with leaders. Of course, my message is that Georgia has done its homework and now we are waiting for the decision of the European Union. We must understand that this is a political decision. Granting candidate status is a political, strategic and moral decision. It is also symbolic. So for example, what message are we sending to Russia? Let's take Georgia. I will not talk about other countries and I will only say about Georgia: Georgia is committed to European standards, values, EU values. We have paid the highest price, we are implementing reforms, we are moving forward in all directions. We have signed the Association Agreement, the Free Trade Agreement, the visa-free travel regime and the application for membership. Now it's Europe's turn. It must decide now,” Irakli Gharibashvili said.
