Senator Jeanne Shaheen: 'Help us to help you get EU candidate status in December'
By Liza Mchedlidze
Friday, November 18, 2022
US Senator Jeanne Shaheen called on the Government of Georgia to "help us to help you get EU candidate status in December."
As Jeanne Shaheen stated, the government of Georgia can achieve progress in the implementation of reforms by conducting an inclusive process with opposition parties and civil society.
"I understand that the Georgian people, who overwhelmingly support EU membership, were disappointed that Ukraine and Moldova were granted EU candidate status, but not Georgia.Georgia has made great progress in implementing critical reforms to advance Euro-Atlantic aspirations, but there remain some areas that require progress. I am sure that the government of Georgia can achieve progress in the implementation of these reforms by conducting an inclusive process with the opposition parties and civil society," said Shaheen.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen talked about the need to implement the recommendations of the European Union and said that it will not be easy, but the implementation of reforms is "the best chance to ensure an economically prosperous and democratic future for the Georgian people."
"The Georgian people feel vulnerable, and I know there is support in the United States to do everything we can to help the Georgian government move forward with inclusive reform efforts. Our message is: "Help us to help you" to get EU candidate status in December.
"The largest part of US funding goes to "NGOs", so it is less interesting for us - "Non-Governmental Organizations" should worry about it," Irakli Kobakhidze, chairman of the "Georgian Dream" party, said this responding to Senator Jeanne Shaheen statement regarding the revision of the issue of financing for Georgia.
According to him, Shaheen's statement on the current situation in Georgia was an unfair criticism and it has no value.
"As for unfair criticism, it has no value for us. Only criticism that has a concrete basis can have a price. In this case, we once again heard unfair criticism, and such criticism will not cost us. "NGOs" will be financed or not, "NGOs" should worry about it." Irakli Kobakhidze said.
