Tbilisi Mayor Claims Denial of EU Candidate Status was Political Due to Reluctance to Join Sanctions Against Russia
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze recently spoke out about Georgia's failure to be granted candidate status for European Union membership, stating that it was a political decision rather than a reflection of Georgia's progress towards meeting EU membership requirements. He argued that the Georgian government's reluctance to join EU sanctions against Russia and its peaceful approach towards conflict resolution made it a problem for some EU member states, who were looking to use Georgia as leverage in their dealings with Russia.
Kaladze reiterated his belief that Georgia had made significant progress towards meeting the requirements for EU membership, citing the country's implementation of reforms and efforts to combat corruption. He acknowledged that candidate status had been granted to Ukraine and Moldova, but argued that Georgia deserved the same recognition for its achievements.
According to Kaladze, the public in Georgia understood that the denial of candidate status was a political decision, and were aware of the reasons behind it. He maintained that the government's peaceful approach to conflict resolution and its refusal to join sanctions against Russia were factors that made it a target for political leverage.
Kakha Kaladze expressed his hope that Georgia would eventually receive the status of a candidate for the European Union. According to him, the Georgian government is prepared to fulfill all the necessary requirements to receive this status. However, he acknowledged that the decision ultimately lies with the EU and that it is out of Georgia's hands. Regardless of the outcome, he emphasized that the government will continue to work meticulously to implement reforms and fight corruption.
When asked about the government's compliance with the 12-point plan, Kaladze clarified that there was no mention of Nika Gvaramia or Mikheil Saakashvili in the plan. He reassured the public that the government is committed to fulfilling the plan and that the status of a candidate for the EU is not contingent on the fate of these individuals.
