Hungarian FM: Georgia deserved candidate status, EU’s decision "inexplicable, incomprehensible”

Hungarian FM: Georgia deserved candidate status, EU’s decision "inexplicable, incomprehensible”

Hungarian FM Peter Szijjarto, who is visiting Tbilisi, accused the European Council of making a mistake for not granting Georgia candidate status along with Ukraine and Moldova on Thursday,  stating that the bloc’s decision was "inexplicable, incomprehensible,” expressing hope that the “mistake” would be addressed earlier than six months.

 

Szijjarto suggested that Georgia met the criteria to receive the status, “deserved the status,” and that several of the conditions raised  by the European Commission towards Georgia to gain candidacy were “unclear,” including that one on polarization.

 

He stated that being in the opposition meant having different views and positions and stopping the “rivalry” encouraged one-party monopoly like in the Soviet Union.

 

The FM said that it was a different thing and “easy to adress” when the Briussels pointed at necessary amendments in the law.

 

“We must explain to everyone in Brussels that Georgian leaders may find themselves in a difficult situation [due to conditions like addressing polarization]. I can offer you political support. We have been doing this and will continue to do so in the future. I also said that you deserve candidate status. You do not have to wait six months. We will try to correct this mistake,” Szijjarto stated.

 

“We believe that the decision taken in Brussels yesterday, according to which Georgia was not granted candidate status, contradicts the objectives of strengthening the EU. This is another missed opportunity. This is disrespect to Georgia,” he added.

 

Georgian FM Ilia Darchiashvili also stated that he shared the sentiments of the Georgian people over not-receiving the candidate status.

 

He suggested that Georgia deserved the status. However, Darchiashvili noted that the county had received a “guaranteed promise” for EU membership.

 





Hungarian FM Peter Szijjarto, who is visiting Tbilisi, accused the European Council of making a mistake for not granting Georgia candidate status along with Ukraine and Moldova on Thursday,  stating that the bloc’s decision was "inexplicable, incomprehensible,” expressing hope that the “mistake” would be addressed earlier than six months.

 

Szijjarto suggested that Georgia met the criteria to receive the status, “deserved the status,” and that several of the conditions raised  by the European Commission towards Georgia to gain candidacy were “unclear,” including that one on polarization.

 

He stated that being in the opposition meant having different views and positions and stopping the “rivalry” encouraged one-party monopoly like in the Soviet Union.

 

The FM said that it was a different thing and “easy to adress” when the Briussels pointed at necessary amendments in the law.

 

“We must explain to everyone in Brussels that Georgian leaders may find themselves in a difficult situation [due to conditions like addressing polarization]. I can offer you political support. We have been doing this and will continue to do so in the future. I also said that you deserve candidate status. You do not have to wait six months. We will try to correct this mistake,” Szijjarto stated.

 

“We believe that the decision taken in Brussels yesterday, according to which Georgia was not granted candidate status, contradicts the objectives of strengthening the EU. This is another missed opportunity. This is disrespect to Georgia,” he added.

 

Georgian FM Ilia Darchiashvili also stated that he shared the sentiments of the Georgian people over not-receiving the candidate status.

 

He suggested that Georgia deserved the status. However, Darchiashvili noted that the county had received a “guaranteed promise” for EU membership.