PM Garibashvili vows to do his “best” to strengthen ties with US, EU

Georgian PM Irakli Garibashvili pledged on Friday that he would do his best to further strengthen ties with the US and the EU, claiming that Georgia’s European goals were “irreversible.” 

“As the head of the Government of Georgia, I am doing and will do my utmost to further strengthen ties with the United States and the European Union. This is certainly in the interests of our country. This is a major goal of the Georgian Dream Government. We are moving towards Europe. This is an irreversible path. Anything else, any speculation is groundless”,Garibashvili said, attending a local holiday in Mestia, Svaneti region of Georgia. 

Speaking about the  recent decision of the de facto Government in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia region to transfer 186 hectares of territory in the Bichvinta resort town to Russia on a 49-year lease, Garibashvili said that  “not only Bichvinta, but the entire Abkhazia and Tskhinvali have been occupied by Russia”.

In his comments for the media, Garibashvili said that the “radical” part of the Georgian opposition, referring to the United National Movement in the first place, had “no interests” in Georgia’s EU membership, as “their only goal is a coup”. 

Praising his Government for “preventing a war”, Garibashvili suggested that now Georgia should focus on “moving ahead” and further strengthening of relations with strategic partners. 

In his letter released earlier this week, the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, who is described as an “informal ruler” of the country,” commended the Georgian government for “preventing the war” and encouraged for “strengthening ties” with the US and the EU.