President Zourabichvili: gov’t have not always taken steps expected in EU

Georgian President Salome Zurabichvili says that over the last year and a half, the Georgian Dream authorities have not always taken the steps that were expected in the European Union.

In this context, Zourabichvili pointed at the annulled April 19 EU-mediated agreement, a refusal by the Georgian authorities to take the EU loan, and other “incomprehensible steps”.

“A lot of things could have been done differently. Different rhetoric could have been done  lately. We have heard the statements from the majority that were not reasonable and unnecessary at a time when we are waiting for the response on Georgia’s EU membership bid. At this time, the statements are being made about European parliamentarians, sometimes about Europe in general, which are incomprehensible,” Zourabichvili told Palitranews on Thursday. The president suggested that she was unable to see the logic in most of the Georgian Dream’s statements, noting that “if we do not want to hear criticism from partners, we need to work with them and not scold them.” 

“There are two issues here: some things are not said, because it is a matter of politeness. The second is timeliness. I know what needs to be done to take chances, that is why I have visited Brussels. I have participated in numerous interviews to show our face as a country seeking accelerated integration into the European Union. Quite negative articles are being published at this time and I see that there is no answer anywhere,” Zourabichvili said. 

She stated that there is a need for PR and timely response to negative articles published in the Western press, as well changes in the statements being made by Georgian authorities and the majority. 

Zourabichvili suggested that the European Commission’s assessment of Georgia’s application would include critical aspects, including judicial reform and all the commitments made under the Charles Michel  April 19 Agreement.

However, according to Zourabichvili, the decision of the European Council would be based on more geopolitical factors.

“I think that despite many of our verbal or practical mistakes, the EU decision will be of a higher level and far-sighted, which will see that we and this region can not be left out. I think it will be properly assessed,” Zourabichvili said. 

The president did not share the Georgian Dream’s view that the main obstacle towards the European integration is the opposition, but said the opposition was taking advantage of the government’s mistakes and ignored the reality that their moves harmed the country’s and not only the government’s interests.