2022-06-13
I would like to remind our citizens that, a few days ago, the European Parliament adopted a resolution, with the European People's Party (EPP) as its main initiator. We all know what kind of party it is. To remind our citizens, none other than the United National Movement is the EPP's subsidiary party and key ally, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili stated at today's Cabinet meeting.
According to the Prime Minister, irresponsible, malicious opposition politicians travel to Europe to spread all kinds of foolish slander against our country.
"You may remember how I openly exposed in the Parliament-and even mentioned several names-saying that irresponsible, malicious opposition politicians travel to Europe to spread all kinds of foolish slander against our country. And we are not talking about the Government and the ruling team. They are doing it to harm the country. Of course, we saw another proof of it in the form of this irresponsible, shameful resolution. It proves what I and our team members have said repeatedly. On one hand, they exclaimed in shock: It would be too brazen to do that to you, and we are above it. Now we see that they are not above it! You remember how, when we were working on visa-free travel, they went to Europe kneeling and begging not to grant visa-free travel to Georgia. And they were not alone in this-no illusions about that. Because these wretches cannot handle this much. But it is a fact that they have played their part by using these statements as excuses to include these horrible things in the resolution, truly shameful accusations, something supplied by them, so-called facts and proof. If these people really cared about our country's future, as they claim, why did not they urge their party, why did not they do everything to ensure against this shameful anti-state and anti-Georgian resolution by the European Parliament?" Irakli Garibashvili stated.
According to the Prime Minister, the opposition is taking steps against the state in an attempt to undermine what matters most, our country's national interests.
"You probably remember that, back then, they demanded to join and introduce sanctions. Then they demanded charter flights for volunteers. This was something that they expected the Government to give permission for, and that would have been the Government's and the state's direct involvement in the war, while the whole world urged its own citizens against it, against taking part in military action. Then, you probably remember, there were rallies demanding my and the Cabinet's resignation, and now, totally desperate and empty-handed, with no sanctions and no chaos created to drag the country into the war, having failed to instigate disorder and destabilization in the country, not they are resorting to such malignant and anti-state steps only to undermine what matters most, our country's national interests. Let me repeat-and I will not elaborate on the fact that we are head and shoulders above Moldova and Ukraine in every way-but everyone knows and, most importantly, every European knows that the rankings and appreciation they are giving us in terms of our country's open governance, anti-corruption policy, media freedom, transparency-I am sorry, but can you remind me who is conducting these rankings? These rankings are conducted by highly reputed authoritative international organizations with impeccable re reputations, those assessing countries by their performance, that is, reforms and achievements. Judging by these achievements-I apologize for repeating myself-we are ahead of both Ukraine and Moldova, not to mention the Eastern Partnership states and beyond, including EU member states and European countries-we are ahead of them in many directions. What is happening then? If we know all this, what perception are talking about? They say there is a perception of lack of an independent judiciary, which is totally absurd, and they also speak of some problems with media freedoms. Let me remind this EPP that in a country where, until 2012, with their subsidiary or partner party at helm, no sign of democracy could be found in the country. And there was no free media, and the opposition parties were under pressure. And, without Bidzina Ivanishvili coming to power, my friends, we would not have a country today. Why? Because it would have been engaged in war, with a second Mariupol raging here, and we all remember who fell victim to this madness and foolishness that they did in 2008... a commander-in-chief slumping on the ground, an embarrassment for the whole world to see. Who died? Who was annihilated? We lost territories, more than a hundred villages, and tens of thousands of refugees in the country, in our own country, at home. This is a continuation of this irresponsible policy that they started," the Prime Minister said.
According to the Head of Government, the resolution mentions Kezerashvili, the biggest business racketeer. Kezerashvili's business enjoyed one billion USD in turnover after his resignation, the Prime Minister added.
"Now the Public Defender, Ms. Lomjaria, and says publicly that she would rather suffer bombing, fire and burns. I am sorry, but who is supposed to suffer here... no one saw Ms. Lomjaria under Saakashvili's rule. Does anyone remember the Public Defender-she was holding a different position then-and publicly condemn something, condemn torture, abuse, rape, murder, terror on business? This shameful resolution features Kezerashvili, the biggest business racketeer. I want to remind the EPP and every European that his company enjoyed one billion USD in turnover after his resignation. From where, my friends? From embezzling from the army, racketeering business. Does anyone in Europe or America question media freedom in our country? We all know everything very well. I object to that resolution. it lacks Megis Kardava, the chief executioner, also the image of Saakashvili whose death brigades tortured, raped our citizens," the Prime Minister stated.
According to the Head of Government, if anyone has done anything over the past 30 years, it is Georgian Dream above all else. The ruling party put forth and defined the country's political course as Euro-Atlantic, the Prime Minister added.
"As for EU integration, if anyone has done anything over the past 30 years, it is Georgian Dream above all else, be it through singing the Association Agreement or securing free trade and visa-free travel. And now it culminated in our EU membership bid submitted on March 3. Friends, this is what our Government has managed in such a short time. Before that, nothing European ever took place in our country. It was the establishment and cementing of a purely, quintessentially dictatorial, authoritarian regime based on abuse, torture, murder, and so on, where there was no room for free media. Most importantly, in 2017, our party enshrined in the Constitution and defined the country's political course as Euro-Atlantic. And it was not a provision for the sake of having a provision-we brought tangible results to the country. And now they say that, if we do not receive a status, it will be the Government's responsibility. Absolutely not, friends! The Government has done everything to the maximum, the rest is a working process," the Prime Minister said.
According to the Head of Government, the obligation assumed by the country, meaning continuous democratic reforms, will be fulfilled further and finalized.
"In my recent public speech, I said-and I will repeat-that we agreed with the EU in Brussels to include in the Association Agenda all those reforms we the Government must continue. The Foreign Minister discussed this issue with the Head of Charles Michel's office.
"The obligation assumed by the country, meaning continuous democratic reforms, will be fulfilled further and finalized by us, of course. No country, including European states, is perfect. Consequently, our progress is like day and night, a drastic difference between what we inherited and what we have produced in these nine years.
"In conclusion, I feel obligated to report to our citizens once again, and to remind them that, after the total fiasco of this fifth column and the country's enemies in relation to this status-of course, we must wait for the relevant decision first-but if anyone deserves this status, it is Georgia, and only then Ukraine and Moldova. They say that Ukraine is in war, and this is why it must receive it. I apologize, but if a war decides the issue of a status, we do not want a war. Friends, we only want a well-deserved status that the Georgian people have earned through struggles, thirty years of fighting to build a democracy, and the reforms implemented over the past nine years. This is all we are asking for. And I have said this publicly in Davos, Bratislava, Brussels, everywhere-that we are asking for anything extraordinary and undeserved. All we are asking for is a well-deserved status. And I will repeat what I said a few days ago: If the decision is unfair, we, like In said before, will explain everything in detail to our population, our people, our fellow citizens, pinpointing the key reasons why that shameful resolution, for example, was adopted," Irakli Garibashvili said.
Press Service of the Government Administration