Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze believes that Georgia has made concrete steps forward on the path to European integration and is implementing relevant reforms, which are being unfairly assessed by some representatives of the European Union. He made this statement in connection with the index published by the European Commission.
“When there is a fair attitude and assessment, of course, everything is clear – Georgia is ahead, taking concrete steps, implementing reforms, and we have seen the results. We are ahead of many EU member states, not to mention candidate countries. Of course, this process is irreversible, but as soon as a political narrative is introduced by some European bureaucrats, an unfair assessment immediately occurs. In general, their assessments are based on lies, slander, and the dissemination of incorrect information. This is a sad reality, a double standard, very frequently. The main reason for this is two things: one, that Georgia did not engage the war, did not obey their orders to invade Ukraine and open a second front in the country. The second: that the country did not join the financial sanctions that would be disastrous, destructive, and damaging to the Georgian economy,” said Kakha Kaladze.
According to him, there is no alternative to maintaining peace in the country, for which the Georgian government is taking pragmatic steps.
“I will not begin to explain what war would bring to our country. Ukraine is a “good” example of this. How can anyone like the misfortune that is happening in Ukraine? I would like to wish peace to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. The country has suffered a complete catastrophe – lost territories, destroyed, devastated villages, cities, infrastructure; dead people. All this is extremely difficult. Peace, despite the fact that attacks, assaults, and threats are still ongoing, of course, has no alternative. We will definitely maintain peace with our policy,” the mayor of the capital noted.
Kakha Kaladze also answered a question about the possible abolition of the visa-free regime with the European Union and noted that the interest of the Georgian state in visa liberalization will not change.
“I explained the reasons, what is their main motivation. The attack, the attempt to punish the Georgian people and state continues. The interest of the Georgian state and the Georgian people in visa liberalization has not and cannot change. This is my attitude and that of the Georgian Dream. Of course, the responsibility lies with the European bureaucrats for the slanderous statements that we have been hearing for so long. As if they do not sleep day and night thinking about the Georgian people and Georgia. This is an absolutely false attitude.
In reality, the reason behind this is to open a second front in the country, to join the sanctions, which will be devastating for our economy. Neither the American, nor the European, nor the Russian can and will do what we need to do. They have an interest in Georgia, but they have their own interest. Accordingly, we must look after our country, we must do what we need to do, because Georgia is our homeland. Carrying out the tasks of someone from the outside, the tasks that you know will be destructive for this country, as well as pursuing their interests, which will sacrifice this country and its interests, is unthinkable. Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia is not going to go beyond this and will not sign such decisions,” said Kakha Kaladze.
As for fulfilling the demands of the European Commission, the Mayor of Tbilisi believes that their demands are often based on injustice and lies.
“Do the demands have substance? These demands are based on lies, injustice. Which political prisoners are we talking about, who threw “Molotov cocktails” at the police? Who were burning police officer alive, throwing stones?! The perpetrator has no age,” Kakha Kaladze noted.
Kakha Kaladze on European Commission’s demands: These demands are based on lies, injustice – which political prisoners are we talking about, who threw “Molotov cocktails” at police officers, who were burning police officers alive?!
