The 2 billion euros that Georgia was supposed to receive has gone to Moldova. Moldova is stunned, having never received such grants, assistance, and loans in its history, which it has now received because this aid was halted in Georgia. The 2 billion euros went to Moldova because the Georgian government refused to address fundamental issues that they know are achievable, stated Vano Machavariani, former Deputy Secretary of the Security Council, during an assessment of Georgia’s foreign policy on PalitraNews’ program “Day’s Newsroom.”
According to him, the historic opportunity for EU membership is on hold, and the sole reason for this is Bidzina Ivanishvili, who, in Machavariani’s assessment, has his own vision of how to remain in power indefinitely.
“Today, everything related to the European Union is at a standstill. Numerous programs in the regions have been halted. While some of the already funded initiatives may not have stopped, the 2 billion euros that Georgia was supposed to receive has gone to Moldova. Moldova is stunned, having never received such grants, assistance, and loans, which it has now received because this aid was halted in Georgia. The 2 billion euros went to Moldova because the Georgian government refused to address fundamental issues that they know are achievable. If last year’s election banners read ‘Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia,’ today, if you look at their banners, they only say ‘Georgian Dream,’ and ‘Democratic Georgia’ is no longer mentioned.
If they want concrete results, European leaders tell them: ‘If you are ready to discuss specific issues, let’s start this process with concrete demands.’ Otherwise, they are halting this historic opportunity themselves, and the only reason for this is Bidzina Ivanishvili, who has his own vision of how to arrange everything to remain in power indefinitely. I don’t think Kobakhidze, Papuashvili, and others feel comfortable themselves promoting anti-European, anti-Western, and anti-Georgian themes, claiming that Europe, the United States, and others are enemies, while Russia and others are not so bad. I don’t think this is understandable or acceptable to the Georgian population, and this could be a problem for them, including in the local elections,” Machavariani stated.
According to him, Georgia is now in the same situation as Belarus and Azerbaijan.
“If you ask Kobakhidze, [resolutions] have no value, but if you ask the rest of the world, which is part of the European political, economic, or social space, all of this is very significant. It just so happens that we have become like Belarus and Azerbaijan, and this is very grave,” stated Vano Machavariani.
Vano Machavariani: Everything related to the European Union is at a standstill – the 2 billion euros that Georgia was supposed to receive has gone to Moldova; Moldova is stunned, having never received such grants and assistance
