Maka Bochorishvili: While Georgia is awaiting a historic decision that EU member states must make with respect to the 3 associated countries, engaging in a close dialogue with partners on our expectations and geopolitical challenges facing Georgia is what we can do today

Last week, I visited Berlin together with several members of the Committee on European Integration at the invitation of my German colleague. I met with the chairpersons and members of the Bundestag Committees on Foreign Affairs and European Union Affairs as well as representatives of the Federal Chancellery and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We also participated in a meeting of the Committee on European Union Affairs as special guests, chairwoman of Committee on European Integration, Maka Bochorishvili, stated in the Parliament.

Bochorishvili thanked the chairman of the Bundestag Committee on European Union Affairs for the opportunity and interest.

"First and foremost, I would like to thank the chairman of the Bundestag Committee on European Union Affairs once again for this opportunity and for his interest, which we particularly appreciate during this difficult and important time.

While Georgia is awaiting a historic decision that EU member states must make with respect to the three associated countries, engaging in a close dialogue with our partners on our expectations and the geopolitical challenges facing Georgia is what we can do today," Bochorishvili stated.

According to her, in German political circles there is active dicsussion regarding associated partner's EU prospects. Bochorishvili also noted that there is no uniform position in the EU on the issues that would render Associated Trio's EU accession prospects irreversible.

"There is active discussion in German political circles about the associated partners’ prospects in terms of accession to the European Union.

There is no uniform position in the European Union on issues that would render Georgia’s, Ukraine’s, and Moldova’s EU accession prospects irreversible.

It is precisely during this period that we can facilitate the formation of a position that is desirable to us by showing the progress achieved by the country on the path to European integration.

There are forces among EU member states that support the further enlargement of the European Union. These forces are faithfully lobbying for the European prospects of Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova in this context, and for that we are especially grateful.

At the same time, there are forces among EU member states that do not support further enlargement and, therefore, are not in favor of our European prospects.

Critical assessments are especially convenient for them as they can become a good basis for self-justification if the desired decision is not taken by the European Union," she said.

Maka Bochorishvili outlined the messages that Georgian authorities have for EU member states.

"What are we doing at this time, during this historic moment for our country that will determine where our children will live? Today, the message of the authorities to EU member states, aimed at ensuring Georgia’s European future, is as follows:

1. Georgia is an integral part of European values, history, and culture, and deserves the status of an EU membership candidate country as this is the only way to ensure our European prospects today;
2. Twenty percent of Georgia’s territories is under Russian occupation. At various times, the citizens of Georgia have had to struggle for their very existence and live in economic hardship without electricity and natural gas due Russian pressure and sanctions, and this struggle continues to this day;
3. We have internally displaced persons in our country who miss their homes, and we owe them a special responsibility;
4. Despite constant pressure from Russia, on the basis of shared European values, Georgia formalized its European choice by signing the Association Agreement in 2014 and reflecting it in the country’s Constitution in 2018. Georgia is doing everything in its power to bring the country closer to European standards;
5. Georgia is a reliable partner for the European Union and NATO, and we have proven this on numerous occasions in recent decades, including through the bravery of our courageous military servicemen;
6. Georgia is a democratic state that has been able to create democratic state institutions and is doing everything in its power to enable these institutions to work in accordance with European standards;
7. Georgia has rejected forms of totalitarian rule at various times, often at the cost of the blood of its citizens, and is doing everything in its power to uphold the standards of a legal state, where are all equal before the law, where the law stipulates what constitutes a crime, and the law determines the punishment;
8. We are doing everything in our power to ensure the protection of fundamental human rights in the country;
9. Georgia deserves its European prospects because we, the vast majority of the citizens of Georgia, want to be part of the democratic world, where no one can threaten our statehood – which has been achieved with our blood – and the future of our children," Bochorishvili stated.

Bochorishvili also addressed the opposition and stated that they harm the country when they claim that the state is captured by "mythical oligarch" and that state institutions are broken.

"Honored colleagues from the opposition, I address those of you who find it difficult to understand the harm you are causing the country when you claim that the state has been captured by a mythical oligarch;

When you claim that state institutions are broken, while you attack them;

When you claim that the elections were stolen from you, while you conduct your election campaign elsewhere and have not had your finger on the pulse of the Georgian electorate in a long time;

When you claim that your freedom of speech is restricted, while the perpetrator of a crime against the free media is being punished by the law;

When you claim that the former President is being killed in prison, while the state is caring not only for his health but also his mood;

When you create false narratives suggesting that Georgia does not support Ukraine, thus insulting not only the authorities but also all the eager individuals who are fighting for the freedom of Ukraine and Georgia at the same time;

When you manufacture false information about the authorities’ pro-Russians stance and facilitate the Russian attempt to harm Georgia;

When you boycotted your own voters and the Parliament, and now, when you try to score political points by echoing those who have found fault with the pace of our reforms in the last year and a half;

When you spend all your resources lobbying to create mechanisms of international patronage for those who perpetrated crimes under the guise of politics, subsequently accusing the country of selective and politicized justice.

This is how you feed the forces that oppose our European future and with this, you fight against your own country and its European prospects.

In today’s unique environment, you believe that if the country is deservedly granted candidate status, this will benefit the Georgian Dream, and this worries you to such an extent that you are ready to sacrifice the interests of the country.

A person who cares for and loves his or her country even a little bit should not stoop so low. Unfortunately, however, you are aware of all this, and carry on nonetheless," stated Bochorishvili.