Georgia interrupting talks on accession to EU until 2028 - statement by ruling party
TBILISI. Nov 28 (Interfax) - Georgia will not raise the question about opening talks on its accession to the European Union until 2028 and is refusing any budget grants from the EU until the end of 2028, Georgia's ruling party Georgian Dream said in a statement, with which Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze familiarized journalists.
"Georgia will be appropriately prepared in 2028 for opening talks on its accession to the EU in 2030. We are not stopping and we are observing all obligations on association with the European Union and free trade," the statement said.
The document says Georgia wants to join the European Union with dignity, not s a beggar, with an established democratic system and a strong economy.
"We will continue moving in the direction of the European Union, but we will not give anyone the possibility of constant blackmail and manipulation, which are insulting to Georgian society," the ruling party said in a statement.
It is unacceptable for EU politicians and officials to use the issue of the start of the talks on membership to cause division in Georgian society, the statement said.
"By 2030, Georgia will be ready for membership more than any other candidate state. Georgia will become an EU member only by peace, dignity and wellbeing," the statement said.
The European Parliament said in its resolution earlier on Thursday it denies the results of the recent parliamentary election in Georgia and is calling for a new election.
That resolution was adopted by 444 votes at a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Seventy-two European Parliament members voted against it and 82 abstained.
The voting results announced by the country's Central Elections Commission "do not serve as a reliable representation of the will of the Georgian people," European deputies said. Therefore, according to the document, the European Parliament denies any recognition of the parliamentary election in Georgia and believes it is necessary to hold "a re-run within a year under thorough international supervision and by an independent election administration."
The resolution said the October 26 parliamentary election had been held with "significant irregularities." The European parliamentarians believe that is due to continuing "democratic backsliding of the country," for which they believe "ruling Georgian Dream party is fully responsible."
The European Parliament called on the European Union to introduce sanctions against the prime minister of Georgia and high-ranking officials. The European parliamentarians believe the policies pursued by the Georgian government are incompatible with the prospects of the country's Euro-Atlantic integration.
The European Parliament said these policies lead to further alienation of the country from the EU and will make any steps to join the EU impossible.
The Georgian Central Election Commission approved the results of the October 26 parliamentary election on November 16.
According to the published information, the Georgian Dream ruling party won 89 parliamentary seats (53.93%), followed by Coalition for Change with 19 seats (11.03%), United National Movement with 16 seats (10.17%), A Strong Georgia with 14 seats (8.81%), and For Georgia with 12 seats (7.78%).
All opposition parties are refusing to take these seats, saying the election was rigged by the authorities.
The Central Election Commission said no serious irregularities had been registered in the election.