Tbilisi slightly disappointed by European Commission's recommendation to delay EU candidate status of Georgia

TBILISI. June 17 (Interfax) - Tbilisi is slightly disappointed by the European Commission's recommendation to grant "a European future" to Georgia, which will lead to the approval its EU candidate status upon its compliance with certain terms, in contrast to the EU candidate status recommended for Ukraine and Moldova.

"Although candidate status does not give any financial or other privileges to a country, we are slightly disappointed that we have not received this status, although we realize that, unlike Ukraine or even Moldova, we have not made the sacrifices mandatory for this status as of yet," ruling Georgian Dream party chairman Irakli Kobakhidze said at a press briefing in Tbilisi on Friday.

"The sacrifices made by Georgia 14 and 30 years ago have stopped being relevant to our European partners," he said.

The "European future" of Georgia is still a step forward, and the Georgian authorities will continue to strengthen democratic institutions, develop the economy, and keep peace and stability in the country, Kobakhidze said.

"Hopefully, we will meet our obligation and will receive EU candidate status very soon," Kobakhidze said.