Georgian PM not planning to resign in wake of denial of EU candidate status

TBILISI. June 24 (Interfax) - Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has said he has received a mandate from the people and therefore is not planning to resign in the wake of the European Council's decision not to grant EU candidate country status to Georgia.

"I will continue to serve the country and our people," Garibashvili said at a news briefing on Friday.

He also welcomed the European Council's decision to offer a European perspective to Georgia.

"By making this decision, Europe has opened its door to Georgia, and we will implement all priorities set to us before the end of the year to receive European Union candidate status," he said.

Among the key priorities that Georgia is supposed to address on its path toward EU membership, Brussels mentioned the political polarization in the country, Garibashvili said.

"The authorities and the ruling party alone will not be able to meet this condition, and the opposition also has to take reciprocal steps. I believe that, to attain our common goal, the opposition will put its political interests below the country's interests. We are prepared for a constructive dialogue with the opposition," Garibashvili said.