Georgia’s ruling party Sec Gen: Georgia has shown the world it will not be addressed with finger-wagging

Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Friday said that over the past year the Georgian Government had shown the world that no one should speak to the Georgian state by wagging a finger.

In his remarks, Kaladze noted that the issue of Georgia’s European integration was being used as a “tool” to pressure the Government and the country.

“We heard an official statement claiming that talks with the EU were suspended until Irakli Kobakhidze made a comment on the matter, but this is not essential. The Prime Minister, members of parliament, and I have repeatedly said that the Georgian government is ready to start negotiations, but they have no real interest in doing so because a political process is underway. They are trying to use the path of European integration to pressure the government and the country”, Kaladze said.

He emphasised that the main reasons behind this pressure were Georgia’s refusal to follow external demands.

“We did not obey their orders - we did not open a second front, and we did not join the sanctions. This has become the main driving force behind the speculation and dirt we have been hearing from some European bureaucrats in recent months”, Kaladze noted.

Kaladze stressed that the Georgian Government was acting based on the interests of the Georgian people.

“Over the past year, the country has become even stronger and more sovereign. We showed the world that no one should speak to the Georgian state by wagging a finger. We are an independent country, one our ancestors won with their blood, and we will not allow anyone to trample on it. Without our principled positions and policies, we might have ended up in the same tragedy we faced in 2008”, he continued.

He concluded by underscoring the importance of peace and national interests.

“First and foremost is our homeland. Its importance must be understood by everyone. The majority of this country’s population chose us to protect the interests of the people living here, to preserve peace - which is more important now than ever. Peace brings development and progress”, the official said.