Georgia’s ruling party Sec Gen: we should listen to no one, we must make decisions in country’s best interest

Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday urged to prioritise national interests and act prudently, responding to statements by European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas.

Kaja Kallas noted that while some aspects of the US National Security Strategy may be unsettling, the United States did not face the challenge of seeking EU membership, implying that Georgia’s situation is different.

In his remarks, Kaladze noted that Georgia had faced numerous challenges and learnt from experiences, which should guide current decision-making.

“There are many examples of double standards. This is not the first case. If we review all the statements they have made, often filled with lies and falsehoods, it is a clear example of double standards. There are many other such statements related to Georgia”, he said.

“A few years ago, when we began discussing these issues, some things might have been unclear to parts of society because they seemed different from the inside. But today, after what has happened and what is happening in the world, everything is clear and evident”, he continued.

Kaladze further stressed the importance of avoiding mistakes and making decisions in the country’s best interest.

“We should listen to no one. The fact that some statements are made, supposedly friendly, supposedly caring about us - no one is sacrificing themselves for the Georgian people or our country. Everyone acts from their own interests. Accordingly, we are wise people, with a great history and culture. We have seen and endured many hardships, so today we must not make mistakes. We must act with a cool head based on the interests of our country”, he concluded.

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday responded to comments made by European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas, expressing concern over perceived restrictions on Georgia’s ability to voice its opinions while pursuing EU membership.