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Borrell: Georgia's non-membership in the EU suits Russia

2023-09-08 16:01:51, Kosova & Bota CNA
Borrell: Georgia's non-membership in the EU suits Russia
The chief diplomat of the European Union, Josep Borell

Georgia's failure to integrate into the European Union would benefit Russia, said the chief diplomat of the European Union, Josep Borell, as he called on Tbilisi to implement democratic reforms.

The European Union has recognized Georgia's "European perspective" last year, but has not advanced the membership application - although it has made Ukraine and Moldova candidate countries - saying that Tbilisi must first make some changes.

During a visit to Georgia, Borell said that "without any doubt, Georgia belongs to the European family".

However, he mentioned that Tbilisi has so far implemented only three of the 12 EU requirements, which serve as a precondition for Georgia to obtain the status of a candidate country for EU membership.

"Russia will be very happy if we do not succeed" to integrate Georgia into the EU, Borell said in a press conference, together with the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili, adding that "the European Union will not abandon Georgia ".

He has criticized Georgia's recent decision to restore direct flights with Russia, calling on Tbilisi to act in line with EU policies on Russia.

Garibashvili has insisted that his Government is "fully in line with the EU when it comes to Russia's war in Ukraine, democracy and human rights".

He said that "the best decision would be if Georgia would receive the status of a candidate country for EU membership by the end of the year".

According to him, if the EU fails to provide support to Georgia, "something like this will send a bad message to Russia".

The authorities of Georgia have faced harsh criticism due to assessments of the reduction of the degree of democracy in this country and cooperation with the Kremlin, which has seriously damaged Tbilisi's ties with Brussels.

Georgia's membership in the EU is a goal included in the constitution of this country and is supported - according to polls - by 80 percent of the population./ REL





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