Opposition engaging in “radicalisation and extremist activities” against EU candidate status work - Parliament Committee Chair
In his remarks, the Parliament official said the work on the conditions - initiated in Parliamentary working groups before being discussed in committee formats - had been “sabotaged” by a part of the opposition in the lawmaking body. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
Tweet 
Share
Anri Okhanashvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday claimed the opposition United National Movement and Strategy Agmashenebeli parties were engaged in “radicalisation and extremist activities” against the ongoing work for fulfilling the European Union priorities for granting Georgia its membership candidate status.
In his remarks, the Parliament official said the work on the conditions - initiated in Parliamentary working groups before being discussed in committee formats - had been “sabotaged” by a part of the opposition in the lawmaking body.
“No matter what they say, the sabotage announced against the country's approach to the European Union cannot be taken back. This will be evaluated politically”, he said.
“If United National Movement and Strategy Aghmashenebeli parties [want to] participate in any work, we haven’t closed the door to anyone. [However] [t]hese two parties are engaged in radicalisation and, unfortunately, in extremist activities. It is not in their interest for our country to receive the EU membership candidate status”, Okhanashvili added.
The Committee Chair also claimed the topic of the EU recommendations had given the opposition a “space for [fostering] polarisation”.
“When this issue is over, these parties will have nothing to talk about. Therefore, they are resorting to speculations. They are focused on prolonging and postponing this process, so that they have something to talk about. They are not dealing with this in a substantial way - which would involve work and debates”, he concluded.
European Council President Charles Michel on Tuesday said the Council of the European Union must make a decision on starting the process of negotiations on the accession of Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia to the bloc by the end of this year.
The European Union should decide on Georgia’s membership candidate status “based on the reforms” implemented in the country and not as a “reward” for the country’s authorities “releasing a criminal”, Kakha Kaladze, the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said on Tuesday in reference to the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili.
Maka Botchorishvili, the Head of the European Integration Committee in the Georgian Parliament, on Monday said the issue of Georgia being granted the European Union membership candidate status had become a “political tool” for the domestic opposition.
The cooperation between Georgia and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the agenda of democratic reforms carried out in the country were discussed on Tuesday in a meeting between the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Co-rapporteurs of the PACE Monitoring Committee.
Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday told a conference of the party in the country’s west Georgia needed “development, stability and peace”, adding “no matter how much pressure there is, we will not allow turmoil in the country”.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday claimed the plan of the opposition United National Movement party was to ensure the country did not receive the European Union membership candidate status and use the outcome to replace the Government.