The EU remains the best union ever established, but what we have seen lately, the processes that are unfolding, it is a rather difficult situation. Such a statement made today the Mayor of Tbilisi.

“The European Union, in its essence and foundation, has been very good, and there has never been a better union. But what we have seen lately, the processes that are unfolding, it is a rather difficult situation. The EU is absolutely emptied of the values that the Georgian people and our state have been striving for. European bureaucracy today has created serious problems both for Europe itself and for partner countries.

For us, the most important thing is the interests of our country. The demands [by some EU representatives regarding Georgia] we are hearing are absolutely incompatible with the obligations under the Association Agreement, which the Georgian state is fulfilling scrupulously. You can’t name a single example of something unfulfilled. Human rights are protected as never before.

What they appeal to is a double standard. Everyone remembers what was happening in the country before 2012. If human rights were being violated, it was precisely during that period. You could not express a different opinion - you would be arrested, your family would be harassed, property taken away - and this was called a “beacon of democracy”. Can you imagine? What was happening before 2012 was supposedly a beacon of democracy, while today’s reality is presented as problematic. Do you really think people are blind to what the real situation was then and is now? People can analyses and that is why they always make the right decision, as they did in the parliamentary elections in October.

Everything stipulated in the Association Agreement will be implemented scrupulously. As for politically motivated statements that transparency is somehow bad - throughout all this time, has anyone explained why transparency is bad? The only answer was “because”. This is not serious.

The Prime Minister has said clearly: we are ready to sit down with the diplomatic corps - bring us examples, arguments, why transparency is bad or why this legislation contradicts a European future and European values. There has been no answer, because we know what is really happening”, - said Kakha Kaladze.