“The first objective of us coming here thus is to express our support and solidarity with everyone who fights for Georgia’s democratic and European choice for Georgia’s European future,” said Gabrielius Landsbergis, Foreign Minister of Lithuania.
According to the Lithuanian FM, the future belongs to the Georgian people and Georgia belongs to Europe.
“We came to Georgia as your closest friends. Friends who care about Georgia and its people, who care about George’s European future. In recent weeks, Georgia has been once again featuring media headlines because of the highly controversial foreign influence law that has been pushed through the Georgian parliament, because of the completely unacceptable use of force against the protestors, because the orchestrated intimidation campaign against non-governmental organizations and activists. But also because of the remarkable resilience its people have shown, undeterred by violence and intimidation, not misled but by anti-Western propaganda, making their European aspirations visible and heard time and time again. In free world, the rule of law, human rights, fundamental freedoms, as well as civil society are all critical assets and not a liability. It is only non-democratic regimes that see their suppression as the way to preserve power.
I sincerely hope, Georgia will not find itself on a slippery slope in that direction. The first objective of us coming here thus is to express our support and solidarity with everyone who fights for Georgia’s democratic and European choice for Georgia’s European future. This future belongs to the Georgian people, and it should not be captured by anyone.
Our second objective is to pass a very clear message to the representatives of the ruling party, both in the parliament and in the government of the risks and severe consequences Georgia will be facing if they continue on this very dangerous course. Georgia has already achieved a lot on its EU integration path. You have never been as close to the start of EU accession negotiations as you have come last December after the European Council to get the decision to grant Georgia the candidate status on the understanding that it thoroughly implements remaining recommendations.
However, neither the achievements over the past, nor those of the future can be taken for granted. It took many years, lots of efforts, but everything can be lost in just one blink. Our duty is to tell those things to you as they are. Let me be very clear, the adoption of the foreign agents law, as well as continued repression against Georgia’s civil society will stop Georgia’s further progress on EU and NATO path. If this happens, responsibility will lie squarely on Georgia’s government. However, it is still not too late. We have heard from the Madam President that she plans to veto the law, and this will offer a way out opportunity for the government. Withdrawing this unfortunate legislative initiative altogether. There should be no illusions that cosmetic amendments to this law may make it democracy or EU proof. This law is not compatible with European choice. You cannot fix something that is fundamentally broken. It is our genuine interest to help Georgia to make its European journey until its final destination. Georgia belongs to Europe. As the late prime minister of Georgia, Zurab Zhvania, said in his speech in Strasbourg when Georgia joined the Council of Europe, I am Georgian and therefore I’m European and yes, you are,” he said.
