“I explained to representatives of Georgia’s friend states that I would not enter into fake, artificial and false negotiations by vetoing the bill on Transparency of Foreign Influence. No and never,” said Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili at the joint briefing with Foreign Ministers of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Iceland, Baiba Braje, Gabrielius Landsbergis, Margus Tsahkna, and Thordis Kolbrun Reikfjord Gilfadottir, who are visiting Georgia.
President Zourabichvili thanked the EU FMs for their visit, which took place at the initiative of Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda.
“Their visit is a significant signal for Georgia’s European future, and I am thankful for their support. I extend my gratitude on behalf of all those who have stood in the streets for so many days.
We talked about how serious the point set by yesterday’s decision of 84 people is. It’s a difficult moment for the government to say that we are on the European path. It is a moment that shows that the government listened neither to the voice of its people, nor the advice of its friends, nor anyone’s warnings and went its own way.
It is the path, an attempt that Georgia, which stood firm in the middle after receiving the candidate country status in the expectation of the opening of the accession talk, derailed from the path and returned to the past.
It is an attempt which the Georgian people and society responded to with the 30-day-long daily rallies demonstrating their standpoint.
This proves that figures demonstrating 80-85% support of society for Georgia’s European future are not only figures but the reality that we see every day in the streets and are proud of. It confirms that Georgian society is committed to European values, such as democracy, freedom and independence. These are values which Georgia has always fought for. With these values, Georgian society will never return to Russian pressure.
We also talked about future steps. I explained to representatives of Georgia’s friend states that I would not enter into fake, artificial and false negotiations by vetoing the bill on Transparency of Foreign Influence. No, and never, because I will not betray the spirit we see in the country, which is needed for opening up the path. I would be the one who would open this path rather than derail from this path,” said Salome Zourabichvili.
Georgian Parliament adopted the draft bill on Transparency of Foreign Influence with the third reading at the plenary on May 14.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili said on May 12 that she would veto the bill, noting she would not “enter into any manipulations or games since this would bring more unclarity into people.”
