“The yesterday’s sitting of the Georgia-EU Association Council once again revealed that the EU highly evaluates the progress of Georgia in terms of democracy, political and economic reforms and the EU approximation”, - the First Deputy Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, Giorgi Khelashvili stated at the briefing today.

He responded to the statement by the EU High Representative for the Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. “Josep Borrell has publicly, from the EU high podium declared that the Elections of 2020 in Georgia, according to the OSCE assessments, have been held in a free and fair environment. It is up to the Georgian people, he added, to hold the next Parliamentary Elections. He also earnestly urged that the boycotting of the Parliament will be in prejudice of the democracy in Georgia and that the decision to avoid the Parliament does not speak of democratic pluralism. Thus, he called on the opposition to abstain from the confrontational rhetoric and join the Parliament”, - he added.

According to G. Khelashvili, the Government of Georgia and the EU High Representation agree on the continuation of the negotiations.

“The interests of both parties in this process shall be considered and the compromises are a necessity”.

As he estimated, the visit of the Prime Minister of Georgia to Brussels further increased the chance for successful negotiations.

He noted that unfortunately, despite the EU recommendations, the opposition keeps its anti-Western propaganda.

“Regrettably, every time the messages from the West fail to meet the party expectations of the opposition, the representatives of the EU and the USA automatically are converted into the targets for the attacks. This approach is damaging for the Western aspiration of our country, especially in the process when we strive to achieve the political consensus. We call on the constructive and pro-Western part of the opposition to be dissociated from the devastating statements of the radical wing, stop confrontational rhetoric and make the decision in favor of the country”.