“Georgia was always a champion and remains such a champion in ensuring the European life for our citizens. We have been knocking on the European door for centuries and we will pursue this goal and this goal will be accomplished and I am very proud to be the part of the team who has the prime of this European aspiration in the Constitution of Georgia, I’m very proud of the Georgian people who’s 85% support the European integration but I deplore any person or group of persons, politicians or any kind of unions that try to patronize this attitude and its streamline towards the revolt. This is totally unacceptable and this is unfortunately what is happening at this moment in Georgia”, - the Head of the Parliamentary Delegation to PACE, Irakli Chikovani underlined in his speech at the PACE sitting in Strasbourg.

He dwelt on the decision of the EUCO and congratulated Ukraine and Moldova on their candidacy.

According to him, with the EUCO decision, an important chapter that Georgia steps in terms of the European integration. “Georgia has been a top performer of every reform in every sphere, Georgia has been successful in tackling corruption, Georgia is one of the best countries in budget transparency, Georgia has best indices in human rights protection, in ensuring the rights of the minorities, and I’m very proud that on a previous session in this semi-cycle this was recognized by the adoption of the resolution on the monitoring on the obligations of the accession of Georgia to the Council of Europe. And that resolution clearly states that enormous progress has been made by Georgia during last 8-9 years”, - he stated.

Mr. Chikovani overviewed the tangible progress achieved by Georgia in the last 8-9 years, which was recognized by the adoption of the resolution on the monitoring on the obligations of the accession of Georgia to the CoE.

He highlighted the grave background and the threats stemming from Russia and related to Russia’s attempts of the annexation of the Georgian territories and emphasized that despite the complications, Georgia keeps reforming. “And I have to underline and you well know that all these reforms have been undertaken while 20% of my country is occupied, while we are constantly under fear of Russian aggression and while Georgians are kidnapped and while there is constant barbarization and the attempts of the annexation of the Georgian territories”.

He responded to the statements made a few days ago towards Bidzina Ivanishvili and declared that Mr. Ivanishvili, while he was in politics he was one of the first to separate the totalitarianism and fought for the dignity and peace of the Georgian people. Georgia was and remains the champion in reforming on the European continent.

“I have to say, we clearly have a position in Georgian politics that we don’t do into the debates with our Ukrainian colleagues when we note that we are going through hardships but it was very unfortunate the statements that were made in this semi-cycle a few days ago and it insulted the modern-day exceptional philanthropist in Georgia, Mr. Bidzina Ivanishvili and also while he was in politics he was one of the first to separate the totalitarianism and fought for the dignity and peace of the Georgian people. Prime Minister Garibashvili the day before yesterday clearly outlined what is our plan for tomorrow, it is to work hard and make sure that every condition that are in the European Council’s decision will be met. Once again, Georgia was the champion and will remain the champion of the reforms on the European continent”, - he stated.