Ambassador Herczyński, President Zurabishvili Address Europe Day Celebrations, GD Absent

On May 9, Europe Day, European Union Ambassador to Georgia Paweł Herczyński and Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili spoke at a special Europe Day gala concert at the Rustaveli Theatre, hosted by the EU delegation and then at another event organized by President Zurabishvili for the same occasion at the Orbeliani Palace. The speeches resonated with pertinent issues such as Georgia’s alienation from the EU due to the Foreign Agents Law and the strengthening of authoritarian tendencies, as well as the recent violent attacks on the civic activist and opposition representatives.

The members of the ruling Georgian Dream were conspicuously absent from both events.

Europe Day Gala Concert at Rustaveli Theatre

EU Ambassador Paweł Herczyński’s Speech

In his address, recalling the historic decision of the European Commission to grant Georgia candidate status last year, the EU Ambassador lamented that although “European Union finally has widely opened the doors to Georgia, it is truly heartbreaking to see hesitation and second thoughts. To see confusion and divisions. Even worse to see intimidation and violence.”

The EU ambassador quoted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as saying that “Georgia is at the crossroads” and that “it should stay on the EU path.”

Ambassador Herczyński reiterated that the European Commission will decide this year whether to open the accession negotiations with the country, but for that to happen, he stressed, “Georgia needs to demonstrate a strong commitment to the EU values and deliver necessary reforms.” The EU Ambassador added: “This opportunity exists right now. You should not miss it. Please don’t miss it.”

Ambassador Herczyński expressed the European Union’s strong will to embrace Georgia: “We want Georgia to succeed in securing its peaceful and economically stable future. We want you to become part of our Union because we respect the proud Georgian people, who are peace-loving, talented and have the core EU values at heart.”

He stressed the importance of unity, saying in Georgia “Dzala ertobashia! [ძალა ერთობაშია] [meaning] Strength lies in unity!” He added that “next big EU enlargement will happen,” although it may happen with or without Georgia. “This only depends on all of you, on all Georgians,” the EU Ambassador said.

President Salome Zurabishvili’s Speech

In her speech, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, speaking of the fundamental values that Georgia shares with the European Union, also echoed the words of the European Commission President von der Leyen, saying: “Georgia is at the crossroads between its European future and its Russian past”.

The President praised the Georgian people, its civil society and its youth for moving towards Europe, but noted that Georgia is now witnessing a lot of violence. She said that this violence is being used against “the collective wish of the nation for independence […] against nation when it feels drawn back to the Russian past…” She mentioned the “beatings of opponents, blacklists, denunciations, repressions” that the country is recently experiencing, stressing that such means “have nothing in common with declared European objectives and look very similar to those of authoritarian regimes that strive to eliminate all others and accuse them of serving foreign interests.”

The President added that Georgia’s partners that have supported its independence, institutions and development, are now also subjected to violence when they are accused of “fomenting destabilization, fueling war and wanting confrontation.”

“The Georgian nation would not be here today after some 26 centuries if it was not wise; because it is wise, it will not run into provocations, it will not accept to be thrown to the confrontations; but it will not surrender, it will go to the end and it will win its European path through free and fair elections that it will and I will defend [that] to the last moment,” the President concluded.

Europe Day Event at Orbeliani Palace

The celebration of Europe Day continued at the Orbeliani Presidential Palace, organized by President Salome Zurabishvili. The event was attended by hundreds of citizens and the diplomatic corps.

President Salome Zurabishvili’s Speech

President Salome Zurabishvili, stressing that this is the first time that the country celebrates the Europe Day with the status of an EU candidate, expressed her hope that this time next year negotiations with the EU will be opened, and in this case she appealed to the people: “This will not be owed to anyone, but only to you”.

Noting that the road to the “European Georgia of tomorrow” is difficult, Zurabishvili said, “Georgia will never go back […] and will never let anyone take it back to the dark past”.

The President particularly thanked the youth for their active participation in the struggle for the European future of the country and called on the older generations to stand by them.

The President regretted that Georgia’s partners had been insulted by Georgian officials, including by not attending today’s special gala concert at the Rustaveli Theater. However, the President appealed to the people, urging them to continue on their way to Europe.

Finally, she praised the decision of the Georgian Ambassador to France and Monaco Gotcha Javakhishvili to resign over the law on foreign agents, saying that “being a public servant does not mean slavery, it does not mean denying one’s principles, it means being loyal to one’s country until the end”.

EU Ambassador Paweł Herczyński’s Speech

Unexpectedly, the EU Ambassador’s speech was delivered entirely in Georgian. He reiterated that the EU’s door is wide open to the country “with its unique culture and traditions”. “It is important that political leaders hear the voice of the people, just as this voice was heard in the European Union last year.”

“The sea may sometimes be rough, but Georgia, your ship to Europe has already sailed. Stay on course towards the EU! We are with you on this path,” concluded the EU Ambassador.

NOTE: This news was updated on May 10 at 00:38 to include information about the Europe Day event organized by President Salome Zurabishvili at the Orbeliani Palace.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)