Press digest 15.11.2013
Is Ukraine’s Phantom blocking our way to Europe?
The EU is firm in its decision to let Georgia initial the association agreement - Kakha Gogolashvili
Is Ukraine’s Phantom blocking our way to Europe?
The EU is firm in its decision to let Georgia initial the association agreement - Kakha Gogolashvili
“By the end of November, Georgia will initial the EU association agreement document; as for Ukraine, at the Vilnius Summit, it intended to sign the same document; however, Ukrainian high officials have temporarily shelved this matter; as they say, due to the pressure which Russia exerts on Ukraine, the authorities of the state have postponed the issue of joining the EU from consideration for a year. It is interesting if the current goings-on in Ukraine will somehow impact Georgia? Will they halt the process of our integration within the EU? The parliamentary majority unanimously admits that the only set-beck to our integration within EU is Saakshvili; in parallel to this, the minority links the events unfolded in Georgia and Ukaraine to each other and draw parallels between Timoshenko and Merabishvili; the members of the minority are vocal critics of Georgia’s pursued policy; they hold the current authorities accountable for all present mishaps which Georgia faces today”, reports the Rezonansi gazette.
“Ukraine has proven unable to escape from Russia’s influence; as long as nothing will reprieve the state with the financial loss which it will unquestionably suffer after losing Russia’s support, Ukrainian authorities have decided to prolong the term of signing the EU association agreement. “Today, Ukraine cannot turn its back on Russia; we cannot indulge in refusing to collaborate with Russia’s government as at this point, we simply cannot go without their support”, announced Ukraine’s PM Nikolai Azarov who also underscored that losing Russia’s assistance will deal the state a big blow by inflicting detrimental harm on its economy”, reads the paper.
“Ukraine was of great importance for Russia which reversed nothing to make this state veer from the European path; and as you see, Russia has succeeded in achieving its goal . . . For us the integration within the Europe - which will definitely hail our economic advancement and guarantee our national security - is, by all odds, of vital significance. Russia has great leverage at its finger tips; however it fails to devise a strategy which will put this leverage into motion. So, under the present state of play, I think we lead our state in the right direction; as our aspiration to the EU enables us to resist enemies”, states Gia Volsk.
“The internal policy which we pursue today can really be defined as right; the foreign policy does not jeopardize our EU prospects either. The key predicament which can set us back in joining the EU is Saakshvili who does not spare efforts to destabilize the public by stirring different Georgian forces to oppose each other”, says Gia Volsk.
” The current developments in Ukraine are a visible testimony to the fact that the Post-Soviet countries are still connected to one another. Incontrovertible is the fact that the current goings-on in Georgia’s and Ukraine are in close resemblance with each other; the governments in both states exert irrecoverable harm on their people by persecuting the former authorities. Arising aversion and hostility in the public, their unreserved desire to seek revenge on the former top officials, political retaliation, all this is detrimental for the future generations. Our future will be blank if we drop seeking EU backing; however, on the one hand, internal confrontations and, on the other hand, the pressure which Russia directs towards us may really curb our EU aspiration”, states the member of the Parliamentary minority Davit Darchiashvili.
“The EU is firm in its decision to let Georgia initial the association agreement; we know that they have certain questions regarding our internal policy and the issue of restoring justice in our state. We are also aware that after we initial the document they will keep a close eye on our country; however, as long as the situation in Georgia is incrementally being stabilized we must not worry about this fact. Russia has lost all levers to wield influence on us and to manipulate our authorities; the only drawbacks which we have to handle and which can really put our future well-being at risk are the current social problems an tensed atmosphere in our country ”, concludes the Head of Europe’s’ Research Center Kakha Gogolashvili.
