Georgia-EU Relations Deadlocked: Are Dreams Of European Integration Coming To End? (PHOTO)

(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. In the novel“Shagreen Skin” by the great French writer Balzac, a boy finds amarvelous skin that makes all his dreams come true.

However, as the boy's dreams come true, the skin shrinks, whichdepletes his physical energy. Apropos of the Skin, there is afamous work by the great Georgian writer Shota Rustaveli, "TheKnight in the Tiger's Skin", which is considered the pinnacle ofGeorgian literature.

We remembered Balzac because today's Georgia has turned from"The Knight in the Tiger's Skin" into that young man in“ShagreenSkin”. A few days ago, the president of the country of "knights"Salome Zurabishvili, dressed in "tiger skin" invited FrenchPresident Emmanuel Macron to Georgia to improve processes in thecountry.

Georgia's journey to Europe began many years ago. The alreadydeteriorating relations with Russia after the "Rose Revolution" of2003, caused, no doubt, by pro-Western forces, led to the situationin Abkhazia and South Ossetia reaching its peak of confusion in2008, finally breaking Georgia's "wings" on its way to Europe, thusdepriving it of regions that are considered its sovereign territoryunder international law.

Indeed, it was at this time that Georgia should have realizedthat it had to fully comply with the demands of the West to followthe chosen path to the end. However, the process did not go asplanned. Serious unrest started in the country, which was grantedthe status of an EU candidate, in protest against the law "OnTransparency of External Influence" presented by the parliament,and this time deputies from different European countries joined theprotesters in Georgia and supported their actions.

To understand the full picture, it is necessary to call everyoneby name:

Pavel Fischer, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of theCzech Parliament; Bogdan Klich, chairman of the Foreign RelationsCommittee of the Polish Senate; Michael Roth, head of the ForeignRelations Committee of the German Parliament; ŽygimantasPavilionis, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of theLithuanian Seimas; and Sebastian Tynkkynen, head of the ForeignRelations Committee of the Finnish Parliament.

Head of the German Bundestag's Foreign AffairsCommittee, Michael Roth, addresses the protesters.

The culmination of events is probably the moment alreadymentioned above - the president of the country called on the headof the French state, Emmanuel Macron, for help.

Here is an even more interesting moment: Emmanuel Macron wasinvited to Georgia to help Salome Zurabishvili, who enjoys theright to veto the law that passed the third reading in theParliament, but the French Senate passed the bill on "ForeignAgents" on May 23.

Curiously, why can such a law be adopted in France but not inGeorgia?

There is a nuance here that Georgia overlooks. Eurointegrationwould not end simply with a visa-free regime, convenient receipt offinancial support from the IMF, and the fact that Georgia is aclose friend of Europe in the South Caucasus region presupposes the fulfillment of all requirementsimposed on Georgia. Would those who opened their arms to Georgiahave given it freedom otherwise?

For example, according to a report by the InternationalNarcotics Control Board (INCB), Georgia is the leader in drug usein the South Caucasus. Drug use among adolescents in the country istwice as high as in Europe. Marijuana use was legalized in Georgiain 2018. Unfortunately, Georgia is also a country in the SouthCaucasus where LGBT propaganda is quietly taking place. But thecountry also has a large number of dissenting voices.

Integration implies acceptance of all European values. This iswhat the countries that are on this path today should take intoaccount. Surprisingly, Georgia, which has traveled such a path andreceived the status of a candidate for membership in the EuropeanUnion, has now reached an impasse and is at such a stage that it isforced to make a choice. The US Secretary of State (the countrythat passed this law for the first time in world history) Blinkenjust the other day threatened Georgia that if the law is passed,relations with Georgia will be reconsidered and visa restrictionshave already started to take effect.

Apparently, the West intends to impose everything, even doublestandards, on Georgia. Of course, both the US and France can acceptthis law, but if we are talking about Georgia, an Eastern Europeancountry, everything must be accepted, including the doublestandards of the West.

Yes, Georgia has found“Shagreen skin”, but now all its strengthand energy are about to run out. Georgia is facing a historicalchoice, and perhaps if it could have foreseen the situation andstepped on this path, the result would have been differentnowadays.

MENAFN31052024000187011040ID1108280398