Georgia and Ukraine will not join the North Atlantic Alliance and the European Union under any weather conditions. This opinion was expressed to the EADaily correspondent by the former head of the presidential administration of Georgia, ex-deputy of several convocations of the parliament of the republic, head of the Institute of Strategy and Management Petre Mamradze, assessing the results of the visit of Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmygal to Tbilisi.
It should be noted that the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmygal paid an official visit to Georgia. During a press conference with his Georgian counterpart Irakli Garibashvili-Shmygal, he expressed confidence that the entry of Ukraine and Georgia into the ranks of NATO and the European Union is only a matter of time. At the same time, according to the Ukrainian politician, the governments of the two states are doing everything possible to “meet the necessary criteria.”
– Mr. Petre, what are the chances for Georgia and Ukraine to join NATO today?
– No chance! There (in the North Atlantic Alliance – Ed.) This decision was made very clearly, toughly, and the Russian side knows that NATO is not going to accept either Georgia or Ukraine into its ranks under any weather conditions. It’s another matter when the prime ministers of Ukraine and Georgia make some kind of bright statements that do not correspond to reality. It is regrettable that such figures do not have enough courage and wisdom to understand that at some point it is necessary to tell the truth, because it will be worse in the future. This is a pure tautology that has been dragging on for a long time. Today the population of Georgia is no longer even interested in integration issues. These stereotyped phrases have been repeated for too long.
– In your opinion, will Georgia or Ukraine be able to join the European Union against the background of the previously signed free trade agreements?
– As for joining the European Union, in Brussels at this stage, no one even dares to think about enlargement. French President Emmanuel Macron said quite frankly that at this stage the expansion is over. The paradox of the situation is that Georgia and Ukraine with their zero economy, their colossal debts will suddenly somehow become members of the European Union – this is somehow unrealistic. I want to declare with full responsibility that this will not happen! It is possible, of course, to cooperate, but we must not forget that Turkey has already had such a free trade agreement with the EU for 60 years, which Georgia recently signed, but this agreement did not bring Ankara any closer to joining the European Union. This is such a harsh reality that all representatives of the political elite of both Georgia and Ukraine need to know.