"If we become a full-fledged state and really occupy the place in Transcaucasia that we should occupy, and we are able to implement a grand economic project, which involves a transit corridor of energy trains to Europe from Georgia through the Black Sea, Europe itself will accept us without any conditions. We must become necessary for Europe. Until we become necessary and acceptable for Europe, they will constantly impose conditions on us."
Chairman of the parliamentary political group "European Socialists" Fridon Injia stated this on the live broadcast of the "Alt-Info" TV station in the "Alternative View" program.
"The project of energy trains is of such great importance that in case of its implementation, the President of the European Commission Mrs. Ursula von der Leyen will not only come to Azerbaijan, but she should come to Georgia, because we are between Azerbaijan and Europe, Georgia. And, if Azerbaijan is important with its energy resources, of course, it is important, but in terms of the supply of energy trains, we, Georgia, are the main conductor. So, if we wait, they will interview us. Because in other cases there will be such so-called "Pink-Ponky" game. "Unfortunately, the demands put forward by the European Union are directly related to the sovereignty and independence of Georgia, and this implies interference in internal affairs."
"We have to continue on our way. This is the path of independence, sovereignty," said Fridon Injia.
In the program, the chairman of the political group once again drew attention to the issue of granting Georgia the status of a member state of the European Union and noted that Georgia is practically already a candidate country with the official application made by the government.
"Personally, as a citizen of Georgia, this is how I would look at this issue. I think that we are already a candidate country for EU membership, because we submitted a formal application in the prescribed manner, and now they have to decide whether to accept us in the EU or not. They should see what we are doing, what the legislation is, we are making various decisions that are in the interests of Georgia. It should be up to them to decide whether such a state wants to join Europe or not," Fridon Injia said.
The chairman of the political group believes that Georgia should, of course, receive certain benefits from the European Union. It will be financial opportunities, technologies or something else that will not interfere with "Georgia's identity, independence, sovereignty".
"We must continue the policy that we have today, namely, more or less independent policy based on the interests of the state of Georgia, because we are not completely independent yet. We are still dependent on the IMF and other financial organizations of the world, but we can play the role of an independent player, as Turkey does, even though Turkey is a member of NATO, but it acts in the interest of the state to see its profit. It is with such a realistic and pragmatic policy that Georgia will be able to regain the role of a leading country in Transcaucasia, as it was historically, and become a necessary and attractive country for everyone," Fridon Injia said.