MP Chakvetadze: If visa liberalisation goes against family values and transparency, we defend these laws

“If visa liberalisation goes against those values by which we protect family values and transparency, we will make a decision and defend each of these laws,” declared MP Giorgi Chakvetadze, a member of the parliamentary majority.

According to him, active communication from the government’s side continues to ensure that a decision to suspend visa-free travel is not taken.

“The demands put forward by the European Commission are entirely unacceptable. Among these eight shameful points, two are particularly egregious: the proposals to abolish the Family Values Law and the Transparency Law, Georgia’s equivalent of FARA. We find this absolutely unacceptable. If the path of European integration, including visa liberalisation, conflicts with the values we uphold, specifically, the protection of family values and transparency, we will make the necessary decisions to defend each of these laws.

The protection of minors from harmful influence is important, as is the prohibition of LGBT propaganda in schools and kindergartens. It is physically impossible for the issue of visa-free travel to override all of this. If the adoption of such a decision nevertheless continues, counter-statements will be issued from our side, and we will communicate with our society.

Regarding achievements which imply visa-free travel with the European Union, free trade, and various agreements we have with the European Union, we intend to have active communication in this direction. It is impossible for the protection of family values and the completion of declarations by specific non-governmental organisations to override visa-free travel. This is fundamentally unacceptable to us.

We believe that the unfounded assessments currently being made about Georgia by the European Parliament, the European Commission, and leaders of various EU member states or foreign ministers will change, simply because we are committed to strengthening our economy and continuing the reforms we have already begun. Accordingly, our integration into the European Union is irreversible. This commitment has been enshrined in Georgia’s Constitution, following the initiative of Georgian Dream.

Therefore, when unfounded assessments are made and shameful demands are directed at Georgia, our primary task is to ensure that EU member states do not adopt such a decision. We will continue active communication from our side. I hope that EU member countries will not adopt such a shameful decision that we must abolish the family values and transparency laws,” Chakvetadze declared.