**Georgia’s EU Path in Question**
The European Union is not a path Georgia can easily take, says the ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Georgia. Meline Arakelian spoke exclusively with InterpressNews and said that any statement claiming Georgia is still on track to join the EU is simply not true.
According to the diplomat, the European Commission‘s latest report reiterates that Georgia’s accession process has been suspended. This means that unless Georgia fulfills certain criteria, it cannot move forward in its bid to join the EU. These criteria include having solid democratic institutions, respect for human rights, and protection of minorities.
Georgia applied to join the EU on its own initiative, but by doing so, it agreed to meet these conditions. However, instead of making progress in this area, the country’s situation has actually deteriorated.
**Focus on Democratic Institutions**
Ambassador Arakelian stressed that Georgia should focus on building strong democratic institutions and upholding the rule of law. She compared the situation to a house that needs repairs – if the foundation is shaky, painting the walls won’t make it sturdy. The diplomat noted that her country has helped Georgia in this area since its independence, but it’s now seeing the opposite development.
As a friend of Georgia, Ambassador Arakelian expressed sadness over the current state of affairs. She emphasized that Georgia will not progress on the road to European integration until there is real improvement in building democratic institutions and upholding the rule of law.
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