The new Ambassador of the European Union in Georgia, Pawel Herczynski, made his first comments on the processes ongoing in the country. The new head of the EU delegation evaluated various issues for the first time in an exclusive interview with InterPressNews.

Pawel Herczynski answered a question related to the criticism of Western partners by the representatives of the Georgian Government and stated that when you want to become a member of the European family, you are usually very careful about how you describe this family members.

“European integration is mentioned in the constitution of Georgia. The Government has asked for EU membership. During the Association Council very positive forward-looking announcements were made. And with European perspective, we actually wait for Georgia to join the European Union.

Even during the last State of the Union speech of the President of the European Commission, just two or three days ago, she mentioned that Georgia belongs to the European family. So we are talking about Georgia trying to join the family. So I hope that this will be the subject of the conversation. Georgia is trying to join the family of free, democratic, prosperous European countries.

Criticism is always healthy, but once you want to join the family, you usually are very careful about how you describe the members of the family. My work here will be fairly straightforward to help Georgia to get to Europe, to become a member of the family of European nations”, said the Ambassador.

Regarding the criticism of his predecessor, Carl Hartzell, expressed by the representatives of the Georgian Government, saying that he played a negative role in the political processes, the new EU ambassador noted that Carl Hartzell was a great friend of Georgia and for 4 years he did everything to bring Georgia closer to the European Union.

“I know my predecessor. Ambassador Hartzell was a true friend of Georgia. In the 4 year that he spent here he did his best in order to move EU-Georgia relations forward. Of course, there are always challenges, but I know that he tried his best”, said the Ambassador.

source: IPN