The UNM signs the Charles Michel agreement | Nika Melia’s special statement

Exactly one month before the decisive referendum, the pre-election campaign starts at full capacity. Today, the main opposition party, the National Movement, is making a major political statement.

Nika Melia and his team reaffirm the party's full commitment to the country's western course and values.

According to Nika Melia, the "National Movement" will sign the Charles Michel Agreement.

We offer Nika Melia's special statement unchanged:

Georgia's European choice is not only the choice of our generation, but also of Georgia's historically defined choice! Moreover, it is not just a pragmatic choice, it is an integral part of our identity!

We do not turn to Europe just because there is wealth, a developed economy, the most comprehensive education and health care system, nor just because young people in the West have the greatest prospects for their talents and skills, nor just because older people are best protected!

The fact is that we were and are an integral part of Western civilization, and the move to Europe is a return home for us! Our culture, our art, our writing - is one of the inseparable and unique colors of European diversity!

The strength of our state, our golden age is also connected with the West, and even in times of hardship, Sulkhan Saba, Ilia, Iakob Gogebashvili had their eyes fixed on the West.

We are a nation that has repeatedly and very clearly stated throughout its history that we are a Western nation and will never choose another path! We have proven this not only in the deep past, but also in recent history!

Then, on May 26, 1918, we declared independence! Then, in 1918, when we were one of the first in Europe to give women the right to vote, we held free multiparty elections! Then in 1921 we adopted the most progressive constitution in Europe! When in 1924 we revolted against the Bolsheviks under the leadership of Kakutsa Cholokashvili!

Then, on April 9, 1989, at the cost of our lives, we dealt the first devastating blow to the evil empire and took a huge step to regain our independence! When we restored our independence on April 9, 1991 and Zviad Gamsakhurdia uttered historical words. When in 99 we became a member of the Council of Europe and already Zurab Zhvania said such words.

When in 2003 we defeated the corrupt government of Russian influence through the peaceful Rose Revolution and became a successful country from a failed state, a full member of the European family! So, deviating from the Western path is not a geopolitical choice in Georgia, but a renunciation of oneself, of one's own identity!

Friends, I want you to understand one thing very well. Consensus and desire for Western and European development in our society is so high that no political force can tell you openly - we no longer want Europe and the West!

I cannot tell you, but with their actions and values ​​you can unmistakably recognize who has deviated from the reliable European vector of Georgia. Who is slowly giving us the idea that we can give up on Europe!

All authoritarian and oligarchic regimes, even pro-Western ones with words and declarations at the initial stage, have a moment to openly reject the European path in one way or another.

This moment is definitely coming, because if you want a country to be ruled by one man and his obedient government, if you want to be a constant enemy of the opposition and the civil sector, if you want to beat civil activists, if you want to control the judiciary, there will inevitably come a time when you have to give up. Walking with the West. Because being a worthy member of Europe and being a backward, authoritarian and dark province like Russia do not come together!

We remember how this crucial moment came in Ukraine, when Yanukovych's kleptocratic regime could no longer combine its real intentions and European rhetoric - and as a result was defeated!

We remember the same processes in Moldova and the victory of Western powers in the elections! This moment comes here as well. In Georgia - Ivanishvili will no longer play double game and hypocrisy!

It is no longer possible to talk about the Association Agreement, EU mediation agreements, reforms and retain power - with fraud, violence, abolished institutions, hostile ombudsmen and the third sector, physically beaten media and a shackled court.

That is why we see:

• How they publicly reduce Georgia's western friends and sometimes call them Europeans insane and insulting Estonia by telling them to take care of themselves and to leave us alone;
• How  they ignore the concerns of our friends and publicly ridicule the assessments of the Senate, Congress, the European Union;
• How the April 19 agreement was abandoned;
• Finally, threats and blackmail - that we do not care at all about the EU assistance and our cooperation program!

This time, on the other side we see what ?! - Barbaric groups in the middle of Tbilisi and we see the burnt EU flag! All this should end on October 2! It will be a valuable, civilized struggle, not a local election!

We may not have liked the April 19 agreement, and we have never hid the fact. And why didn't we like it ?! Because we did not believe. We did not believe that the oligarch Ivanishvili would carry out any serious reforms, we did not like the unjust amnesty law, etc. Etc. !

 Unfortunately, we were right in many things - including the fact that the Georgian Dream was not going to respect its signature, and it was only a temporary easing of tensions and not a way out of the crisis!

But now every detail loses its meaning and fades compared to the main point.

Recent events, refusal to accept the aid of the EU - everything has a name, even this.

I want to explain to you that  there is a political statement more important than the 300 million GEL (or 75 million euros) hidden behind this. The lies fabricated about foreign debt have nothing to do with anything.

The main thing here is a political statement, friends, and what is this main political statement of the Georgian Dream ?! - We do not want European reforms at any cost, being in our government is more important than relations with the West!

This is an open statement about the change of foreign policy, it is these recent statements that they are not receiving aid - which is the final and clear evidence of the deviation from the European path - that became the impetus for us to take a step that will bring us even closer to all those who value Georgia's European future. 

Despite some provisions in the April 19 document that are unacceptable to us, which is why we have not signed this agreement so far, after assessing the most serious state risks, we consider that in the current situation we are obliged to stand above our own opinions and objections and sign the April 19 agreement.

We, the National Movement, sign the April 19 agreement, thus declaring our readiness and reaffirming our belief that we, along with other pro-Western opposition forces, will win the October 2 referendum!

We, the National Movement, are signing an agreement not to fulfill the dream of the Georgian Dream, and the Western partners will not distance themselves from the Georgian people because of this unreliable government, which will only harm the country in the end.

So we will win more and keep our country's civilized choice to be a member of the Western family! We will win and build a developed, rich, democratic Georgia!

In fact, the European Union, due to the non-fulfillment of its obligations by Georgia, refuses to provide assistance and not vice versa. The bad governance of a country is a facelift, and strategic choice is an eternal value.

That is why today, by signing this document, we want to state clearly and unequivocally that we will not allow the Georgian Dream to escape its signed commitment to call early parliamentary elections after failing to cross the 43 percent threshold!

Compatriots, Georgians - there is no other choice! Come to the referendum on October 2 and make a choice in favor of the West! Come to the referendum and reject Russia! Come to the referendum and defend your homeland and its future! Come to the referendum and circle any, except 41!

Together with the people, with the public, with European and American diplomats, with other partner opposition parties, we will leave no choice for Ivanishvili - except for snap elections!

Yes, October 2 will be a referendum; Yes, "Dream" fails in this referendum; Yes, the whole political spectrum is together on this issue; Yes, the West is on our side;

And therefore, we make the decision to confirm with our signature that in a month we will go to a referendum and the 43% threshold will be the verdict that the Georgian people will issue to the government!

This main issue weighs everything now - on one side are all us, the opposition, the society, the West - on the other side Ivanishvili and Russia - this is a fight! Question marks are no more!

And  all of us, the people, will definitely win the fight in the October 2 referendum! The generations that we face today and are alive should be proud that fate has given us the opportunity to do a great job for the state and that opportunity is given to us on October 2nd! - said Nika Melia