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The Prime Minister said he did not want to come to Georgia mid-campaign because it might have seemed like an attempt to interfere with the locals’ decision, and so instead he waited for the result of the elections.
He observed that each nation had a mutually positive image of the other, the reason for which should perhaps be sought in history. “You’re a freedom-fighting people, so are we, we are surrounded by great powers, the same as you, we have always had to fight for our sovereignty and freedom. It is probably this historical fact that created the positive bias with which the two nations look upon each other today.”
Mr Orbán congratulated the Georgian Prime Minister on his latest election victory of a few days ago, and observed that he had kept track of the debates surrounding the vote as well as the assessments of international organisations, and had concluded that “no one dares to question” that this election had been free and democratic.
“Despite all critical comments, no one has to date ventured to go that far. And they do well not to as we Hungarians also sent observers, we were present here, we saw with our own eyes what happened,” the Prime Minister said, adding that the reports of Hungarian observers were clearly positive, and they rendered an account of a free and democratic election.
Mr Orbán also said that Hungary is a neighbour of Ukraine, and therefore knows what war is like, while it is also aware of the value of peace.
“Hungary is a pro-peace country in Europe, and we greatly appreciate your efforts, that you, too, are on the side of peace. No one wants to destroy their own country and to lead it into a senseless war, so we understand the decision of the Georgian people who voted for peace; the situation is the same in our country,” the Prime Minister pointed out.
Mr Orbán made it clear that the people of Georgia made a pro-European decision, and as far as he can see, both the governing party and the opposition are committed to EU integration. “What’s more, perhaps you’re the only country in the world whose Constitution lays down that every government must aspire to European Union membership,” he stated.
He added that under such circumstances it was “amusing if anything” to question the Georgian government’s commitment.
He also spoke about the fact that Hungary is prepared to give Georgia all assistance it may require so that it may join the European Union as the best prepared member candidate by the end of the decade.
He added that they had delegated Hungarian experts to Tbilisi also to date, and that they were happy to welcome Georgian experts to attend a training programme in Hungary.
At the press conference, Mr Orbán highlighted that the parties had agreed to develop cooperation in strategic areas. They have recently concluded an agreement on the protection of investments, while Hungary is also happy to take part in infrastructure development projects in Georgia. He further mentioned the plan regarding the transmission of green power generated in the Caucasus to the European Union.
He pointed out that four countries cooperated in this project: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary, and they have already set up a joint venture for the four countries, he said, describing this as a decisive step.
He said Hungary provides state scholarship grants for 80 students from Georgia every year.
Mr Orbán said the debates of the coming days will have to be considered for what they really are; while the result of the Georgian election is clear and the election itself was free and democratic, there will be debates about it in Europe nonetheless. The Prime Minister asked the people of Georgia not to attribute much significance to these debates as these are customary in Brussels every time conservative parties win.
“European politics has a manual […], a handbook: if liberal parties win, there is democracy; if conservative parties win, there is no democracy,” the Prime Minister said.
