The concert was titled ‘We Want Europe’ and brought messages through speeches and music about why Georgia should become a member of the EU. (DF Watch.)
TBILISI, DFWatch–A concert was held in Tbilisi on Sunday to rally support for Georgia’s integration with the EU.
The concert was called We Want Europe. Among the speakers was President Giorgi Margvelashvili who addressed the crowd in the beginning of the concert.
Margvelashvili said that all of them came for one goal and this goal is not a choice of some single political force, but the goal of people.
“This is a choice made by our predecessors, who created delightful country – Georgia,” he said.
(DF Watch.)
Philip Dimitrov, Ambassador of EU to Georgia, also addressed people holding EU and Georgian flags, saying that he is sure Georgia will sign the Association Agreement with EU in a few months.
“You will have the freedom of movement of goods, of services and capital,” he said. “We are working hard now so that soon after that you can have the fourth freedom – the freedom of movement of people.”
Lasha Tughushi, Chairman of Liberal Academy and one of the organizers of the concert, explained that music and culture is the perfect way to say what needs to be said.
“With this music we told everyone that we need to be in Europe and become part of it; that Europe is our home,” he said, adding that in some situations it is better to express desires by music.
He thinks Georgia still needs to get ready, to conduct democratic reforms, develop education and healthcare system, care more for human rights, have higher standards.
“I am sure we can do it and we will do it in order to get home, Europe,” he continued, and explained that Europe for him means human rights, welfare, freedom, justice, everything related to dignity.
Among the people who attended the concert were Deputy Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani, Alexi Petriashvili, Minister of Euro Integration, Deputy Reintegration Minister Keti Tsikhelashvili, Tina Khidasheli, MP from Georgian Dream coalition, Zurab Japaridze, MP from National Movment, and Giga Bokeria, Former Secretary of the Security Council.
Tina Khidasheli said she believes Europe is a human without borders, it is freedom, peace without violence and aggression.
“So naturally I want to be where there is peace and human is a main value, where government doesn’t harass and no one misses the war,” she tells us.
On stage, performers included Mariko Ebralidze, a singer who will present Georgia on next Eurovision, opened today’s concert. National folk choirs, well-known bands like Jetbird, LOUDspeakers and Eldrine.
The screen behind the scene displayed flags of the EU and Georgia, and during breaks it showed recorded appeals from different well-known people, like politicians, writers, journalists, explaining why they want Georgia to join the EU and what Europe means to them.
The rally was organized by Civil Society Forum National Platform, which is an umbrella organization uniting more than a hundred non-governmental organizations.
“Every Georgian citizen should have an opinion about this issue. We encourage everyone, regardless of their political beliefs, to come together around this idea,” organizers wrote.
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