Georgian FM: EU's approach to Georgia unfair, both sides need each other

Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili on Thursday expressed disappointment over what she described as the European Union’s unfair stance toward Georgia.

In her remarks, Botchorishvili stressed that both Georgia and the EU needed each other, particularly in the context of regional connectivity and cooperation.

Her remarks followed a question regarding a recent statement by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who criticised the EU’s handling of internal developments in Georgia.

“Unfortunately, we are witnessing unjust approaches from the European Union toward Georgia. Georgia needs the EU, and the EU needs Georgia just as much”, the FM said.

Furthermore, Botchorishvili highlighted the importance of Georgia in the context of the EU's discussions on connectivity with Central Asia. She argued that it was impossible to exclude Georgia from these dialogues.

“Georgia also needs the European Union, and the European Union needs Georgia in the same measure, especially when it comes to connectivity, relations with Central Asian countries, and perhaps this concerned precisely the processes we recently saw in Central Asia, regarding the European Commission's visit and cooperation plans. When Europe talks about connectivity with Central Asia, it is impossible to exclude relations with Georgia from this dialogue, and for Georgia not to be a key, integral part of all this”, she noted.