Georgian foreign office: EU’s approach to Georgia’s participation in connectivity ministerial “unacceptable”

Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday sharply criticised the European Union’s decision to invite the country to participate at the ambassadorial level, rather than at the ministerial level, in the upcoming Connectivity Ministerial scheduled for October 20 in Luxembourg.

Responding to a query from Imedi News, the Ministry described the move as “an unserious attitude” and “another attempt to encourage a radical agenda and polarization in Georgia”.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the EU’s European External Action Service (EEAS) invited foreign ministers from Central Asia, Eastern Partnership countries, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, while Georgia was invited only at ambassadorial level.

The Ministry stressed that given the importance of connectivity issues and Georgia’s central role in regional security and connectivity, the invitation was “unacceptable” and the rationale behind such an approach was “incomprehensible”.

Tbilisi said it had communicated its position on participation to the EEAS weeks ago and underscored that the EU should recognize Georgia’s role as a partner and ensure its participation at an appropriate level.

“The EEAS’s decision reflects not only a lack of seriousness, but also a denial of simple geopolitical and geographical realities. It represents yet another attempt to use the question of Georgia’s invitation to EU events for political speculation and to fuel a radical agenda and polarization in Georgia”, the statement said.

“The invitation of Georgia at the ambassadorial level indicates a non-serious approach by the EU institution, demonstrates a denial of not only geopolitical but also simple geographical realities, and represents yet another attempt to use the issue of Georgia’s invitation to EU events for political speculation and to encourage a radical agenda and polarisation in Georgia”, the Georgian foreign office noted.

The Ministry further expressed hope that EU member states would act pragmatically and recognise Georgia’s importance in linking Europe and Asia.

“We hope that the majority of EU member states are well aware of geopolitical necessities, value partnership with Georgia, recognise Georgia’s role in connectivity between Europe and Asia, and do not share the EU External Action Service’s approach regarding Georgia’s participation”, the Ministry concluded.