Georgian FM criticizes German Ambassador, sees recall as chance to improve bilateral ties

Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili on Monday said the German Ambassador Peter Fischer’s work should have been aimed at facilitating relations, which was not observed, adding that the recall of the Ambassador for consultations, if desired, was an opportunity to create positive dynamics in bilateral relations.

Botchorishvili noted that no matter how difficult the relationship may be, a diplomat’s main duty was to find ways to ease communication even in the most difficult circumstances.

“On one side, there are actions, and on the other, there is the exposure of and discussion about these actions from our side - how we perceive them. As for the recall of the Ambassador, in general, we’ve been experiencing many unprecedented events recently. The kind of pressure being exerted on Georgia today is unprecedented in our history of independent existence. We are facing many challenges today in a completely different and unprecedented way. It is also unprecedented how far the relations between Georgia and Germany deteriorated during the term of this specific ambassador. This, too, is unprecedented and very unfortunate for us. An ambassador’s primary role in a country is to facilitate relations between the two countries”, the FM said.

“That is the diplomat’s primary function. When, instead, a diplomat is determined to further worsen the relationship, it becomes even harder to deal with the consequences. In this case, we were faced with a reality where, rather than easing tensions if they existed, this specific ambassador did everything to further aggravate the relationship. It is very unfortunate that Georgia has, for almost a year now, had no ambassador in Germany. The process requires time, procedures take time”, she said.

Botchorishvili emphasised that from the beginning it was a priority to have an ambassador in Germany, and the Georgian Government did everything in the shortest possible time to finalize this process, and now it was finalized.

“In the coming days, Georgia’s Ambassador will depart for Berlin, and we will have the opportunity to communicate with the German side at the ambassadorial level, which will be very important for the relationship between our two countries in this situation”, Botchorishvili noted.

She further stated that the activities of the German Ambassador in Georgia have also become a topic of significant discussion within German society.

“We have seen that questions have been raised within German society, in political circles, and this is not necessarily acceptable or desirable when we are talking about diplomacy. When such questions arise, it is unpleasant for any government, in any country. It would be unpleasant for the Georgian Government too, if one of our ambassadors were involved in a similar situation in another country. Many questions have been asked regarding his activities”, the FM continued.

“Putting everything else aside, the ambassador’s mindset should be focused on maintaining a relationship with the government of the host country and on fostering relations between the two states, that is what his work should be directed toward. We did not see that. I cannot say what decision the German government will ultimately make. For now, the decision is that Ambassador Fischer has been recalled to Berlin for consultations. No one knows how long these consultations will last”, she said.

The Minister also added that if there were willingness, this could be an opportunity to create a certain positive dynamic in the relationship between the two countries, especially given the attempts to increase tensions, “something we do not desire”.

“Germany has always been a distinguished partner for Georgia, and among EU countries, the relationship with Germany has been particularly important. Historically as well, from the very beginning of our independence, the relationship that was built between the two countries and the support provided, we have not forgotten that. We remember and appreciate it very much, and it is very unfortunate that we are now talking about the deterioration of these relations and the attempts to worsen them, something that definitely should not be happening at the hands of an ambassador. It is very unfortunate”, she said.

“I hope this becomes an opportunity to at least see some improvement in communication, and then we’ll see which direction our relations might go. Our desire is for it to be only a positive dynamic”, the FM concluded.