Georgian PM claims European “informal forces” fighting Christian culture

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Sunday said one of the main targets of informal forces in Europe was Christian culture, expressing hope that current negative trends will reverse in a positive direction.

In his interview with Imedi TV, Kobakhidze noted that Europe had historically been viewed by Georgia primarily as a cultural space, with Christian culture serving as the main reason why Georgia’s ancestors looked toward Europe for centuries.

“Europe is, first and foremost, a cultural space for us, and it is in this sense that Europe is valuable to Georgia. From a cultural perspective, we consider ourselves part of Europe. The Christian cultural space was the main reason our ancestors looked toward Europe for centuries. They saw Christianity and Christian culture as a means of preserving their identity. Unfortunately, much is changing today, including in this regard”, he said.

The PM highlighted that one of the main things informal forces in Europe were fighting today was precisely Christian culture and the values associated with it, noting that current trends are deeply concerning.

“However, we hope these trends will reverse in a positive direction. It is very important for us to remain part of European culture as we traditionally remember it. We will continue to take appropriate steps to change the situation, although this process cannot be unilateral. We will wait for reciprocal steps”, Kobakhidze concluded.