Georgian FM: opposition using European integration as tool against country

Georgian foreign minister Maka Botchorishvili on Wednesday accused the opposition of attempting to use the country’s European integration process as a “plaything” and a political instrument against the state.

In her interview with Imedi TV, Botchorishvili noted that during a decisive period in Georgia’s EU relations - when the country was awaiting candidate status - opposition representatives referred to Georgia as a “laggard”, despite what she described as the country’s leading position compared to others in the region.

“We know very well how our opponents perceive their own country. We clearly remember how, at a decisive moment in relations with the European Union, when we were expecting candidate status, they referred to their own country as a laggard, even though Georgia was clearly ahead of all other countries”, she said.

The minister further claimed that issues related to EU integration and foreign policy were frequently politicised domestically.

“This case is no exception. When we talk about integration with the European Union and relations with it, you know that it is precisely our opponents who use this issue as a plaything and try to use everything against the country”, she noted.

“This is very unfortunate, but it is the reality we have in our country, where every foreign policy and important issue is used against the state”, Botchorishvili concluded.