Georgian Foreign Minister hits back at Kaja Kallas: Brussels bureaucracy - not Tbilisi - should rethink its position

Georgian foreign minister Maka Botchorishvili said on Wednesday that if anyone needs to change their attitude, it is “only the current EU bureaucracy in Brussels”, responding to remarks by the EU’s High Representative Kaja Kallas that EU foreign ministers had sent a clear message for Georgia to change course.

In her remarks, Botchorishvili noted that Kallas continues to use the EU issue as a tool in relation to Georgia and insisted that Brussels, not Tbilisi, should reconsider its position. She stressed that Georgia has never refused dialogue with the European Union, including on the key issues frequently highlighted by EU representatives.

“From Kaja Kallas, first of all, we continue to see the use of the EU issue as a tool in relation to Georgia. If anyone has something to change, it is precisely the bureaucracy in Brussels - they should change their attitude toward Georgia. We have never refused dialogue with the European Union, even on the important issues they often emphasize”, the minister said.

She further stressed that Georgia’s current political course reflected the will of its people and is focused on safeguarding national interests, ensuring peace and stability, and supporting economic development.

“Accordingly, Georgia has nothing to change. The Georgian government has been elected by the people, it protects the best interests of our country and does what is necessary to ensure peace, stability, and proper conditions for economic development. What Kaja Kallas does not like about this course is unclear, and why this course is considered incompatible with the European Union is also unclear. Therefore, if anyone needs to change their approach, it is solely the current EU bureaucracy in Brussels”, Botchorishvili concluded.