Georgian FM says Georgia-EU relations “at impasse” due to Brussels bureaucracy’s attitude

Georgian foreign minister Maka Botchorishvili on Monday addressed the current state of relations between Georgia and the European Union, characterising the situation as an “impasse” caused by the attitude of European officials.

In her remarks, Botchorishvili noted that for relations to move forward, there must be a fundamental shift in how the EU interacts with the Georgian leadership.

“First and foremost, we must see an attitude based on respect toward the government elected by the Georgian people. The possibility for the country to have stable and peaceful development depends on the policies of the Georgian Dream. This is exactly what the Georgian government is doing, as we believe this is the very foundation upon which our integration into the European Union can be built. The Georgian Dream is doing nothing anti-democratic. If anyone is acting anti-democratically, it is those who did not enter Parliament, rejected the voice of the people, and all those who encourage the conduct of political processes in the streets. That is what is anti-democratic”, the minister said.

Botchorishvili also answered a question regarding a meeting between the opposition alliance and Gareth Ward, the British ambassador to the country, noting that the agenda of opposition alliances was destructive and radical, and they were seeking partners outside the country.

“The agenda is clear. The agenda of the opposition alliances is destructive and radical; consequently, they look for partners outside the country. The opposition has never sought a partner within the country or among the Georgian people. They seek partners abroad - wherever their interests might align - to damage the Georgian government and the country's interests. All of this is an expression of that”, she concluded.