Georgian FM highlights European integration as Gov’t’s “key” foreign policy priority

Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili on Tuesday highlighted European integration as the Georgian Government’s “key” foreign policy priority, backed by “the history, identity and will of the Georgian people”.

In her remarks at a press conference held following a meeting with her Hungarian counterpart Péter Szijjártó, Botchorishvili expressed the Government’s “firm faithfulness” to the commitments related to the country’s European integration

The visiting Georgian official further expressed her regret that “some internal and external actors” were using this “vital issue” only for political speculations.

“The current Government of Georgia is the one who created the solid foundation for the irreversibility of Georgia’s European future and from 2014 when we signed the Association Agreement [with the EU] remains firmly faithful to the commitments related to European integration. Georgia’s key foreign policy priority is European integration. This priority is backed by our history, identity and will of the Georgian people”, Botchorishvili said.

“Regretfully, some internal and external actors use this vital issue only for political speculation. The European future, which is supported by the vast majority of Georgian citizens, is used to fuel polarization in the public and form an additional threat to the country's stability and security”, she continued.

Botchorishvili noted that partnership should be based on mutual respect and expressed his gratitude to Hungary for respecting Georgia's statehood, sovereignty and democracy.

“It is alarming to observe the scale of intention not to legitimize the democratic choice of Georgian people. Despite the fact that more than two millions of Georgians voted in the parliamentary elections [held in Georgia] and expressed their political choice in the presence of an unprecedented number of international and local observers, speculations related to the elections do not stop. It is also alarming to observe how much pressure is put on international observation missions from certain actors to influence their independent work. All these undermine the reputation of international institutions and also pose a very serious threat to democratic development”, the Minister noted.

Botchorishvili expressed her hope that next week, when European leaders would have discussions on Georgia, their decision would be based on “objective reality”.