Georgian Parliament official: Georgia seeks cooperation with Europe, but not at any cost

Levan Makhashvili, Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s European Integration Committee, on Wednesday said the Georgian government sought cooperation with Europe, but not at the expense of the country’s security and national interests.

Speaking to Imedi TV, Makhashvili said the government would not support any course of action that could undermine the progress Georgia had achieved or draw the country into a military conflict.

“We have nothing to divide us from Europe, nor do we have anything to fight or wage war over with them. On the contrary, we have always been part of this family and have contributed to it. We want cooperation with Europe, but not at any cost. That is what this is about. If the country is expected to lose everything it has built so far and become involved in someone else’s war, then, of course, we are not prepared to sacrifice this country for such cooperation at the cost of war. Our main starting point is precisely this: to sit down, talk, and take each other’s interests into account, but not in a way that says, ‘Ukraine needs this now, Europe’s interests require it, so go and die, and lose your statehood fighting Russia’. That is what this is about”, he said.

Makhashvili added that accusations and labels linking Georgia to Russia were not new and had become a recurring political tactic.

“This is an attempt to escape a difficult situation through simple means. No one is saying that Georgia is in an easy situation. It is in a very difficult situation, and that is precisely why exceptional caution and flexibility are needed to ensure that we do not end up in someone else’s clutches as a state. We saw what happened in Georgia in 2008 when radicals pursued this policy. Georgia does not need to repeat the same mistake. It is easy to throw labels around, and we are prepared for that. Being in government in Georgia today is not an easy task, but the main priorities are clear: restoring Georgia’s territorial integrity and strengthening the economy. If something serves these two goals, we will do it. If it contradicts them, we cannot do it”, he concluded.