Georgian Foreign Minister: no one can replace Georgia’s role - EU connectivity talks without us “smile-inducing”

Georgian foreign minister Maka Botchorishvili on Sunday said that no one could replace Georgia’s function and importance, calling it “smile-inducing” when the European Union speaks about connectivity and organises events without inviting the main country through which such connectivity is achieved.

In her interview with Imedi TV, Botchorishvili stressed that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Georgia was particularly important in the context of developing the Middle Corridor and strengthening connectivity between Europe and Asia.

She added that the meeting between Aliyev and Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and honorary chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, was also significant.

Botchorishvili highlighted Ivanishvili’s role in Georgian politics, noting his contribution to maintaining peace in what she described as a turbulent period, adding that in this context, his meeting with Aliyev held particular importance.

The minister further noted that Georgia had actively engaged with Central Asian countries, including Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, and plans visits to Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, aiming to intensify cooperation with all five countries in the region.

She added that Azerbaijan has recently joined this format, effectively transforming it into a six-country cooperation platform.

Botchorishvili emphasised that Azerbaijan’s transit role was unimaginable without Georgia.

The foreign minister reiterated that Georgia had not lost anything and that its role could not be substituted.

“It is quite smile-inducing when the European Union talks about connectivity, organises events, and the main country through which this connectivity is achieved is not even invited to the table. In this case, only Europe stands to lose”, Botchorishvili said.

She underscored that Georgia has unique advantages, including access to the sea, which she described as a significant asset, adding that these opportunities should be further utilized in cooperation with neighboring and partner countries.

Botchorishvili concluded that any speculation about Georgia’s role reflects a lack of understanding, noting that “a simple look at the map clearly shows the role Georgia plays in regional cooperation”.