The European Union’s exclusion of Georgia from political dialogue formats is a mistaken approach, Georgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili said on the Daily Chronicle program, Report’s Georgian bureau informs.
According to the minister, the EU speaks about the importance of dialogue on the one hand, while keeping Georgia outside political dialogue mechanisms on the other.
“It is a very big mistake for the European Union to leave Georgia out of political dialogue formats. This is happening precisely at a time when communication is being discussed,” Bochorishvili said.
She noted that such an approach benefits neither Georgia nor the European Union.
“This is simply wrong. We are only losing time. Georgia is not being punished in any way and cannot be punished in this case. We have our own business, favorable geographic location and development potential. Our goal is to make maximum use of this potential in the interests of our country, and we will continue to do so,” the minister stressed.
Bochorishvili added that political dialogue with Georgia is at least as important for the EU as it is for Georgia.
According to her, the EU should be interested in restoring intensive political dialogue with Georgia, its closest political and economic partner in the region.
The minister recalled that the Association Agreement signed between Georgia and the EU provides for various mechanisms for political dialogue.
“There is always room for dialogue; the main issue is political will. The Association Agreement defines numerous formats for political dialogue, and their operation was suspended precisely by a decision of the European Union. The restoration of these formats depends on the EU’s political decision,” Bochorishvili said.
