German FM’s goal of Tbilisi trip country’s EU integration amid “attempts” to derail it from Western course

Annalena Baerbock, the German foreign minister, on Thursday said the goal of her first official visit to Georgia later today was the country’s European integration process amid “attempts” to derail it from the Western course, following mass protests in Tbilisi against a “Russian law” and ahead of the bloc’s decision whether to grant Georgia its membership candidate status later this year. 

 

In her statement before arrival, the German official stressed the Georgian people “waved the flags of the EU in the streets of Tbilisi to protect pluralism and the rule of law”, in reference to the demonstrations against the foreign agents bill proposed by a part of the parliamentary majority, that was described as a “Russian law” by the international community in a bid to “silence” domestic NGOs and media organizations. 

 

“During my visit to Georgia, I would like to clearly state that Germany fully supports Georgia’s European perspective. We see attempts to derail the country from its pro-European course, which is supported by the absolute majority of Georgians. We see the pressure the country is facing from inside and outside,” she said. 

 

The FM said she had plans to talk with the representatives of the Georgian government about the steps they had taken to obtain EU candidate status. 

 

She said the discussions would also involve the importance of media freedom and the strong civil sector.