Gov’t confirms it rejected President’s visits to Ukraine, Germany, Poland, Belgium, other states

The Georgian Government on Wednesday said it had rejected President Salome Zourabichvili’s trips to a number of countries, including Ukraine, German, Belgium and Poland, following the announcement of the President’s office Zourabichvili arrived in Germany anyway to meet with her counterpart on Thursday to “facilitate” her country’s obtaining the European Union membership candidates status later this year. 

 

The Government Administration said Zourabichvili officially requested the German trip early in July and was rejected in August “in line with the relevant article of the country’s constitution, which says the implementation of the country’s foreign policy is the authority of the Government of Georgia”. 

 

“Also, the President was officially refused in writing to working visits to Ukraine on August 22-24, to the Swiss Confederation on September 16, to Poland on October 2-3, to Belgium on October 4-6, to Denmark from October 31 to November 2, and to the United Arab Emirates on December 1-2”, the Government said. 

 

It added that the President’s visits to Bulgaria on September 27-29, to the Czech Republic on December 10-12, and to Israel on December 18-20 had also been rejected. 

 

Zourabichvili has several times accused the Government of “demonizing the West”, and taking “no genuine steps” for the country’s EU membership, with the Government and the ruling party officials raising counter allegations to her.