Gov’t had to apologize for President’s “shameful” wording on Chinese President – ruling party head

Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said the Government had to apologize for President Salome Zourabichvili’s “shameful statement” over Chinese President Xi Jinping. 

 

In her recent interview for French LCI, when asked by a journalist whether she hoped Russian President Vladimir Putin and also Xi Jinping would ever be tried, Zourabichvili answered it would be a “historic result” in her inner belief, which would put certain issues in their place.”If you ask me, do I think this is realistic? – no”, she noted. 

 

In his comments Kobakhidze claimed Zourabichvili was “trying to harm national interests” several months before her expiration of term in office. 

 

Georgia and China this year signed a strategic partnership deal, during Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s visit to the country. 

 

The President’s Administration on Tuesday announced about hosting a Chinese Ambassador to Georgia at Zourabichvili’s office and noted in the specific interview there was “no reference to the relations between Georgia and China or, specifically, to the President of the People’s Republic of China”. 

 

“The entire interview was focused on Georgia-EU relations, Georgia and Russia. Accordingly, the President’s answer would concern only the president of the country that has occupied the territories of Georgia”, the President’s Office said.