FM Botchorishvili: only Georgians can decide country’s path

Georgia’s Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili has said only the Georgian people and the government they elected can determine the country’s direction, following talks with Pawel Herczynski.

Speaking after the meeting, Botchorishvili said no-one understood better than Georgians themselves “which crossroads the country stands at”, adding that the will of the people was expressed through the election of the current authorities.

She said the government best understood Georgia’s security needs, the importance of stability, and the risks of deeper political polarisation.

The minister also criticised what she described as statements, actions and attitudes coming from Brussels, saying they were unacceptable and served only to deepen divisions within Georgian society.

Botchorishvili further noted Georgia was a good-faith partner that had done nothing to harm the interests of the European Union, and therefore expected the respect due in constructive relations.

She added that if ties were to return to normal, relations needed to be based on mutual respect and trust, which she said had been undermined by recent comments and decisions.