Outgoing EU Ambassador Hartzell played only negative role in Georgia-EU relations – Kobakhidze

The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party head Irakli Kobakhidze said Wednesday that outgoing EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell had played an “only negative role” in the EU-Georgia relations.

Kobakhidze expressed hope that the new ambassador, Pawel Herczynski, “would be different.”

He claimed that the Georgian Dream party authorities had refrained from making such an evaluation earlier due to several reasons, including because of Georgia’s EU membership bid.

“However, today when he [Hartzell] finished his mission, we can openly say that, unfortunately, Carl Hartzell played only a negative role in the relations between the European Union and Georgia. This is very sad. We have high hopes that the future ambassador will act differently”, Kobakhidze said.

Hartzell, who took office back in 2018, shared his farewell video on Wednesday, expressing gratitude to the host country and its people and expressing hope the country would use its chance to become a member of the EU.

The Ambassador, who was actively engaged to help Georgian political forces to resolve political standoffs while in office, described Georgia as an “amazing, unique country, standing on the shoulders of your ancestors, those who fought for this country, traditions, culture, language and heritage.”