I hope that both Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and EU membership applications will be seen as two foundations on which we should try to build a strong commonality of interests and bridge the polarization, EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell stated on Tuesday.

Ambassador noted he had been talking about the existing polarization for a long while.

“On the one hand, I see a lot of commonality of purpose around the strategic direction, when it comes to the wish to move towards the EU and stand behind the EU membership application. It is one of the issues where I see a strong commonality of interests among most, if not all, political parties in Georgia.

Despite that, we still should see whether this commonality of purpose, which will require working together between the different political sides, will come to fruition. I still see a lot of polarization in Georgian political life. But, I hope that both Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and EU membership applications will be seen as two foundations on which we should try to build a strong commonality of interests and bridge this polarization. That is more a hope than the prediction from my side,” Carl Hartzell said.