FM: EC’s letter is important, no evidence justifying inclusion of Kulevi terminal in sanctions package

“There is no evidence justifying the inclusion of the Kulevi terminal in the EU sanctions package. We have once again demonstrated to the European Commission the steps Georgia is taking to ensure that its territory is not used to circumvent sanctions,” said the Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili.

According to Botchorishvili, Georgia is taking a leading role in this regard.

“It was very important to receive the letter from the European Commission confirming the removal of Kulevi from the sanctions package. We worked closely with the European Commission on this issue. There is no evidence that would justify including the Kulevi terminal in the EU sanctions package. In the absence of such evidence, its inclusion would not have been justified. From the first day we became aware of the Kulevi issue in this project, we requested that the European side provide the basis for such a decision. No such evidence was presented. Instead, we once again demonstrated what Georgia is doing to prevent its territory from being used to bypass sanctions imposed on Russia. Georgia is truly leading in this respect, and there is no fact to suggest otherwise. This is why the European Commission withdrew the Kulevi port from the sanctions package, as confirmed by Mr. David O’Sullivan’s letter,” Botchorishvili said.

For reference, the European Union did not include the Kulevi oil terminal in Georgia in its 20th package of sanctions against Russia. The EU Special Representative for Sanctions, David O’Sullivan, informed Minister Botchorishvili of this decision in a letter.