In the Debates programme of Rustavi 2 TV, Georgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maka Botchorishvili, spoke about foreign policy, the security environment, and the European integration process.

“The opposition once again demonstrated that sovereignty and national interests are unfamiliar words for them; therefore, it is difficult to go deep into the context related to these words. Security challenges are not unknown for our country in the current situation. This is not something new. Our foreign policy priorities are, of course, defined. It goes without saying, it is written in our Constitution,” she said.

Maka Botchorishvili remarked that the European Union was not unanimous over certain issues.

“Have you seen the Georgian economy, economic reforms and results assessed in the European Commission’s report? Does anybody question why these issues are not evaluated? Because these issues best reflect the country’s correct policy, the country’s progress, which is most linked to what we are speaking about, the EU integration prospect,” she said.

According to Maka Bochorishvili, the country must be ready for EU membership, and a strong economic foundation is necessary for this.

“Why is there no unanimity over the date for Ukraine’s accession into the EU? This is a complex issue, isn’t it? How do we prepare for membership? We cannot prepare for membership with a ruined economy; we cannot prepare for the situation we would be in if we did not follow the path that the Georgian Dream is pursuing,” she stated.

The Foreign Minister touched on Georgia’s place in European civilization.

“This is not our choice. This is what we are. We are part of the European civilization, and there is nothing to choose here. We may choose the path to the EU, but civilization is chosen by our ancestors. We represent not only a part but we have significantly contributed to the establishment of European civilization and the values, which the current EU are grounded on, and these values will finally lead to Christianity and Christian values, which our country has been defending for its entire history and existance, and it was at the door where the first blow was repelled, and we’re still standing there today,” she stated.