Georgia’s FM and EU Ambassador meeting at Avlabari Residence concludes

The meeting between Georgia’s Foreign Minister, Maka Botchorishvili, and the EU Ambassador to Georgia, Pawel Herczyński, has concluded at the Avlabari Ceremonial Palace.

The talks lasted approximately one hour. The Ambassador left the Avlabari Residence without making any appearance before journalists.

The summons was prompted by remarks Ambassador Herczyński had made several days earlier at an event held in Brussels at the European External Action Service, which several Georgian media outlets have subsequently circulated: “Georgia stands at a crossroads. Georgia’s future has not yet been written, but what is decided in the coming weeks and months will determine whether Georgia belongs to the family of European nations founded on democracy, the rule of law and human rights — or whether, regrettably, it returns to its dark past.” He had further stated: “We must not allow Georgia, and the wonderful, warm, hospitable Georgian people, to return to a dark era of violence, civil war, poverty, hardship and corruption.”

On April 23, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze declared that “the EU Ambassador is threatening the Georgian people with civil war and impoverishment, and that is a direct threat. It is therefore appropriate that the Ambassador be summoned to the Foreign Ministry.”

Foreign Minister Botchorishvili had similarly signalled on April 24: “The diplomatic service has its own channels through which to respond, and we shall make use of them. We will have the opportunity to receive Pawel Herczyński at the Foreign Ministry.”