“While partnership and friendship are important, everyone must respect our independence and sovereignty,” stated Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze during his appearance on GPB First Channel’s Actual Topic with Maka Tsintsadze.

The head of government emphasized that protecting sovereignty is fundamental to safeguarding national interests, and this policy will continue in the future.

“Our election watchword was Toward Europe with Peace, Dignity, and Prosperity. Here, dignity was a keyword. If you don’t conduct your politics with dignity, you certainly cannot properly protect your national interests. We must demonstrate our principles wherever someone attempts to interfere in our internal affairs – we must defend our positions with dignity. Foreign politicians and bureaucrats often try to interfere heavily in our internal affairs and dictate how our country should develop. They frequently request actions that would directly bring severe problems to our country. For instance, they ask us to impose sanctions, which would mean at least a ten per cent reduction in our economy in the first year alone – an economic catastrophe. This would be a massive disaster for our country, people, and society. Such interference is unacceptable. We will continue to protect ourselves from any attempts at excessive intervention.

Friendship is one thing, but it’s equally important that everyone respects each other’s sovereignty and independence. Without upholding these principles, no fair relationships can be established. This attitude is fundamentally important, and therefore, the protection of sovereignty is the cornerstone of defending national interests, and we will continue this policy in the future. While partnership and friendship are important, everyone must respect our independence and sovereignty,” the Prime Minister declared.