Kvirikashvili: “Our commitment to the EU, NATO is not against Russia”

Georgia’s top official has spoken to a leading Spanish media outlet about Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration prospects, Georgia-Russia relations and other state issues. 

Yesterday Spanish International News Agency EFE published an interview with Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili in which Georgia’s top official stressed Georgia’s commitment to the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) did not go against Russian interests. 

We will use all means at our disposal to show Russia that Georgia’s integration into the EU and NATO does not go against Russia,” said Kvirikashvili.

 We share long historical relations with Russia, the same religion but unfortunately over the past decades it [Russia] has ignored Georgia’s sovereign right to decide its future,” he stressed.

 The Georgian PM underscored Russian politicians should understand that normalisation of relations between Georgia and Russia would never happen ‘’at the expense of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity’’. 

 Kvirikashvili said Georgia held talks with Russia in an international format – in which the EU and US participate - but also in an informal way between two representatives from Tbilisi and Moscow.

 There has been progress in economic relations and humanitarian issues, and tourism and commerce has increased,” he said.

However Kvirikashvili said no progress had been achieved in the political field as "Russia maintained its policy of integrating the political and military structures in South Ossetia and Abkhazia (Georgia’s two breakaway regions) into the Russian space, and had signed with them treaties of integration and cooperation”.

When asked about Georgia’s foreign policy priorities, Kvirikashvili highlighted the signature of the Association Agreement (AA) between Georgia and the EU, as well as a broad free trade agreement that eliminated barriers and reduced tariffs with the EU’s 28 member states.

We believe Georgia is going back to its European roots, as historically Georgia has been part of Europe, with its culture and traditions and we believe that going back to our home is a natural process”, he added.

That’s why obtaining a visa free regime soon is a logical step because if we don’t allow free movement in Europe for young Georgians as well as small and medium-sized enterprises, those agreements with the EU  won’t bring about the expected results”.

With the news agency the PM also spoke about Georgia-NATO relations and Georgia’s vast participation in international peacekeeping missions.

We participate in international peace keeping missions in Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, so Georgia is not only a security user but an international provider,” said Kvirikashvili. 

The interview noted Kvirikashvili had high expectations from this year NATO Warsaw Summit about the irreversibility of Georgia’s integration process into the Alliance, and getting additional components to improve Georgia’s defence capabilities.

About Ukraine, the PM said: "Its rights have been violated in a way similar to what happened to Georgia”, and he hstressed Tbilisi supported Kiev’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

When it came to the appointment of Georgia’s ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili, a man wanted by Georgia’s law enforcement bodies who currently holds the role of Odessa Governor in Ukraine, Kvirikashvili said: "It is Ukraine’s internal matter. We can only regret that Ukraine has not learnt the lesson from the mistakes made by Georgia in the past”.

The article also announced the PM will visit the US soon, as an important strategic partner of Georgia and a strong defender of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in recent decades. 

The PM also discussed the progress made to develop the economy and serious achievements in terms of human rights good governance, healthcare system, freedom of expression and several others, as well as the importqance of future educational reform. 

According to the World Bank, we have one of the best investment climates, a simple tax system with only six types of taxes, and soon we will introduce an important reform based on the Estonian model of zero taxes if the benefits are reinvested in business,” he said.

 Kvirikashvili thanked Spain for supporting Georgia’s territorial integrity and assured that bilateral economic relations have considerable potential to develop further.

The PM recalled the recent visit of Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel García-Margallo, who came to Tbilisi in February, and affirmed that it was important to further improve bilateral relations.

Spain has a very high profile in certain fields, such as the construction sector, and we would like to attract Spanish undertakings and companies for our infrastructural projects”.

He also referred to the fact Spain had "very good experience in tourism, one of the best worldwide, and we can cooperate more in this field, where we already have significant relations”.

The Georgian Premier also mentioned other Spanish sectors that Georgia was interested in, like technology and manufacturing.

There are several Spanish companies that are already investing in Georgia, which is why we are happy with these relations”, he said, adding Georgia’s beneficial strategic location could fully unlock the large potential of successful relations. 

A separate story released by EFE cited the PM as saying that the five political parties of the current governing Georgian Dream (GD) coalition in Georgia would run separately in the elections this October. However, the people from the parties with high posts in Government or other state bodies would retain their jobs until the October election. 

The PM underlined independently from party allegiance, the most important thing was to provide stability to the work of the Government.