PM stresses national interest in comments on Ukraine war to diplomats

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili all Monday said while his Government respected sovereignty of all countries its work was motivated by national interest in the first place, in comments on critical claims by some Ukrainian officials on an alleged lack of support from Georgia following Russia's invasion of the former.

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I have said many times - and we have confirmed it with our policy and actions - that we of course respect the sovereignty of all countries, but we love our country the most. Therefore, our main obligation is to protect the interests of our country”, the PM said.

Speaking at an annual end-of-year conference bringing together heads of Georgian embassies and employees of the foreign service, the PM responded to the claims on Georgian authorities allegedly not ensuring adequate aid, as well as what he called “calls [for Georgia] to get involved in the conflict”.

Garibashvili admitted hearing the comments had “not been pleasant”, and added “I have said many times - and we have confirmed it with our policy and actions - that we of course respect the sovereignty of all countries, but we love our country the most. Therefore, our main obligation is to protect the interests of our country”.

However, I would also like to point out that since the country [Ukraine] and their Government are at war, we do not want to respond back”, he stressed.

The Government head also highlighted the ongoing conflict threatened not only Ukraine, but the security architecture of "entire Europe [and] our region".

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Naturally, this war and its consequences will have an impact not only on our country, but on the whole world. Therefore, it is necessary to end this conflict, this war, in time. This is our wish”, he told the country's diplomats.

Garibashvili wished Ukrainian citizens “peace and a quick end to the conflict” and reiterated his Government’s support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine in his comments at the Conference.