EU still trading with Russia, bringing up to $300 billion revenue in country, amid war in Ukraine - Georgian PM
The PM expressed hope “European and American friends” would understand that “Georgia does not stop trade and economy with Russia” proceeding from its national interests, stressing “any provocation, war, destabilisation here means the third world war” for Georgia. Photo via Government Administration
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The European Union has been still trading with Russia amid its invasion of Ukraine, gaining up to $300 billion revenue for the country’s budget, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Thursday while commenting on EU’s criticism over Georgia’s trade, economic and flight ties with Russia.
“The European Union has not approved the flights, economy and trade with Russia, while it has been still trading with Russia, and what the EU is trading [with Russia] in 4 days, we [Georgia] trade in 1 year”, Garibashvili stressed, adding Georgia, “a small country with so many challenges” and with 20 percent occupied by Russia, was implementing “pragmatic” policy based on the national interests, which would attain its “ultimate goal” - the unification of the country.
The Head of the Government also referred to the fact of buying goods, worth $2.5 trillion, by the EU from Russia just after the 2008 Russia-Georgia war, “after people died and we [Georgia] lost our territories, [...] no one did anything about it, there were not imposed any sanctions [against Russia], and we had to bear it”, he stressed.
The United States has not stopped trade with Russia, even at present, just acting for “their national interests and their companies' needs”, Garibashvili said and pointed out that in 2019 when Russia had suspended flights with Georgia, the acting Ambassador of the US had called on Russia to lift their ban on flights.
The PM expressed hope “European and American friends” would understand that “Georgia does not stop trade and economy with Russia” proceeding from its national interests, stressing “any provocation, war, destabilisation here means the third world war” for Georgia.
What is happening now in Ukraine, [...] bloodshed, it already happened to us in 2008, [...] We, Georgians, shed a lot of blood, survived three wars, a civil war, were in NATO missions in Afghanistan, Iraq. Our “heroic boys”, soldiers sacrificed for this [Euro-Atlantic] aspiration”, he noted.
The Head of the Government highlighted that Georgia’s main goal was peace, stability, prosperity, and reunification of the country. “I believe that with the help of God, we will pursue this path calmly and lead the country to peace", he said.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday maintained no flights involving aircraft under international sanctions for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would be allowed in Georgia, following the Russian Government’s decision on Wednesday to lift its ban on flights with Georgia.
Peter Stano, the Spokesperson for the External Affairs of the European Union, on Thursday encouraged the Georgian Government to align with the bloc and other countries in their airline sector sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday said Russian aircraft sanctioned by the international community following the country’s invasion of Ukraine would not be allowed to enter Georgian airspace, in response to the Russian Government's move on Wednesday to resume direct flights with Georgia.
Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili on Thursday responded to the Russian Government lifting its ban on flights with Georgia and visa requirements for citizens of the country by saying it was a “unilateral decision” by Russia, and pledged continued observance of sanctions placed by the international country on the latter for its invasion of Ukraine.
The expression “dancing to the Russian tune” has been an insult to a “self-respecting, ancient” Georgian nation, Irakli Garibashvili, the Georgian Prime Minister, said on Thursday in his comments to the media on President Salome Zourabichvili’s statement.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday said urging the country’s Government to impose bilateral sanctions on Russia for its aggression in Ukraine was meant “actually saying that Georgia must risk direct military confrontation with Russia”.