Danish Ambassador says it’s “pity” that “opponents” used her article in “negative context” - foreign office
The Georgian side also noted it was “unfortunate” that the article contained “significant factual inaccuracies and biased assessments”, and stressed the article would not contribute to the formation of “a positive attitude of the international community, including Danish readers, towards Georgia”. Photo via MFA of Georgia
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Georgia’s foreign office on Thursday said Anne Toft Sørensen, the Danish Ambassador to the country, had explained that her article, in which the latter mentioned Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former PM and the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, as an “oligarch”, intended to express her country’s support for Georgia’s European integration and stressed “it is unfortunate that opponents used it in a negative context”.
Sørensen was summoned by the Foreign Ministry, following the article posted on the Danish news portal Jyllands-Posten on Wednesday, which saw the Ambassador say “the oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili built a fortune in Russia in the 90s”.
At the meeting, held at the Ministry, the Georgian side said the Ambassador’s publication was used for “political interpretation by certain forces”, which “naturally” prevented the “effective implementation” of the main priority, outlined by the European Union for the country - depolarisation.
The Georgian side also noted it was “regrettable” that the article contained “significant factual inaccuracies and biased assessments”, and stressed the article would not contribute to the formation of “a positive attitude of the international community, including Danish readers, towards Georgia”.
Earlier today, Sørensen's publication was criticised by Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and the Secretary General of Georgian Dream, who called the Ambassador’s comment on Ivanishvili “filth”.
In its comments on the controversy, the Danish Embassy said the "excerpt from a Danish article" was "being used out of context in Georgian debates”, and added it had "no desire to contribute to the above" and would refrain from making additional comments.
Former PM Ivanishvili returned to domestic politics in late December by being elected the Honorary Chair of Georgian Dream.
Anne Toft Sørensen, the Danish Ambassador to Georgia, was on Thursday summoned to the country’s foreign office after mentioning Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former PM and the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, as “oligarch” in an article published in the Danish media.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling party, on Saturday said the Georgian Government would fulfil its duty to ensure and guarantee the well-being of its citizens, de-occupation of the country, reconciliation, maintaining peace and developing Georgia, “more successfully” together with Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former Prime Minister and founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, who was elected the honorary Chair of the GD party earlier that day.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Saturday said the “main goal, mission and dream” of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former PM and founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, before and after coming into politics, were the unification of the country.
Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former Prime Minister and founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Saturday was elected the honorary Chair of the GD party at the congress meeting of the ruling party.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Friday said it was “sad and regrettable” that “incompetence of diplomats” was “damaging” the image of the countries they represented among the Georgian public, after comments by Anne Toft Sørensen, the Danish Ambassador, about Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former Prime Minister and the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, in media caused controversy earlier during the week.