When the European Union supports Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, we only welcome it – where there is a specific European official to criticize, we criticize. Where we can thank them, we thank them. This is a case when we can express our gratitude to European politicians, - Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated, responding to the statement of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, where she noted that “Russia has occupied a lot of territories, when it comes to Georgia, Moldova – in order to establish a lasting peace, Russia must withdraw its forces from all the lands where they are currently present.”

According to Kobakhidze, the government appreciates the EU’s support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, but if it “also has a concrete form, it would be welcome.”

“Naturally, in general, we appreciate the support of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity from the European Union, and if this support takes a specific form, that is also welcome. I will not go into individuals, I am talking about the European Union. When the European Union supports Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, we only welcome it. Where there is a specific European official to criticize, we criticize him. Where we can thank him, we say thank you. This is a case when we can express gratitude to European politicians. There are other cases where they show a very harsh and incorrect attitude towards the Georgian people, and we do not avoid criticism there either. Where they deserve gratitude, we will say thank you. Where they deserve criticism, we will express criticism,” Kobakhidze said.

He also assessed the topics to be discussed at the EU Foreign Ministerial, noting that “when they interfere, they want it to remain that way, when they are being interfered, they want preventive measures to be taken, which is a double standard.”

According to Kobakhidze, “no one should try to pursue their own interests in our political system in a way that contradicts the principle of sovereignty.”

"It's simple: when they interfere, they want it to stay that way, when they are being interfered, they want preventive measures to be taken. It's a double standard. Very simply, of course, it's true, everyone wants to stick their nose in someone else's business, when others stick their nose in theirs, they naturally don't like it. Therefore, no one should try to pursue their own interests in our political system in a way that contradicts the principle of sovereignty. You know that at one time the "Transparency Law" was protested, other legislative acts were protested. All these laws, as you know, served to protect the country's independence and sovereignty. Of course, we remain firm in this position,” Kobakhidze said.

For information, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas answered a question from one of the media outlets about whether her idea and proposals, when talking about negotiations with Russia, concerned the withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied territories, including Georgia. In response, Kallas stated that “it is true that Russia has occupied many territories and its troops are deployed in different parts, when it comes to Georgia, Moldova. It is clear that in order to establish a long-term peace, they will withdraw their forces from all the occupied territories where they are currently located.”