“You will often hear various narratives about Georgia, but our message is: look at the figures - the economic growth indicators and the scale of the partnerships Georgia is developing,” Georgia’s Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Maka Botchorishvili said during a panel discussion at the Euronews Forum, held as part of the Arab Media Summit in the United Arab Emirates. The discussion was titled “Shaping the National Narrative in the Age of Open Media.”

According to Maka Botchorishvili, large-scale disinformation campaigns against Georgia have been underway over the past several years, while “the narratives being disseminated often differ significantly from the reality in the country.”

“You will often hear various narratives about Georgia, but our message is: look at the figures - the economic growth indicators and the scale of the partnerships Georgia is developing,” the Foreign Minister said.

Speaking about Georgia’s geopolitical importance, the minister placed particular emphasis on connectivity and the role of the Middle Corridor.

“The Middle Corridor is not merely a corridor or simply a physical route - it is a space where all of these elements come together,” Maka Botchorishvili said.

According to her, Georgia occupies an important place in the broader context of Europe’s security, prosperity and economic development, particularly given the importance of the South Caucasus and connectivity.

The Foreign Minister also spoke about the security challenges facing Georgia and noted that the presence of Russian military forces in Georgia’s regions represents the main threat to the country’s security.

At the same time, she said that the existing geopolitical context also creates opportunities for Georgia, including opportunities to preserve peace and stability, sustain economic development, and deepen partnership relations with countries around the world.

The Foreign Minister also discussed relations with the European Union.

“The European Union is an important partner for Georgia and will remain so. This is a particularly emotional issue for us - it is connected to our identity and our history, but at the same time, it is also our future,” the minister said.

According to her, European aspirations and European identity are deeply rooted in Georgia’s history and Georgian identity, which is why the pursuit of closer ties with Europe is a natural process for Georgians.

The Foreign Minister also focused on the issue of EU enlargement and noted that the South Caucasus is an important region for Europe’s security and prosperity.

“If we are talking about enlargement, and if we are seriously talking about Europe’s security, we must take into account that the South Caucasus is an important part of the map, one that matters both for Europe’s security and for its prosperity,” Maka Botchorishvili said.

In her assessment, further development of relations between Georgia and the European Union requires intensive dialogue, mutual respect and the sharing of experience.

“We have European aspirations, but we do not have the experience of being part of the European family. Europe wants to enlarge, but Europe also does not have experience of being present in the South Caucasus. Therefore, both sides need to learn and share experience. For this, intensive dialogue and joint work are necessary,” the Foreign Minister said.

Maka Botchorishvili also noted that Georgia is simultaneously developing partnerships with various regions of the world, which, according to her, serves to further strengthen the country’s important role.

The minister also spoke about Georgia’s economic indicators and international trade relations.

“Georgia has one of the best economic growth rates in the region and in Europe - approximately 8%, which is an impressive figure. This is precisely the best response to all the false narratives we hear about Georgia,” Maka Botchorishvili said.

The panel discussion also featured United Arab Emirates Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdullah bin Touq and Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev. The session was moderated by Pedro Vargas David, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Euronews.

The information was released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.