• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Foreign Minister Tsahkna in Georgia: Georgia's government has a choice between the European Union and Russia

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

15.05.2024

Today 15 May, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna was on a visit to Tbilisi with his Latvian, Lithuanian and Icelandic counterparts. The focus of the visit was on the foreign influence law adopted yesterday.

"The foreign influence law adopted by the Georgian parliament yesterday takes the chance of joining the European Union away from Georgia," Tsahkna said. "My colleagues and I share the position that the best guarantee for a democratic Georgia is European Union membership and yesterday's political decision to adopt the bill takes them further away from the European Union."

Discussions also covered Georgia's European integration and the consequences of the law in question. "EU integration is a process based on specific steps: reforms bring certain privileges, such as visa freedom, free trade and eventually the chance to become a member of the EU. If you renege on principles, you will lose the privileges. If human rights violations and repressions occur, the European Union can also impose sanctions."

"For decades, we have supported Georgia and their reforms - ranging from education to digital transformation -, usually with the help of local NGOs. It is extremely sad to see a U-turn on the democratic path and the hostile rhetoric of the government. The massive crowds that have taken to the streets for more than a month now clearly demonstrate that the people of Georgia do not agree with the direction taken by the government," Tsahkna said. "Current events are not taking Georgia towards the future the people of Georgia have chosen."