Kobakhidze on the EU: Even the Soviet Approach Was Much More Pragmatic

Irakli Kobakhidze, Prime Minister of Georgia and member of Georgian Dream, commented on the cancellation of the Georgia-European Union human rights dialogue, saying that even the Soviet approach was far more pragmatic and rational than that of the EU.

“Here it also became clear that they avoid discussion, avoid deliberation, and look for excuses to disrupt any type of dialogue. How can a dialogue on human rights be canceled because of some official – I think that was mentioned as the reason? They are terrified of dialogue, that’s their attitude. This is a Soviet approach. They act like a federal authority. Previously, a federal authority was called the Soviet Union government, and now the EU acts as a federal authority. This is not the right approach, this is the Soviet approach. Even the Soviet approach was far more pragmatic and rational. In this case, avoiding any discussion is much worse than the Soviet approach, and that’s what we are seeing,” – Kobakhidze said on Imedi TV.

He did not specify whether it was Interior Minister’s sanctioned deputy Alexander Darakhvelidze or another official whose presence prompted the EU to cancel the dialogue in Brussels scheduled for November 21.

“Every ministry has people with the most knowledge about a specific issue, and you could be told by a European bureaucrat that the most competent person should not come, someone else should come, because Estonia, Margus Tsahkna, or someone else sanctioned that specific official. Of course, we cannot follow such an insulting approach,” – Kobakhidze added.

The outlet Realpolitik reported on November 18, citing sources, that the annual human rights dialogue between the EU and Georgia, planned for November 21 in Brussels, was canceled. According to the source, one reason was Georgian Dream’s attempt to include sanctioned individuals in the delegation.

EU spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy, Anita Hipper, told Netgazeti that the meeting was postponed “due to obstructive circumstances on the Georgian side.”

“At this stage, the dialogue has been postponed due to obstructive circumstances on the Georgian side. We are ready to hold the meeting to present the EU’s position on human rights,” – Hipper said.

Tbilisi stated that after the full resumption of dialogue with the EU based on the Council of the EU conclusions of June 27, 2024, it will consider participating in various dialogue formats with the European Union.