Russia to encourage Euro-skeptic sentiments

By Tea Mariamidze

Monday, June 27

Deputy Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani believes the EU is not going to reduce sanctions against Russia.

Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili says that EU is the most important and powerful political and economic union in the world.

“After the decision of Great Britain to leave the EU, Russia will try to strengthen Euro-skeptic sentiment. However, the EU should confront this with its own consolidated position,” Deputy Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani said while commenting on the recent Brexit referendum, when a majority of voters voted for the UK to leave the European Union (EU).

Zalkaliani thinks that the EU is not going to reduce sanctions against Russia because they are linked to the fulfillment of the obligations that Russia has undertaken on behalf of the so-called Minsk agreement.

“The European Union is likely to take a decision in conformity with the position of everyone,” he added.

According to the Deputy FM, it is too early to say that the European Union is in overall decline, but he believes its survival is dependent on the unification and mutual support of all EU member states.

Moreover, Zalkaliani said the current developments in the European Union are very important for Georgia, because the EU is an important partner of the country.

"We have an association agreement with the European Union and we are on our way to the last stage of visa-liberalization. Therefore we should not slow down the course which we have taken towards EU integration,” said Zalkaliani.

Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili also commented on the UK referendum in a statement on June 24.

“This is a democratic decision which must be respected, although I join leaders from across the continent and express my personal regret at this development,” the statement reads.

However, the PM underlined that the vote will not change the fact that the European Union is the most important and powerful political and economic union in the world and its strength will continue to grow.

“I am confident that the EU will move forward by drawing on and reinforcing its strengths… at the same time, I believe that the UK will continue to be a valuable contributor to the European security and development," the PM’s statement reads.