Tbilisi not planning to review strategic partnership with Kyiv

The ministry held the first working meeting with Georgian Ambassador to Ukraine Teimuraz Sharashenidze who was recalled from Kyiv for consultations after former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili was appointed chairman of the Executive Reform Committee under the President of Ukraine, according to the News-Georgia website.

"At today's meeting, we heard a report by the ambassador and discussed issues and prospects for bilateral relations between Georgia and Ukraine, taking into account the current situation. We would like to clarify once again that the recall of the ambassador to the capital for consultations is a step taken in diplomatic practice. The Georgian side made this decision in connection with the appointment by the Ukrainian authorities to a public position of a person convicted in Georgia, which, in the opinion of the Georgian side, does not correspond to the spirit of cooperation between the two countries," the Georgian Foreign Ministry said.

At the same time, the ministry emphasized that Tbilisi does not plan to review the strategic partnership between the two countries.

"Georgia continues to work with Ukraine on a number of strategic issues - the occupation of territories, the process of European and Euro-Atlantic integration, as usual. Of course, we will monitor the development of processes in Ukraine, what steps the Ukrainian government will take in terms of normalizing relations with Georgia, and in view of this a decision will be made on the date of the ambassador's return to Ukraine," the Georgian Foreign Ministry said.

According to the statement, the term of the Georgian ambassador's return to Kyiv depends on the steps taken by the government to normalize relations with Georgia.

Sharashenidze himself stated before the consultations that his recall had been chosen as a form of protest.

"I handed over a note of protest to the Ukrainian authorities. The recall of the ambassador for consultations was chosen as a form of protest. I arrived, and today we begin consultations. Ukraine accepted our protest as a strategic partner and was not surprised by such a decision," the ambassador said.

The Georgian government recalled Ambassador to Ukraine Teimuraz Sharashenidze for consultations in Tbilisi on May 8 after Saakashvili was appointed chairman of the executive committee of the National Reform Council.

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said on May 9 that Georgia did not intend to sever diplomatic relations with Ukraine due to Saakashvili's appointment to a high position in Ukraine.

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