“Europe is standing by Georgia’s side”: head of Saakashvili administration

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“I would like to point out the unanimously categorical attitude Europe has shown towards Russia,” the head of the Georgian presidential administration Giorgy Arveladze said on Rustavi-2 TV channel, while commenting on the EU External Relations Council’s statement on the Georgian-Russian crisis. “This is the first time the EU is unanimously categorical towards Russia. The EU is absolutely indignant at Russia’s policy with respect to Georgia, particularly, at the blockade of Georgia and the treatment of Georgians in Russia, and says it pointblank,” says Arveladze.

“There have been very few precedents of the EU unanimously urging a country to stop violating the rights of people because of their ethnicity. This is a very radical and tough statement and this is a very big support for Georgia. Until recently many people have claimed that Europe is softer to Russia and will not stand up for Georgia, but, now, all skeptics can see: Europe is exactly where it should be – standing by Georgia’s side and being unprecedentedly categorical towards Russia. This is a very big success of the Georgian diplomacy,” says Arveladze.

“We all should unite for protecting our national interests. The Government is ready to do it, our whole country is ready to do it. The President has urged all Georgians to come back home, our country is ready to receive its children who have once fled from problems but now can come back to absolutely different Georgia, where they can continue their life and achieve success. I would like to say once again: we are not alone, the whole world is by our side. It was the dream of our national heroes to see Georgia supported by the world. Georgia has never had such a big international support. The world’s leading powers, Europe, America have never been so radical and categorical in protecting Georgia’s interests and in their attitude towards Russia. We are going through a historic stage, and I would like to point out once again that this big international support helps us greatly in our diplomatic activities,” says Arveladze.