00:00Georgia reacted angrily to the suspension of a mutual visa-free travel agreement by
00:06the European Union. This may lead to Georgian diplomats and officials having to apply for
00:12visas when traveling to an EU member state.
00:16Speaking to Euronews after the suspension's announcement, Georgian Foreign Minister Mako
00:21Bocharushvili called the decision politically wrong.
00:24Legally, it is absolutely groundless and nonsense. There is no proof or explanation
00:29how Georgian diplomats are creating threats or threatening public order in European Union
00:37or EU member states. And I do think that it is absolutely against European values or something
00:44that we refer to very often. And that is very unfortunate.
00:49The decision by the European Council came after mass protests in the country following
00:53elections critics claim were rigged. Controversial laws were also passed last year by the Georgian
00:59parliaments that undermine basic democratic rights, according to Brussels.
01:05Bocharushvili rejected this notion, stressing Georgia's willingness to pursue its path to
01:10EU membership.
01:13When we applied for EU membership, for a long time, Georgia has been a very dedicated partner
01:18for European Union. And that is not just empty words. Georgia is there with its intention
01:24to be part of the European Union and we are very serious about that.
01:28Following a decision of the Georgian government in November of 2024, the opening of negotiations
01:34with the European Union about membership is suspended until 2028.
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