Latest news with #Kobakhidze
Euronews
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
First deputy PM: Georgia's EU accession 'moves in a very active way'
Georgia's government remains committed to European Union accession and believes the 'process goes in a very active way,' First Deputy Prime Minister Levan Davitashvili said. Speaking to Euronews on the sidelines of the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha on Wednesday, Davitashvili, who also serves as minister of economy and sustainable development, said there had been no shift in official government policy and Tbilisi had already fulfilled 60% of the accession requirements. "We have clearly declared that our target is full-fledged membership by 2030. We understand it's a long process, but we are fully focused to implement this significant reform, and we are still loyal to this reform, and this process goes in a very active way," he said. Davitashvili's comments echo those of Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who told Euronews in February that his government still considers membership by 2030 achievable. Kobakhidze said Georgia faced "some significant challenges with the European bureaucracy" but emphasised that he was still "very optimistic" that his country would ultimately join the bloc. "It's because of the European bureaucracy and the policies towards Georgia," he said. "So, if that policy changes, everything will be in a better shape." In November, Kobakhidze announced that Georgia would pause discussions on its bid to join the EU until 2028 due to what the prime minister described then as "blackmail and manipulation" from some of the bloc's politicians. That decision sparked widespread protests across the country from thousands of Georgians who see the future of the country integrated into Europe. Kobakhidze was reappointed as prime minister in November by the ruling Georgian Dream party, whose disputed victory in October's parliamentary election also sparked mass demonstrations and led to an opposition boycott of parliament. Protesters accuse Georgian Dream of leaning towards Moscow. Opposition forces — including Georgia's former president Salome Zourabichvili —condemned the results as a "total falsification" of the vote. The European Parliament also adopted a resolution condemning the vote and calling for new elections to be held under international supervision. The ruling party, which has been in power since 2012, denied any wrongdoing. But recently, relations between Georgia and the EU seem to have thawed, particularly after Kobakhidze's appearance at the European Political Community summit in Albania last week. A short but warm encounter between the Georgian premier and French President Emmanuel Macron during the summit signalled that Georgia and the EU are turning the page on their past differences. Kobakhidze underlined this moment by telling journalists that "there was a period of limited communication (between Georgia and the EU) and it seems our European partners were eager to restore ties with Georgia." The Georgian prime minister explained the thaw by his country's "vital role for Europe" adding that "everyone understands the need to engage with Georgia and its leadership, and this is likely why many initiatives have come from European leaders." "Over the years, we have made significant contributions to strengthening peace and stability in the region, and we remain committed to acting in this spirit moving forward," Kobakhidze told Georgian journalists in Albania. "We are connecting two neighbouring countries—Azerbaijan and Armenia—with Europe. Moreover, Georgia is undertaking several important projects with its neighbours that significantly improve connectivity," Kobakhidze said. "I believe this is of utmost importance not only for Georgia but also for Europe and the European Union, as it helps forge stronger links between the EU and our region," the Georgian prime minister concluded. Hundreds of sea mines have been threatening traffic in the Black Sea since the early days of the war in Ukraine. The waters of NATO member states like Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey are unsafe and must be permanently monitored by NATO. The risk of stray mines represents considerable economic losses for the countries bordering the western and eastern shores of the Black Sea and can lead to higher insurance policies, more complicated routes and damage to tourism. Demining is therefore a crucial activity for the security and the economies of NATO's and the EU's eastern flank. The use of mines is part of the Russian attempt to approach Odessa and the Ukrainian attempt to defend the city from any landing craft. So both sides make use of such mines for offensive and defensive reasons. The war in Ukraine marked a turning point in the militarisation of drones and unmanned vehicles in the skies, on land and in the seas. In the Black Sea, for example, which is a so-called semi-enclosed-sea, drones have played a lethal role by forcing Russian naval ships to leave Sevastopol and find shelter in the port of Novorossiysk, in the eastern Black Sea, far away from the range of the Ukrainian sea drones and naval missiles. Drones have also proved to be of great use to navies of countries not directly involved in the fighting. For example, the Romanian navy has for some time now started regular mine clearance operations with submarine drones imported from the UK. A TV crew from Euronews Romania boarded a minesweeper equipped with the submarine drone, Sea Fox, to cover the demining operations. The Sea Fox underwater drones on the minehunter "Ion Ghiculescu", have already been successfully tested in the deep. The unmanned remote-controlled submarine vehicle can destroy sea mines remotely without endangering crews. Denis Giubernea Commander of the Minehunter, explains how the Sea Fox drone works. "It's remote-controlled. It has a cable, a 1,500-meter fibre optic, and it's guided through the water. So, it's permanently tethered to the ship. After the object is identified as a mine this drone returns home and after that action, we use another neutralizing drone that we send in the vicinity of the object that we have already identified as a mine. And on contact this drone, which already has explosives on board, self-destructs," he said. 150 sea mines have been discovered floating adrift in the Black Sea since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, six of them in Romanian territorial waters. And they represent a constant danger. "Ukraine has carried out defensive mines and the Russian Federation has carried out offensive mines. We cannot know their exact number but there may be mines that may drift and therefore the risk is getting higher and higher," says Denis Giubernea. According to military experts, the role of drones in marine warfare is of great tactical relevance. The unmanned maritime vehicles have proved essential in the mines hunting. The Sea Fox type still has to be controlled using an optical tether, which requires the minehunter vessel to be relatively close to the theatre of operations. Sidharth Kaushal, Senior Research Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) told Euronews, "If a system is fully autonomous, the vessel controlling it can operate from further back, which allows for it to be safe against threats live, cruise missiles or, indeed, uncrewed surface vessels, which can be used to target mine countermeasures vessels." According to Kaushal, identifying the classification of a mine is a time-consuming task that involves a combination of different levels of detection and human analysis. Moreover, the use of artificial intelligence in demining has fewer ethical implications than other areas of military operations where final human judgement is required. "Mine hunting is an uncontroversial area to deploy fully automated systems, unlike situations which involve killing. The disposal of mines is a less politically controversial area" he added.
Euronews
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Georgia's PM meets European leaders in Tirana, signalling EU thaw
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze's participation in the 6th Summit of the European Political Community (EPC) in Tirana on Friday marked a thaw in the strained relations between Tbilisi and the European Union, after both parties hit pause on the South Caucasus country's EU accession talks. A short, but warm encounter between the Georgian premier and French President Emmanuel Macron during the summit signalled that Georgia and the EU are turning the page on their past differences. Kobakhidze underlined this moment by telling journalists that 'there was a period of limited communication (between Georgia and the EU) and it seems our European partners were eager to restore ties with Georgia.' The Georgian prime minister explained the thaw by his country's 'vital role for Europe' adding that 'everyone understands the need to engage with Georgia and its leadership, and this is likely why many initiatives have come from European leaders.' 'Everyone should recognise Georgia's strategic importance for Europe, especially for the eurozone. Our role in the region is significant, and that's why the need for dialogue with Georgian leaders is increasingly acknowledged,' he said. The EU gave Georgia candidate status in December 2023 but halted its membership application process indefinitely and cut financial support last June after the passage of a "foreign influence" law that the bloc considered to be Russian-inspired and authoritarian, on the backdrop of massive anti-government protests in the capital Tbilisi. Then after winning the general elections last October, Kobakhidze announced that Georgia would pause discussions on its bid to join the EU until 2028 due to what the prime minister described then as "blackmail and manipulation" from some of the bloc's politicians. In an interview with Euronews in November, Kobakhidze said the ball was in Brussels' court, emphasising that he was still "very optimistic" that his country would obtain EU membership by 2030, describing it as key strategic objective for Georgia. Kobakhidze was reappointed in November as prime minister by the ruling Georgian Dream party, in power since 2012, but his election victory sparked massive demonstrations. Opposition forces — including Georgia's former president Salome Zourabichvili —condemned the election results as a "total falsification" of the vote. The European Parliament in November adopted a resolution condemning the vote and calling for new elections to be held under international supervision. And then on Friday, Kobakhidze announced that he chose the EPC as 'a significant event where discussions will focus on the main messages concerning our country's fundamental national interests.' The European Political Community summit in Tirana which brings together heads of state and government of almost 40 countries, both EU and non-members. 'I am ready to speak with everyone—let's see how it unfolds. This format allows us to engage with many leaders on issues related to our country's development, regional stability, and Georgia's European integration,' the Georgian prime minister signalled to participating leaders. And then as the summit was about to start, Macron approached Kobakhidze to have a brief but apparently warm exchange, amounting to a symbolic change of tone between Georgia and the EU. The summit video also showed Kobakhidze talking to European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The Georgian prime minister also held formal talks with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a long-time supporter of the Georgian government. Kobakhidze explained this political evolution as a result of Georgia's 'key position' in the South Caucasus region. 'Over the years, we have made significant contributions to strengthening peace and stability in the region, and we remain committed to acting in this spirit moving forward,' Kobakhidze told Georgian journalists in Albania. 'We are connecting two neighbouring countries—Azerbaijan and Armenia—with Europe. Moreover, Georgia is undertaking several important projects with its neighbours that significantly improve connectivity," Kobakhidze said. "I believe this is of utmost importance not only for Georgia but also for Europe and the European Union, as it helps forge stronger links between the EU and our region,' the Georgian prime minister concluded.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Georgian PM wishes Trump courage in "difficult struggle" for peace
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has criticised those who supposedly attacked Donald Trump with condemnation of his "peacekeeping efforts" regarding Ukraine. Source: Kobakhidze on Facebook on Saturday, 1 March, as reported by European Pravda Details: Kobakhidze said that yesterday "a clear line was drawn again between the party of war and the party of peace". This is how Kobakhidze commented on the meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his American counterpart Donald Trump at the White House on Friday, 28 February. "I am not so much referring to the dispute between Trump and Zelenskyy as to the subsequent reaction to this dispute. President Trump and his peacekeeping efforts are being condemned one by one by the people responsible for unleashing a bloodshed war and the cold-blooded murder of Ukraine and thousands of Ukrainians," the Georgian leader wrote. He said that the "party of a global war" immediately mobilised its speakers against President Trump. "Yesterday, the line was again crossed between the forces that want peace and are concerned about the fate of Ukrainians and those that want to kill every last Ukrainian. It also became clear that the party of global war and the Deep State will not give up the war so easily," Kobakhidze added. He wished Donald Trump "endurance and courage in this difficult struggle". Background: One of the leaders of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, Tino Chrupalla, said that peace in Ukraine should be achieved even without the participation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán thanked Trump after the argument. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Russia Today
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ex-Soviet state slams EU nation's ‘interference'
Georgia has accused Estonia of interfering in its internal affairs after the latter's foreign minister recently claimed the government in Tbilisi was illegitimate and called for new elections. On Wednesday, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said that the Georgian government has 'no democratic legitimacy,' called for new elections, and threatened to tighten sanctions against the former Soviet state. He went on to say that Georgia 'will not join the European Union on its present course.' Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili called out the Baltic nation for its attack. 'Too often, we encounter statements that can be viewed as direct interference in our internal affairs. These remarks aim to undermine Georgia's international image, and, unfortunately, this comes from our Baltic friends,' stated Botchorishvili, as quoted by public broadcaster First Channel. READ MORE: The EU's hidden agenda: Why this ex-Soviet state's sovereignty faces resistance Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze also dismissed Tsahkna's statement, claiming that the Baltic state was 'not sovereign' and acted on external orders, just as the Georgian opposition does. Georgia applied for EU membership in March 2022, shortly after the escalation of the Ukraine conflict. However, last November, Kobakhidze suspended membership negotiations, citing Brussels' 'blackmail' over Tbilisi's foreign agents' law and the results of the parliamentary elections. The Georgian parliament adopted a law modeled on the US Foreign Agents Registration Act in May that requires NGOs and media receiving funding from abroad to register as foreign agents. Protests broke out in response, with demonstrators accusing the government of aligning with Moscow, which also has similar legislation in place. More protests followed the October election, which was won by the ruling Georgian Dream party. Opposition groups rejected the results, alleging widespread fraud, with the country's pro-Western President, Salome Zourabichvili, alleging Russian interference. Kobakhidze accused the opposition of attempting to stage a Western-backed coup, comparing the unrest to Ukraine's 2014 Maidan coup. READ MORE: Georgian PM accuses Macron of lying Earlier this week, Botchorishvili accused the EU of preparing a 'Maidan' scenario for Georgia after the Council of Europe called for 'free and fair repeat elections' in the country. Russia, which has denied any involvement in Georgia's internal affairs, has also drawn a parallel between the events in Georgia and the 2014 coup in Ukraine.
Emirates 24/7
11-02-2025
- Business
- Emirates 24/7
Economic cooperation with UAE continuously prospering: Prime Minister of Georgia
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze affirmed that relations between his country and the United Arab Emirates are witnessing remarkable development, with economic cooperation between the two nations continuously prospering. Kobakhidze highlighted the investment MoU signed by Eagle Hills and the Government of Georgia, involving a $5.5 billion investment in developmental projects in the cities of Tbilisi and Batumi. He described it as a strategic move that marks a significant turning point in Georgia's development trajectory. Speaking to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit, which commenced today in Dubai, the Georgian Prime Minister emphasised that the strong ties between Georgia and the UAE are a key motivator for his participation in the summit. He also stressed that the WGS provides an excellent opportunity to discuss crucial global development issues, as it brings together elite experts and specialists with extensive global experience. The Georgian Premier noted that the summit covers various topics, including future development plans and global challenges, underscoring the importance of long-term planning for global development. Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
