“It is occupation. 20% of Georgia’s territory is
occupied. It is a great injustice. Abkhazia and South Ossetia are
integral parts of Georgia,” German Chancellor, who paid a two-day visit
to Georgia on August 23-24, said at the meeting with students of Ivane
Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU).
“Using the term “occupation” is very important for me, as a Georgian
citizen, because it is the only correct assessment for the current
situation in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region. The German Chancellor
assessed Russia’s actions as occupation and I am very satisfied. I
think, it is very important when the leader of a great and powerful
country, like Germany, gives an exact assessment to everything what is
happening in Georgia,” PhD student of TSU, Konstantine Shubitidze said.
Among other issues, TSU students asked Merkel questions about visa
liberalisation, DCFTA with the European Union, EU’s future, promoting
science and vocational education, quality of democracy in Georgia and
the Caucasus region.
On Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration, the German Chancellor noted
that Georgia is on the right track and it has huge perspectives, along
with Ukraine, to join the European Union. “I state openly that I support
Georgia’s European aspirations. It is our firm goal to bring you closer
to Europe, but I cannot give prompt, hasty promises. A candidate
country has to fulfill a number of benchmarks. In turn, the EU should be
able to receive new members,” Angela Merkel said, adding that the
European Union also needs reforms.
She also focused on Germany’s and generally Europe’s dependence on
Russian gas and touched upon the necessity of construction of the Nord
Stream 2 pipeline. “Putin is interested in selling gas to Europe. For
this to happen, he has to meet minimum political standards. We will not
fulfill his desires; we will simply do what is in common European
interests,” she noted.
“The meeting was extremely frank. It is good that meetings are held in
an academic space, because politicians feel more comfortable here.
However, very sharp questions were asked and sharp messages were voiced,
which we have not heard from the world leaders for a long time. It is
important that it happened at TSU – the university, which is based on
liberal traditions and still continues this tradition. Student questions
and the Chancellor’s answers made it clear that the European Community
is our future. The German Chancellor said after the meeting – it is felt
that there is a strong momentum of Europeism in Georgia and this can
only be welcomed,” Rector Giorgi Sharvashidze said.
By the end of the meeting, Rector Sharvashidze awarded the TSU
Anniversary Medal to Angela Merkel for her special contribution to the
relations between Georgia and Germany.
