“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.
