Georgia does not implement sanctions, perhaps we are disappointed, but we understand the specific situation in which the country is. Such a statement made today David O’Sullivan, EU Sanctions Envoy, at a press conference in Tbilisi.

“We are perhaps disappointed that this is not the case for a country that aspires to be a member of the European Union. We would like a high degree of compliance in foreign policy as well. But we also understand the specific situation in which Georgia is economically, geographically and in terms of close contacts with Russia.

So, we understand that they are not going to implement our sanctions, but I have to say that what we have seen in the last 2 days has convinced us that the Georgian authorities are very serious about not allowing their country to be a platform for sanctions’ circumvention.

They have implemented important measures to control the export of the most sensitive 38 possible products from Georgia. The same applies to financial sanctions, where they are being vigilant and we sincerely admire the measures they have taken.

I want to make it clear that we are here in a period of partnership and cooperation, especially on the part of the EU. We have an important bilateral agenda between Georgia and the EU, and we hope you will be welcomed as a member of the EU someday, and we must not allow the issue of sanctions to become an irritant or an obstacle to the development of our close bilateral relations. I’m happy to say that what we’ve seen in the last 2 days proves that this is absolutely not the case. The visit to Tbilisi was fruitful, we are leaving the country with positive impressions”, - said David O’Sullivan.