In the interview with Imedi TV, Foreign Minister of Georgia said that the Government was actively cooperating with the EU over the inclusion of the Kulevi Oil Refinery in the EU’s 21st sanctions package, with the aim of ensuring maximum protection of Georgia`s interests during the 6-month review period.

As she noted, Georgia has consistently acted as a responsible partner in implementing sanctions policy and that no case has been identified demonstrating the use of Georgian territory to circumvent sanctions.

"We are working intensively with the European Union. When we talk about the implementation of sanctions policy, Georgia is a bona fide partner in this regard. To date, not a single topic, issue or case has been found that would confirm that Georgia`s territory was used to circumvent sanctions. We have followed this policy since the day it was declared, and we will continue to do so. In this context, we are working with the relevant EU services. If necessary, all kinds of information will be provided to the EU side so that what we are talking about is documented, if such a need exists on the EU side.

It is somewhat strange to include a company on the sanctions list 6 months in advance, but such a decision was taken. The process of agreeing on this package was quite lengthy. The interests of a number of countries emerged so that the list of companies in various directions would not be the same as in the initial proposal.

It is difficult to protect your country`s interests when Georgia is not sitting at the negotiating table, but we continue working with the European Commission so that the 6-month period ends with maximum protection of our interests", - said Maka Botchorishvili.