Government: No Plans for Kosovo Recognition

“The Georgian government’s position is clear for everyone: the Georgian government does not intend to recognize the Kosovo’s independence,” Avtandil Pavlenishvili, the government’s spokesman said on April 5.

The statement followed the opposition Republican Party’s repeated demand earlier on the same day the government to clarify its position over Kosovo after PM Lado Gurgenidze told the Estonian newspaper, Postimees: “in due course we of course will recognize Kosovo.” The government officials have been strongly denying those remarks as “misinterpretation” by the newspaper. In a response to those allegations the Postimees released an audio record of a portion of the interview with the Georgian PM in which he speaks about the issue.

“We are demanding to have an answer on what the Georgian government is planning [in respect of Kosovo],” Tina Khidasheli of the Republican Party said at a news conference. “If the Prime Minister does not express the opinion of the Georgian government, then making of this kind of irresponsible statement can become a reason for a resignation, like it happens in normal and civilized states.”

The government’s spokesman, however, downplayed the Republican Party’s drive to push the matter as an attempt to “artificially” create a problem. “To a journalist’s question the Georgian PM answers that the Kosovo’s independence was recognized by the friends of Georgia,” he said.