Ambassador: The UK has decided to freeze the annual high-level ‘Wardrop Dialogue’ between ministers

For the first time in 10 years, we on the British side have decided to freeze the annual high-level ‘Wardrop Dialogue’ between ministers. This is the first time since the dialogue format was established. We also canceled the planned high-level talks between the defense staff and suspended the new cyber security program, U.K. Ambassador Gareth Ward said in an interview with InterpressNews.

The ambassador expressed hope that after the elections the Georgian government will return to the pro-Western course and trust between London and Tbilisi will be restored.

“I had expected that we would work together to strengthen Georgia’s resilience and our common prosperity, but over the past year the Georgian government has chosen a different course, and during my first months in Tbilisi I had to make clear our concerns about the decline of democracy and anti-Western rhetoric. I hope that the Georgian government will change its approach, which will allow me to regain optimism,” the British diplomat said.

Ward said that London was concerned when the parliament passed a law restricting the activities of civil society.

“We were disappointed when the leaders of Georgian Dream began to promote conspiracy theories and make assumptions that Western partners are undermining Georgia,” the diplomat said.