Georgian FM on Ukrainian church independence: we welcome any step which strengthens Ukraine
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani says that Georgia welcomes decisions which will help Ukraine resolve its conflicts. Photo: Foreign Ministry press office.
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Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani told journalists today that Georgia is happy about each step which strengthens the statehood of Ukraine, its independence and sovereignty.
We are gladdened by and welcome any step that solidifies the statehood, independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. This is not only welcomed in [our] declarations but confirmed by [our] actions”.
As for sending an official congratulatory letter to Kiev, Foreign Minister Zalkaliani explained that this decision should be made within the Georgian Orthodox Church and it is unacceptable for the state to interfere in the Church’s affairs.
I would like to very clearly state that the Georgian Orthodox Church is reviewing this question. Considering the canonical processes, the attitude towards the [issue] should first be determined by the Orthodox Church of Georgia. Regarding the state, it is not interfering in the activity of the Church," said Zalkaliani.
He underlined that Ukraine is the strategic partner of Georgia and the two countries are connected by many important agreements.
I would like to state that our support for Ukraine is expressed not only in declarations but also in United Nations formats, where Georgia has initiated numerous resolutions jointly with Ukraine. Furthermore, Georgia is not only a co-initiator but also a co-sponsor of these resolutions," commented Zalkaliani.
Georgian Vice Prime Minister Maia Tskitishvili also stated yesterday that she welcomed the independence of the Ukrainian church from the Russian one, adding that the first official statements regarding the issue should be made by the Georgian Patriarchate.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Metropolitan Epifaniy, head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, attended a signing ceremony marking the new Ukrainian Orthodox church's independence on 5 January in Istanbul, Turkey.
The decision has been criticised by Russia.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili also said a couple of days ago that she was waiting for the statement of the Georgian Patriarchate regarding the independence of the Ukrainian church.
A meeting of the Georgian Holly Synod took place on 27 December, where the Ukrainian church issue was discussed. However, top Georgian clerics stated that they were waiting for the decision of the Ecumenical Patriarch regarding the topic.
Recently elected President Salome Zurabishvili has held her first meeting with the media, during which she spoke about her foreign policy priorities and answered journalists’ questions on the most controversial domestic or international issues.
Georgian Vice-Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development Maia Tskitishvili says that the Georgian government is waiting for the decision of the Georgian Patriarchate regarding the Ukrainian church's independence from Russia.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has called “alarming” to the attack on Ukrainian navy vessels by Russia on Sunday and called upon the international community to make timely measures to settle the conflict which causes threats “for the regional security.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia has condemned the so-called elections in Ukraine’s “integral Eastern regions”, the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, on 11 November.
The Georgian Orthodox Church sees signs of a ‘threat’ in an interview given by the Chairman of the Department of External Relations of the Russian Patriarchate Metropolitan Hilarion, says the statement of the Georgian Patriarchate released today.
Georgia reaffirms “strong and unequivocal support” for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders, and condemns “the illegal referendum” conducted in Crimea five years ago.
The Ukrainian government has imposed sanctions on the de facto officials of Georgia’s two occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, who visited the country’s rebel-controlled Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine in November 2018 to observe the so-called leadership elections.
Ukrainian comic actor Volodymyr Zelensky, who has defeated incumbent Petro Poroshenko in Ukraine’s presidential elections with 73 per cent of the total vote, received 50.38 per cent of votes in the polling station opened in Tbilisi at the Ukrainian embassy.
The Georgian Orthodox Church celebrates St. Nino’s Day today. St. Nino, the Enlightener of Georgia and Equal to the Prophets, is one of the most iconic Saints for Georgian people. In the 4th сentury Nino preached Christianity in Georgia and in the year 327 Christianity was declared the state religion.
The Georgian Orthodox Church has called "unacceptable" plans of the Patriarchate of Moscow to launch a Georgian parish in Paris under its wings, with a letter outlining the Georgian religious organisation's position on the subject released on Wednesday.