FM Zalkaliani: Germany is Georgia’s friend, supporter
Speaking of support of Georgia’s ‘partner and friendly states’ in its further development, FM Zalkaliani praised the special role of diplomatic corps in Georgia. Photo: Georgian Foreign Ministry press office
Tweet 
Share
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani said Germany is a friend and a strong supporter of Georgia, whose role in Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration is of the ‘utmost importance’.
Everyone should understand that in Georgia [foreign] ambassadors represent their governments and any attack against them insults their respective countries”, he said.
FM Zalkaliani referred to the recent ‘attack’ of opposition politicians against the German Ambassador Hubert Knirsch over the March 8 electoral deal. In particular, Knirsch told journalists that the co-founder of the opposition-minded TV channel Mtavari Arkhi Giorgi Rurua is not mentioned in the deal.
In response to the ambassador's statement, some opposition politicians, including the Labour Party leader Shalva Natelashvili, have called Knirsch ‘the lobbyist’ of the ruling party chairperson Bidzina Ivanishvili and the ‘protector of a corrupt regime’.
German Ambassador to Georgia Hubert Knirsch. Photo: Georgian Dream/Facebook page
Speaking of support of Georgia’s ‘partner and friendly states’ in its further development, FM Zalkaliani praised the special role of diplomatic corps in Georgia.
I am grateful for sincere respect they express to Georgia and the readiness to contribute to the country’s success on the international level”, Zalkaliani said.
He also expressed his hopes that the recent ‘irresponsible statements’ of opposition will not damage ‘friendly, dynamic and solid cooperation’ between Georgia and the west.
The ruling Georgian Dream party has released a statement earlier today, saying that Georgia’s ‘radical opposition’ chooses ‘anti-western’ statements and campaigns, while the choice of the Georgian people is 'to further consolidate Georgian democracy and to ensure the full realisation of Georgia's Western aspirations'.
The co-founder of the opposition-minded TV channel Mtavari Arkhi Giorgi Rurua is not mentioned in the 8 March agreement, says German Ambassador to Georgia Hubert Knirsch expressing surprise that this is a subject of discussion between the political parties.
United States Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan said the United States would like to see Georgia’s constitutional amendments ‘accepted, adopted by a full parliament’ so that Georgia can have ‘a truly successful achievement and fulfilment' of the March 8 election agreement.
With 136 votes in favour and five against, the Georgian parliament has passed an electoral bill establishing a more proportional electoral system in its first hearing today. The bill says that 120 seats in parliament will be distributed based on the votes received in proportional elections, while remaining 30 per the votes received in majoritarian elections.
The Delegation of the European Union to Georgia has issued a statement in agreement with the EU Heads of Mission in which it 'condemns the attacks of certain political actors and media outlets' against the Ambassador of Germany Hubert Knirsch.
German Ambassador to Georgia Hubert Knirsch responded to German media outlet Bild's article calling him 'remarkably pro-government,' saying that 'everyone is free' to form and express an opinion on his work.
Bild published the article Serious suspicions against the German ambassador yesterday, claiming that Knirsch seems to get along with the Georgian government but has a 'rather hostile' relationship with the Georgian opposition and civil society organisations.