Georgian Parliament Speaker: “All efforts, actions should be directed to prevent war in Ukraine”
A support rally in solidarity with Ukraine was held outside the Ukrainian Embassy in Tbilisi yesterday, with Georgian civil activists and politicians expressing their support for the nation and condemning Russia's military build-up near its border with Ukraine. Photo: ghn.ge.
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The Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili has expressed solidarity with Ukraine and its citizens, stating “all efforts, deeds and words should be directed to prevent a new war” in the country, on the backdrop of heightened tensions between NATO and Russia.
Papuashvili said it was in the interest of the Black Sea region to avoid a new war in Ukraine, adding the unity of the West was critically important to prevent the breakout of a conflict.
It is absolutely unacceptable for any country to question the sovereignty or territorial integrity of another country. A few days ago, I met with the Ambassador of Georgia to Ukraine and also expressed our [Georgia’s] support to him [to Ukraine]. It is in the interests of both Georgia and Ukraine, and the whole region, [to avoid] a new war in Ukraine,” Papuashvili said.
The parliament speaker also said Georgia was in close communication with its Western partners in the ongoing tensions, adding “of course, we will act in accordance with this communication”.
The Russia-US Strategic Stability Dialogue (SSD), a NATO-Russia council and the OSCE Permanent Council meetings took place a week ago where the ongoing military tension at Ukraine’s border was on top of the agenda.
The Russian Foreign Ministry put forward two proposals on ‘security guarantees’ between Russia, the US and NATO on December 17, which include restrictions on troop, ship, and aircraft deployments for both NATO and Russia, as well limits to the deployment of intermediate and short-range missiles. On December 10 Russia released a statement demanding NATO member states rescind the 2008 Bucharest Summit declaration supporting Georgia and Ukraine's goal of becoming members of the alliance.
Following the SSD, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said that the US “will not allow anyone to slam closed NATO's open door policy,” while Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said “Russia needs concrete guarantees that Ukraine and Georgia will never become NATO members.”
A support rally in solidarity with Ukraine was held outside the Ukrainian Embassy in Tbilisi yesterday, with Georgian civil activists and politicians expressing their support for the nation and condemning Russia's military build-up near its border with Ukraine.