Tbilisi mayor stresses “no political message” behind New Year’s Eve message on peace

Tbilisi mayor Kakha Kaladze on Wednesday said there was “no political message” in city authorities’ selection of the “City of Peace” message to mark the New Year's Eve in the capital.

Kaladze’s comment came following claims by a part of the domestic opposition that the slogan was a “dig” at Ukraine, with the mayor calling the statements “the worst kind of speculation” and “provocation”.

He stressed peace was “very important for our country, for our city”, adding it was “the first thing that anyone longs for” on the backdrop of challenges in the region.

“Yesterday, certain media outlets and politicians tried to present our New Year slogan - ‘City of Peace’ - as a dig at Ukrainians, which is the worst speculation and provocation”, the mayor said.

Peace was, is and will be the main value the civilised world agrees on. There is no alternative to peace, and the fact that our city and, in general, all the cities of the world, should be cities of peace - for some people this apparently raises questions, on how dare we mention peace, to which all countries, including our friend Ukraine, aspire”, he continued.

Kaladze also said the “heroic” Ukrainian people were fighting for freedom and peace, and said it was “embarrassing” to “have to make explanations” on the selection of New Year’s Eve message on the backdrop of the developments. 

Should we not think of peace? Should we not send this cherished desire from Tbilisi to all the countries of the world?”, he asked in his comments.