Georgian parliament speaker hails Germany’s role in country’s European integration
Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday addressed the event marking the 30th anniversary since the establishment of the diplomatic ties between Georgia and Germany in Berlin. Photo: parliament press office
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Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday praised Germany’s role in and support for his country’s European integration agenda, at an event in Berlin marking the 30th anniversary since the establishment of the diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Citing the words of German chancellor Olaf Scholz in October that Europe should “expand from Lisbon to Tbilisi”, the official said the vision had reiterated the German government’s support for Georgia’s “full membership” in the European family.
This is an important message for us, although important decisions are still ahead and we really hope for Germany[‘s support] in this process”, Papuashvili said in reference to the European Union’s upcoming decision on granting Georgia the membership candidate status.
The Georgian parliament speaker said his country "really hope for Germany's support" in the process of obtaining the European Union membership candidate status. Photo: parliament press office.
Pointing to his personal links with Germany and “many interesting years” spent in the country, Papuashvili said German governments and institutions had stood by Georgia over the years “selflessly as a friend”, and supported its Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
The contribution of the German people [to Georgia’s] field of education is also great, both in introducing modern concepts into the Georgian education system and providing opportunities for Georgian youth to receive education in Germany”, he said, noting Georgian delegation members - from both the majority and opposition - had received education in Germany.
German-based Georgian art and culture personalities at the event. Photo: parliament press office.
Papuashvili also said he was “proud” of the German-based Georgian art and culture personalities featured in the event for the anniversary celebration, from the novelist and playwright Nino Haratischwili to violinist Lisa Batiashvili and pianist Dudana Mazmanishvili. “Today they are part of both Georgian and German culture", he said.
The Georgian delegation is scheduled to hold high-level meetings with German officials while in Berlin.
Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday said Georgia had satisfied the technical preconditions for the European Union candidate status “long time ago” and in terms of technical readiness, it has been a leader of the associated trio countries of Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova.
Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday said the domestic “radical” opposition was campaigning against the country receiving the European Union membership candidate status.
German chancellor Olaf Scholz’s statement that Europe should expand from Lisbon to Tbilisi is “particularly pleasant and important” to Georgia, as Germany has a special role in making relevant decisions in the direction of European integration, Irakli Kobakhidze, the chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party told reporters on Saturday.
As Russia seeks to redraw the boundaries between freedom and autocracy, “we are the people of Europe”, our voice must resound throughout Europe, from the Mediterranean to the North Sea, from Lisbon to Tbilisi and beyond, the German chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday at the Party of European Socialists congress in Berlin, in which the Georgian delegation is participating.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said Georgia’s capital Tbilisi would be a “city of peace” and added the country was wishing the same for Ukraine amid the Russian invasion of the latter.
The “friendly and productive” ties between Georgia and Germany were discussed on Wednesday in a meeting between the Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili and Bärbel Bas, president of the German Bundestag.
Nikoloz Samkharadze, the chair of the Georgian parliament's foreign affairs committee, on Thursday noted German support for granting the European Union membership candidate status to Georgia, in remarks over his visit to meet colleagues in the Bundestag.
Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili and his parliamentary delegation on Friday discussed the "difficult" security situation in the South Caucasus region with members of the South Caucasus parliamentary group of the German Bundestag.
Anri Okhanashvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee, on Friday said Germany was supporting the development of democracy in Georgia and the country’s integration into the European Union.
Khatuna Samnidze, an opposition MP and the Chair of the Republican Party, on Friday said Germany “stood by” Georgia and supported it in receiving the European Union membership candidate status.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday met with Ladislav Hamran, the President of the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation, and reviewed the cooperation between the country and the European body, the Parliament press office said.