Parliament Speaker: Georgia will “stand on bright side of freedom”, continue to help Ukraine
The official also touched on the support provided by Georgia to Ukraine through political and diplomatic efforts and humanitarian aid amid the ongoing Russian invasion. Photo: Parliament of Georgia.
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Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday noted the “difficulty” of the past year on the international scene and noted developments throughout 2022 had compelled the country’s Government to ensure efforts in territorial integrity, expansion of partnerships and promotion of peace, security and prosperity in the neighbourhood.
Speaking at an annual end-of-year conference bringing together heads of Georgian embassies and employees of the foreign service, Papuashvili reviewed challenges throughout the world and the region, security environment and the country’s foreign policy priorities.
The year 2022 was of historic importance in Georgia-European Union relations. The European perspective, recognised by the European Union, has firmly sealed [Georgia’s] freedom and independence, won with the blood of our ancestors and past generations”, Papuashvili said.
The head of the legislative body stressed Georgian authorities were implementing recommendations of the EU for granting the country the membership candidate status “with responsibility”.
“Thirty percent of the laws adopted by the [Georgian] Parliament in 2022 served to fulfil the recommendations of the European Union”, he pointed out to the diplomats.
Several issues remain - including the draft bills sent to the [Council of Europe’s] Venice Commission and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights for consideration - which we will complete in the spring session. We hope that the European Union will appreciate this effort”, Papuashvili continued.
The official also touched on the support provided by Georgia to Ukraine through political and diplomatic efforts and humanitarian aid amid the ongoing Russian invasion.
Georgia has provided substantial political, diplomatic and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. Despite the often undeserved criticism, Georgia will stand on the bright side of freedom in the future and will continue to help Ukrainians fleeing war and destruction in these difficult times”, Papuashvili pointed out.
“Along with the ongoing large-scale war in Ukraine, there was [also] no peace in our region [either]. We would like to make our contribution to peace and stability - which is a prerequisite for the development of our region - through joint parliamentary efforts with Azerbaijan and Armenia”, he concluded.
Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili also addressed the two-day Conference where participants will summarise the foreign policy activities and achievements in 2022, and discuss the Government’s 2023 action plan.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday stressed the importance of the recently signed Black Sea submarine cable international project and said the endeavour was a “Georgian initiative", in remarks to the Ambassadors Conference in Tbilisi.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday said the past year had been marked by the “very important, positive” event of the “success” of the country’s European integration, in comments at the Ambassadors Conference, an annual event bringing together heads of Georgian diplomatic missions and units of the foreign office.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Monday highlighted the role of the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili in "dealing with external threats in accordance with the interests of the country" throughout the past year, in comments summing up the foreign policy efforts of the Government in 2022.
Vakhtang Makharoblishvili, Georgia's Representative to the European Union, on Monday said the bloc “positively assessed” the ongoing implementation of the conditions set by the European Council for granting the country the membership candidate status.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Monday said the European Union and European friends had “directly stated” that Georgia “belonged to the European family” and the country would “definitely” become a member of the bloc, in comments summing up the foreign policy efforts of the Government in 2022.
Georgian Foreign Ministry responded on Monday to the refusal of the Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili to attend the Ambassadors Conference 2022 in Tbilisi and the statement of the Presidential Administration about the “gross violation of the generally recognised and established rules of state and diplomatic protocol” during the event organised by the foreign office earlier today.
Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday highlighted the links between Ukrainians and Georgians in understanding the “cost of peace”, in his end-of-year message on the work of his office.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday said the Georgian Government had managed to provide “full solidarity” to Ukraine in its defence from the ongoing Russian invasion while ensuring security of its own citizens.
Givi Mikanadze, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday called a comment by Andriy Kasyanov, a representative of the Ukrainian Embassy to Georgia, on Ukraine’s request of a missile system delivery from Georgia “another attempt to drag Georgia into the war” in the country.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Sunday “strongly” condemned the “atrocious attack” on a residential building in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro.