Georgian PM reaffirms support for Ukraine, ending war “in shortest time possible”
Georgian PM Irakli Garibashvili said his Government had acted in a “reasonable manner” to respond to the complications sparked by the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Photo: Government press office
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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday reaffirmed his Government's support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in its ongoing war with Russia, as well as for seeing an end to the war “in the shortest time possible”.
In his annual report of the Government’s work, the PM stressed he was “very much worried” by the conflict, calling it an “unprecedented challenge and crisis on the European continent”.
This war has had a great impact both on the European continent and our region, our country, on global politics as a whole, and it can be said that the whole world is facing the most serious crisis since World War II”, Garibashvili said and noted the challenge needed to be managed “very wisely”.
The official also claimed his Government had acted in a “reasonable manner” to respond to the complications sparked by the conflict.
We have been implementing the correct policy from the very first days [of the war]. I have said it many times, and it is the common spirit of the current Georgian Government, that our key task should be to protect the national interests of our country. With this motivation and vision, the Government is sticking to a policy that is in the interests of the Georgian people”, he said.
Garibashvili also pointed out Georgia was still struggling with the economic and other challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic when the conflict erupted in late February, adding his Government had still managed to ensure a 10 percent economic growth for two years in a row, a development he said would benefit the country's population.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday said his Government was focusing on defeating poverty and reducing unemployment in the country “in the shortest possible time”.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili all Monday said while his Government respected sovereignty of all countries its work was motivated by national interest in the first place, in comments on critical claims by some Ukrainian officials on an alleged lack of support from Georgia following Russia's invasion of the former.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday highlighted the move of the country’s Ambassador to Ukraine and his staff to keep their work in Kyiv following the Russian invasion of the country in February while diplomats of other countries were leaving the under-fire city, in comments to the annual Ambassadors Conference.
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.
Georgian Justice Minister Rati Bregadze on Tuesday praised Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s “concrete and unprecedented” initiative to invest $10 billion in the development of the country’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions in the first three years after peaceful reintegration of the territories. He said people living in the occupied regions would consider this proposal “seriously” and realise that “strength lies in unity and development in peace”.
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.
Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Friday said there was “no threat” of illegal activity or violations of sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine from Georgian-based businesses that involved Russian capital.
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.
Tamar Taliashvili, Georgia's Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe, on Wednesday said the Georgian Government “strongly condemned” Russia’s intention to hold illegal municipal elections in Ukraine’s occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions this fall.