Tbilisi Mayor says Ukrainians, Georgians know “cost of peace” in end-of-year message
Kaladze pointed out that Georgian citizens “know very well what it means when there is a war in your country”, in reference to conflicts on the territory of the country since its regaining of independence in the 1990s. Photo: InterPressNews
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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.
In comments while presenting the annual summary of the work done by Tbilisi City Hall, Kaladze hit back at critical comments from a part of the domestic opposition over the office’s choice of the “City of Peace” message for marking the holiday season in the capital.
His response came as some in the domestic opposition had claimed the slogan was a “dig” at Ukraine amid the latter’s ongoing defence from the Russian invasion.
What is the price of peace? Today our friendly Ukrainian people know this best, and that is why, in this new year, I wish them peace. And together with peace, I wish victory to every person fighting for freedom. I wish peace to our country, our people and our city”, Kaladze said.
The Mayor also stressed the significance of peace as the prerequisite for making development plans and projects, and added the “speculation” by the opposition over the holiday slogan for Tbilisi had been “strange” and “categorically unacceptable”.
Kaladze pointed out that Georgian citizens “know very well what it means when there is a war in your country”, in reference to conflicts on the territory of the country since its regaining of independence in the 1990s.
Considering all this, it is not clear why the word ‘peace’ stung our opponents so bitterly, and why they fought and are fighting against this slogan. However, if we take into account the direction, quality and narrow partisan interests of the opponents' political bias, everything becomes clear and obvious”, he concluded.
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”.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The European Union should decide on Georgia’s membership candidate status “based on the reforms” implemented in the country and not as a “reward” for the country’s authorities “releasing a criminal”, Kakha Kaladze, the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said on Tuesday in reference to the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili.
Kakha Kaladze, the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday said surveys conducted by the United States-based National Democratic Institute and International Republican Institute on the Georgian political scene were “unreliable”, in comments on latest polls by the organisations putting support for the Government at 17-19 percent.