Parliament Vice Speaker: Georgia “won’t start talking about neutrality” in wake of war in Ukraine
The MP also said regional and international security had become “an issue to be addressed with partners” in the backdrop of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
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Georgia will not start talking about military neutrality in the wake of the war in Ukraine, as “a lot of energy and human life has been invested” in strengthening the country’s NATO membership path, Gia Volski, the ruling party MP and Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, said on Tuesday.
We have said many times that many lives have been sacrificed [by Georgia’s peacekeeping forces] for international security along with NATO. Georgia is the largest contributor [to international missions] among non-NATO countries. Talking about the Kremlin's request [of neutrality of countries like Georgia] on this topic will not be relevant,” Volksi said in comments.
The MP also said regional and international security had become “an issue to be addressed with partners” in the backdrop of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“The issue of neutrality is quite difficult. We see how the process is developing in relation to Ukraine, what the position of NATO is, [as well as that of] the countries that have to resolve this issue, and [...] the position of Ukraine itself,” the Parliament Vice Speaker said.
Volski said the Georgian Government had “high hopes” the country’s path to NATO membership would be safe, with international partners being able to provide security for Georgia.
The Georgian Government will not take back its demand of withdrawal of Russian occupation troops from the country’s occupied territories, Archil Talakvadze, the Vice Speaker of the Parliament, said on Tuesday.
Georgia's foreign policy course is “firmly defined”, Archil Talakvadze, the Vice Speaker of the Parliament, said on Tuesday in response to a question about potential military neutrality of the country.
The Moldovan Government remains “in touch” with “our friends and colleagues” in Georgia and Ukraine as the three states proceed on their recent bids to join the European Union, Nicu Popescu, Moldova's Foreign Minister, said before a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday.
A “vast majority” of Georgian citizens share views with the Government on steps taken to ensure national interests on the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Monday in comments to the survey by Georgian Opinion Research Business International (GORBI).
Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, said Russia’s success in Ukraine would mean the “extinction of any hope of freedom” in Georgia and Moldova.
The “radical opposition” in Georgia is “probing” the issue of neutrality of Georgia, presumably with “direct reference” from Russia, Giorgi Khelashvili, the First Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, said at a bureau meeting of the Parliament on Tuesday.
Statements related to possibilities of Georgia adopting military neutrality are “nothing but grist to the mill of the enemy”, Georgian Minister of Culture Thea Tsulukiani said on Tuesday in response to comments around the subject.
Georgians stand with the Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom, peace and prosperity against the Russian aggression, Otar Grigolia, the Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party faction in Tbilisi City Council, told the 42nd Plenary Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe on Wednesday.
It is “awkward” to talk about Georgia adopting military neutrality while both the country and the “entire world” are facing “serious challenges”, Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party, said on Wednesday in response to comments around the subject.
Global security challenges and the security situation in the Black Sea region in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine were discussed on Wednesday during a meeting between Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze and NATO Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence and Security David Cattler.
Restoring Georgia’s territorial integrity by force is not planned by the Government and is “not in our interests”, Gia Volski, the ruling party MP and Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, said on Friday.