Poland has always unequivocally supported Georgian society’s aspiration for independence, freedom, and peace, as well as the sovereign right to choose a development model, alliance, and integrative institution, said Poland’s Foreign Minister, Zbigniew Rau, at a joint briefing with his Georgian counterpart in Tbilisi.

Zbigniew Rau expressed gratitude to Ilia Darchiashvili for inviting and hosting him in Georgia. As he pointed out, Poland and Georgia have a long friendship history.

“Georgia and Georgian society have traditionally enjoyed enormous sympathy in Poland, which formed even during our countries’ war for independence, as well as our joint resistance against Russian imperialism, whose victim is Ukraine today, and Georgia in 2008. Poland has always unequivocally supported the aspiration of Georgian society to have independence, freedom, and peace, as well as the sovereign right to choose a development model, alliance, and integration institution,” he stated.

“We deeply believe that the peace and security of Europe will be fully realized when it is possible to harmonize the development model and security on our continent, when Europe, following the great dream of our compatriot Pope John Paul II, as mentioned in a speech to the EU Parliament, will be able to breathe with two lungs, with two traditions, Western and Eastern Europe. We believe that harmonization, European security indivisibility, and provision of equal development conditions across Europe should lead to the practical implementation of the open door policy”, Zbigniew Rau continued.

Polish FM says that Poland consistently supports and will continue to support Georgian society’s aspirations toward European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

“President Lech Kaczynski strongly advocated granting a MAP to Georgia at the Bucharest NATO summit in 2008. When Russia attacked Georgia, he led the regional states and the international community to stop aggression. To stop Russian imperialism, and for all Europeans to have an equal chance of development, the European Union, on Poland’s initiative, launched the Eastern Partnership policy, which included Georgia. Considering all these reasons, Poland consistently supports and will continue to support Georgian society’s aspirations towards European and transatlantic integration”, said Rau.