Speaker calls for respect of Georgian people's sovereignty
Speaker calls for respect of Georgian people's sovereignty

“We did not gain independence 33 years ago with our struggle and blood for post-Soviet countries to question our sovereignty. We call on all countries to respect the Georgian people’s sovereignty which is the key basis for international order,” said Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili.

The Speaker remarked on the joint statement of foreign ministers of the Scandinavian and Baltic countries on the situation in Georgia.

The Speaker said representatives of those authorities, who were “directly engaged in the pre-election campaign of Georgia” are among the joint statement’s authors hinting on foreign ministers of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania.

“Such type of statements create the perception that they need sovereignty only for themselves and their people, and they easily undermine the sovereignty of other peoples. My call to every country is to respect the Georgian people’s sovereignty which is the key basis for international order. If they violate the rules-based international order, they should not be surprised if others violate this order.

Everybody should follow the rules. Undermining sovereignty is unacceptable. We act according to our people’s interests, and commitment to Constitution. Therefore, who makes what statement does not matter,” he said.

May no one violate our sovereignty, in this case, I mean especially the post-Soviet countries and those political groups that still act with the Soviet mentality in relation to Georgia. This is the onset of all relationships,” he concluded.

Foreign Ministers of Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden, and Norway issued a joint statement addressing the situation in Georgia. The statement emphasizes the need to consider holding new elections in line with OSCE recommendations.