“Yesterday, we saw the statement. It appears that the German government has at least reflected on the fact that, rather than acting as a bridge between our two countries, the current German ambassador has chosen to serve as an obstacle. This is, frankly, unfortunate,” said Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament.

When asked about the German Foreign Ministry’s statement, which announced that Ambassador Peter Fischer had been called for consultations, Papuashvili responded:

“We have observed attacks on the Georgian government and support for radical groups, which is deeply regrettable. I have reiterated before that the 30-year special partnership with Germany has reached a very low point under the current ambassador. We sincerely hope this signals a desire for a reset. Of course, we are prepared for relations with Germany to return to the level they deserve. The fact that the German ambassador was recalled is significant to us. I won’t go into extensive detail now; our positions are clear, including regarding the activities of the German ambassador. We have stated this publicly many times, and we maintain those positions. We have solid arguments for them. Not only us, but the entire society has seen what has transpired. Therefore, I prefer not to dwell on further statements; what matters is that this should be a signal for reconsideration. The ambassador must act as a bridge, not an obstacle.

In general, I believe all ambassadors should serve as positive examples, staying within the bounds of their diplomatic roles and caring for the country they represent. They should be a bridge between nations, not a wall. We sincerely hope that the German government will reflect on this and consider that the ambassador’s current activities are only causing difficulties in relations between our governments,” Papuashvili concluded.