“It is deeply regrettable that Brussels has declared Georgia an enemy and treats the Georgian people as such,” stated the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili.

As Papuashvili noted, after thirty years of cooperation, during which Georgia demonstrated every possible expression of partnership, Brussels has in effect declared the Georgian people its enemy in return.

“We are always braced for hostile steps to be taken against Georgia. The fact is that Georgia is being treated with hostility today. It is deeply regrettable that Brussels has declared Georgia an enemy and treats the Georgian people accordingly. This is after thirty years of cooperation, during which Georgia demonstrated the full range of partnership, including participation in military missions. The EU’s Central Africa mission was on the brink of collapse, as not a single EU member state was willing to participate; everyone preferred to remain comfortably at home. It was we who stepped in, saving that mission from failure. And how is this repaid? In effect, Brussels has branded the Georgian people as enemies and is now conspiring against us, devising plans to target us from afar, considering how to make our lives difficult and how to channel funds into their schemes.

When we see this, it inevitably destroys, once and for all, any remaining trust the Georgian people may have had. What the EU Ambassador said has put a full stop to the Georgian people’s trust in Brussels, because he stated plainly that his goal is for Georgia to pursue policies that will harm the Georgian people. And then they go to Guria, Adjara, Samegrelo and meet with people, as if to say the EU and Brussels did all this for you.

What is the worth of any of that when it turns out you are furious because Georgia exports wine to Russia and Russian tourists come to the country, and the country moves forward economically? The EU Ambassador said outright that he is aggrieved and resentful because, while the EU is suffering losses from the war, Georgia is not suffering likewise. These days have been symbolic, four years since the war began, and we have learnt a great deal. We recall how they tried to drag us into that war. We saw how they demanded sanctions. They want Georgia to enter into escalation with Russia, and the end of that road is war,” declared Papuashvili.

He went on to say that on the 105th anniversary of Georgia’s occupation, we can see that Brussels and its representative view the Georgian people as a subordinate country that must follow instructions and harm itself.

“Brussels and its representatives look upon us as a subordinate country that must follow instructions and harm itself, because they themselves are not content. They are envious, it seems. What else can one conclude? When they say that Europe is suffering economically and ask why Georgia is moving forward economically, the EU has stalled, and we are moving forward. And they ask why are you moving? The EU Ambassador listed his grievances: we do not let Russian tourists in, we are cutting fuel purchases, gas and petrol have become more expensive for us, and your people do not pay as much as ours do. All of this reveals that there are malicious intentions towards the Georgian people. I call upon Brussels and its ambassador to stop viewing Georgia as an enemy and to stop treating the Georgian people as one,” declared Papuashvili.