“Since, finally, peace becomes the most desirable goal of the regional and global policy, our foreign diplomats should make diplomacy the most significant means for mutual understanding, peace-building and cooperation,” wrote Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Facebook.

According to the Speaker, diplomacy has lately turned into a tool for pursuing the opposite – inciting problems instead of their resolution.

“Expressing direct support for certain politicians, financing activities of political parties, providing financial support for non-governmental organizations, drawing forward the viewpoints of the host country’s legislation and making claims on the participation of legislative process – this is not a full list of the latest normal practice for some foreign missions and diplomacy in Georgia.

There are no privileges without responsibility. When foreign diplomats act as local politicians, they should be ready to bear responsibility for their actions which makes them a legitimate target for criticism. This criticism will not be perceived as ‘attack.’ By copying the agenda of local politicians and voicing their messages, the diplomats should not equate themselves to local politicians. The Georgian people gained sufficient political experience to immediately identify foreign political impartiality and interference.

In this historical period of turbulence, diplomacy’s return to its usual place would bring the biggest benefit both to Georgia and our foreign partners,” the Speaker stated.