Shalva Papuashvili’s address to diplomats

While speaking at the event dedicated to Diplomat's Day, the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili, stated that Georgian diplomats should not shy away from defending sovereignty with either an adversary or a friend. According to him, sometimes it is the friend who needs to be reminded that partnership does not imply replacing someone else's political will with one's own. Imedi+2

As Papuashvili explained, friendship does not abolish sovereignty, and even good intentions cannot justify interference in the internal affairs of another state. The Chairman of the Parliament noted that international politics has never been a sphere of sentiments and that states act in accordance with their own interests, which is a prerequisite for responsible foreign policy. Imedi+1

According to interpressnews, Papuashvili also emphasized that Georgia itself must set an example of respecting the principle of non-interference and must respect the choices of other peoples. According to imedinews, Papuashvili noted that 35 years ago, upon the restoration of independence, Georgia viewed the world more optimistically, where relations between states were defined by law and not by force. Interpressnews+1