“He either truly does not understand what Europe is, or he is pretending not to understand,” is how German Ambassador to Georgia Peter Fischer commented on the critical statements made by the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili. Earlier, the latter stated that the Georgian people do not need to be shown the way to Europe, as Georgia itself is a co-author of European civilization.
“The accusations are, of course, incorrect. I think if you ask anyone here, they will say that Europe is perceived as a friend, as a friendly and good place, as a source of hope, and as a partner that has supported Georgia since it gained independence.
We do not accept this criticism; we reject it, and I do not believe that the European Union or any member state needs to be lectured on what Europe is. I always recommend that the Georgian people read the EU agreements—everything is written there about our values and our constitution. We are based on unity and diversity; we are a peaceful, free, and prosperous space, and Georgians are very welcome as our friends and partners,” Peter Fischer stated in an interview with the Interpressnews agency.
