Feedback to the German Ambassador’s statement.
By Khatia Bzhalava
Tuesday, June 30
On June 26th, as a response to a journalist's question, Hubert Knirsch German Ambassador to Georgia said that “Giorgi Rurua is not mentioned in the agreement of March 8th, this is apparent and everyone can read it.” The statement was followed by severe responses from the opposition, one of which was by Shalva Natelashvili, the leader of Labour Party, who called the German ambassador financed by Bidzina Ivanishvili and called on the German government to ‘withdraw disgraceful ambassador,’ also a member of European Georgia, Giga Bokeria said that the ambassador of Germany is ‘lost in translation.’
A member of the parliamentary majority, Irakli Kobakhidze considers Natelashvili’s statement offensive not only to the ambassador of Germany but also to Germany as a state.
“We should once again apologise to Hubert Knirsch, because of such a statement made by a citizen of Georgia, especially when the person is a distinct leader of the opposition. This is unacceptable, the opposition can no longer control what they are saying,” Kobakhidze said.
The Chairman of Parliament, Archil Talakvadze believes that attacking the Ambassador of Germany on the day of signing association agreement between Georgia and EU(6 years anniversary) and doubting Germany's support to Georgia is completely unacceptable. Talakvadze calls Natelashvili’s statement ‘a rough political mistake.’
In a more extensive statement, Bokeria clarified that unlike Natelashvili, his party does not demand the ambassador to be withdrawn, however, he thinks that “a country such Germany, should have a more experienced ambassador to Georgia.”
The Chairman of United National Movement Roman Gotsiridze said that “the recent statement of The German ambassador does not come in compliance with the international friendship position.”
“German politicians themselves, including the ones from Euro-Parliament as well as Senate and Foreign Committee confirm that the agreement should be entirely fulfilled. He made a mistake and political parties are eligible to evaluate his work. We believe that this was a mistake and if the ambassador checks the position of his country regarding this agreement, he will see that it is not completely fulfilled,” Gotsiridze said.
The Delegation of the European Union to Georgia issues the following statement in agreement with the EU Heads of Mission:
“We condemn the attacks of certain political actors and media outlets against our colleague, Hubert Knirsch, the Ambassador of Germany. All actors supporting the democratic and European path of Georgia should refrain from accusations of a disrespectful nature and uphold the human dignity of everybody who is active in public life.”
Freeing shareholder of Main Arkhi (Mtavari Arkhi), Giorgi Rurua, has been demanded by the members of the opposition and mentioned as a ‘political inmate.’ As European Georgia and National Movement state, releasing Rurua from the prison is part of the March 8th agreement, however, the ruling party denies such agreement and notes that they “can not have an impact on the judicial system.”
