“Madam Elina, you insulted the Georgian society and the Georgian state, so now you are talking to the radicals, the unpatriotic ones, and with that, you ended your visit – you are ashamed, and we no longer want any relations with you,” stated Irakli Zarkua, Chairman of the Parliament’s Diaspora Issues Committee, commenting on the cancellation of the planned meeting by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze with the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen.
According to him, Elina Valtonen has disgraced herself and violated the mandate with which she came to Georgia.
“What the OSCE Acting Chairperson and, at the same time, Finland’s Foreign Minister dared to do is not written anywhere. This is yet another insult to the Georgian state and Georgian society. This is an insult, including to the diplomatic mandate. What did she do?! She stood with radicals on Rustaveli Avenue, where there were some 20-30 people. Naturally, there would be an adequate reaction from our government. The meeting that was planned naturally fell through, and it did fall through. I want to call on Madam Elina once again: they are very far from their mandates, both some ambassadors and herself. It looks very bad when you go to Rustaveli ‘Prospect’ with radicals and, on top of that, lie by saying they are peaceful protesters. A few days ago, they stormed the President’s residence, Madam Elina. If radicals dared to do a tenth of that in your country, Finland, and then Georgia’s Foreign Minister came and stood with those radicals, would you like it?! You committed this. You insulted the Georgian society and the Georgian state, so now talk to the radicals, the unpatriotic ones, and with that, end your visit. You disgraced yourself, you violated the mandate with which you came here. When you come here with the OSCE Chairperson’s mandate and at the same time are Finland’s Foreign Minister, you bear even greater responsibility and scrutiny. You are ashamed, and regarding you, we no longer want any relations whatsoever,” Zarkua stated.
For reference, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze canceled a planned meeting with the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, who was visiting Georgia.
“Yesterday, due to her participation in an illegal rally and making false statements, the Prime Minister canceled the planned meeting with Finland’s Foreign Minister,” the Georgian government’s statement said.
As a reminder, yesterday, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, attended a rally near the Parliament and spoke with the protest participants.
Irakli Zarkua to OSCE Chairperson: Madam Elina, you insulted the Georgian state, so now talk to the radicals and end your visit – you are ashamed and we no longer want any relations with you
