We have used all the tools, both personal meetings and public appeals and explanations, but we see that in some cases, this does not work. Therefore, it was important to use this diplomatic measure, the summoning of the ambassador – at the meeting, Peter Fischer was explained what the Vienna Convention implies, – the Speaker of the Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, told journalists, thus responding to the summoning of the ambassadors of the United Kingdom and Germany to Georgia by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to Papuashvili, the Vienna Convention is “absolutely ignored” by some diplomats.
“We have used all the tools, both personal meetings and public appeals and explanations, but we see that in some cases this does not work. Therefore, it was important to use this diplomatic measure – summoning the ambassador – to explain to them that no one should violate the rules-based international order. These appeals do not operate in one direction. Everyone must obey the rules and conventions, in this case the Vienna Conventions, which, unfortunately, we see that some diplomats are completely ignoring.
See also yesterday’s statement by our Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They explained to Mr. Peter what the Vienna Convention, its Article 41, implies, and provided examples of interference. We learned from the statement that these oral statements by Mr. Peter or, among others, from the German Foreign Ministry, allegedly about disinformation, are disinformation or a false narrative. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested the German side to name examples of false narratives, disinformation and attacks. To date, no explanation or examples have been received in this regard. As I understand, these examples were not mentioned at yesterday’s meeting, among others,” Papuashvili noted.
According to the Chairman of the Parliament, when statements are heard from the Georgian Dream regarding “inciting extremism” from abroad, they cite a specific example.
“We gave a specific example regarding Mr. Peter. In particular, there is a specific group that attacked a female MP, insulted her and her young child, called her a “slave”. The next day they came out and chanted this. After this incident, Mr. Peter met with this group. He took a photo with them, posted it all on Twitter and said that these people are citizens of Georgia. Now, I gave a specific example. Mr. Peter should say that assaulting a female MP with her minor child and attacking and insulting her with terminology aimed at dehumanization, along with the cry of “slave”, this is radicalism. They should bring an argument for this. And secondly, let them say that when you meet these people and say that they are the future of Georgia, this is not incitement to radicalism. I expect a response in this regard.
Let no one think of the Georgian people as stupid. These statements that this is not true… let them talk to others like this. If the Georgian people are told that something is not true, let everyone be kind and bring arguments. Waving hands without arguments is an insult to the Georgian people.
No matter whose task specific diplomats are fulfilling, the fact is that they are harming themselves and the reputation of their own country. It’s none of our business if they damage their reputation, but if their country’s reputation is damaged, it’s important for us, for our bilateral relations, especially when we’re talking about Germany. This has happened to many great nations with regard to Georgians, and they shouldn’t make this mistake,” said Shalva Papuashvili.
Shalva Papuashvili: We used the tool of personal meetings and public appeals, but in some cases, it does not work, therefore, it was important to summon the ambassador – at the meeting, Peter Fischer was explained what the Vienna Convention implies
