Parliament Speaker says rapprochement with EU should not be matter of “blindly” following instructions, but “two-way path” of “mutual learning, mutual respect, mutual acceptance”
Shalva Papuashvili
Photo: Georgian Dream
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Saturday said the country's rapprochement with the European Union should not be a matter of “blindly” following instructions, but a “two-way path” of mutual learning, mutual respect, and mutual acceptance, rather than “merging and losing identity”.
In his speech at a campaign meeting in Georgia’s eastern city of Telavi, Papuashvili highlighted that the European identity of Georgians was rooted in its “unique culture, centuries-old faith, and carefully preserved traditions”.
“Georgia is one of the first cradles of European civilization. We are co-creators of the fact that agriculture, viticulture, and the Christian faith were woven into the European identity”, the Parliament Speaker said.
He further emphasised that Georgians together with others were creating and defending Europe.
“Even today, our rapprochement with the European Union should not be a matter of blindly following instructions, but should be a two-way path - a path of mutual learning, mutual respect, mutual acceptance, [and] not merger and losing [identity]”, Papuashvili concluded.
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