{"id":4187,"date":"2020-07-04T16:47:07","date_gmt":"2020-07-04T16:47:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/caucasianhouse.ge\/?page_id=4187"},"modified":"2023-02-01T12:33:28","modified_gmt":"2023-02-01T12:33:28","slug":"expression-of-solidarity","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/caucasianhouse.ge\/en\/expression-of-solidarity\/","title":{"rendered":"Expression of Solidarity to the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Georgia Mr. Hubert Knirsch"},"content":{"rendered":"
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During the work on the new election law, the diplomats of the friendly countries of Georgia intervened in the process due to the extreme aggravation of the confrontation between the ruling party of Georgia and the opposition and helped the parties to reach a consensus. Through the mediation of diplomats, an agreement was reached on March 8, 2020, which establishes the electoral rules in Georgia that are similar to proportional system. The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr. Hubert Knirsch, contributed greatly towards establishing relatively fair electoral environment in Georgia.<\/p>

For the final adoption of the new electoral system, it was necessary to approve the constitutional amendments in three readings. Some parties, including the\u00a0United National Movement<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0European Georgia<\/em>, have said they would support constitutional reform only if the government released Mr. Giorgi Rurua from prison (Giorgi Rurua is the brother of late member of UNM \u2013Nika Rurua, who is charged with illegal possession and carrying of a weapon). There was a danger that the agreement reached as a result of efforts during several months, which would create a better political environment in the country, would fail. However, Ambassador Hubert Knirsch reminded the parties: \u201cMr. Rurua is not mentioned in the March 8th agreement, it is clear and everyone can read it.\u201d In his measured statement, the German diplomat made it clear that there were no longer enough arguments to compromise the electoral system and thus saved the agreement reached.<\/p>

Apparently, the ambassador\u2019s statement contradicted the plan of the above-mentioned political forces and the official representative of the Federal Republic of Germany was openly attacked. The attackers said: \u201cThis is an ambassador funded by Ivanishvili\u2019s regime,\u201d \u201cThe infamous German ambassador is working on his own business,\u201d \u201cI sympathize with him, how many times he can make a blunder, I don\u2019t know. It\u2019s like being lost in translation \u2026 Sometimes the diplomats lack an experience and they get confused.\u201d<\/p>

This political parties were supported by the media affiliated with them:\u00a0Tabula<\/em>, whose journalists shamelessly falsified an interview given by the ambassador a few months ago, changed the content of the text and published it through the social network.<\/p>

And non-governmental organizations traditionally affiliated with these parties, which call themselves the vanguard of the fight against anti-Western propaganda and misinformation, have chosen to remain silent (to put it mildly).<\/p>

The attack on Hubert Knirsch once again showed us the true face of some Georgian political parties and the media and NGOs associated with them. They do not shy away from discrediting opponents, distorting facts, slandering them, or turning a blind eye to them.<\/p>

Developments have once again revealed the real attitude of these groups towards the West. Although they appear to be committed to Western (and Euro-Atlantic) values, they are in fact trying to undermine Western and, in particular, European countries\u2019 efforts on behalf of Georgia.<\/p>

The European Union (EU) has condemned the actions of some politicians and journalists involved in the campaign to discredit the German ambassador:\u201d We condemn the attacks of certain political actors and media outlets against our colleague, Hubert Knirsch,\u00a0the Ambassador of Germany. All actors supporting the democratic and European path of Georgia should refrain from accusations of a\u00a0disrespectful\u00a0nature and\u00a0uphold\u00a0the human dignity of everybody who is active in public life.\u201d The US and British Ambassadors expressed solidarity with the German Ambassador.<\/p>

There are enough people in Georgia who know well the work of the German Ambassador, Mr. Knirsch. We know that he has been serving in the German Foreign Ministry for thirty years. It is noteworthy that the career diplomat also has long experience of working in Warsaw and Moscow, therefore, he is well aware of the main difficulties of post-communist societies. It is noteworthy that Hubert Knirsch was for a long time leading the office of the first Federal President of the reunited Germany, legendary European leader- Richard von Weizs\u00e4cker. We are glad that for the first time in many years, the representative of the leading EU state in Georgia is a figure of this rank, which clearly indicates the growing importance of our country in German foreign policy.<\/p>

A few months after Mr. Knirsch was appointed an Ambassador, the President of Germany, Mr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, visited Tbilisi. After the President\u2019s visit to Georgia, the Georgian-German cultural-educational and economic relations became even more intense and many new projects or initiatives were laid. Mr. Knirsch has spared no effort to ensure that the talks held by Germany\u2019s leader in Georgia were productive, for which he deserves sincere thanks from the Georgian people.<\/p>

Mr. Ambassador is distinguished by his extensive education, deep humanity, and personal sophistication. Accusing him of being inexperienced or dishonest is a brazenness of demagogues, and a deliberate lie.<\/p>

On behalf of many citizens of Georgia, we once again thank Mr. Knirsch- this truly respected diplomat -for taking to the heart our country\u2019s fate.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Naira Gelashvili \u2013 Writer; Germanist<\/p>

Lela Ghaprindashvili \u2013 Philosopher; Professor of TSU<\/p>

Levan Bregadze \u2013 Doctor of Philology<\/p>

Natela Sakhokia \u2013 Director of Institute for Strategic Studies<\/p>

Giorgi Lobzhanidze \u2013 Orientalist; Professor of TSU<\/p>

Nugzar Papuashvili \u2013 Historian of Religion; Professor of Orbeliani University<\/p>

Asmat Parjiani \u2013 Germanist; Translator<\/p>

David Adeishvili \u2013 Doctor of Economics<\/p>

Levan Lortkiphanidze \u2013 Political Scientist<\/p>

Ivane Abramashvili \u2013 Conflictologist<\/p>

Lali Madzgharashvili \u2013 Biophysicist<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

July 3, 2020<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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