Shalva Papuashvili on Georgia not being invited to the Enlargement Forum: It is simply ridiculous when they talk about the Middle Corridor; are they supposed to fly over Georgia or jump over it? Brussels is repeating the steps taken by Soviet Moscow - I hope they will no longer take offence at this comparison

“If the invitation is not extended at the appropriate level, we will not participate in such meetings,” Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said in response to European Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier’s statement that Georgia had not been invited to the Enlargement Forum, while the Georgian authorities had been invited to the second meeting - the ministerial meeting on connectivity issues - but at a lower level of representation.

Papuashvili said that the European Commission’s “dismissive attitude” demonstrated that it identifies itself with Soviet Moscow.

“Of course, this amounts to a decision to invite us at a lower level. More broadly, it demonstrates the immaturity of the EU bureaucracy. It is simply ridiculous when they talk about the Middle Corridor. Are they supposed to fly over Georgia, jump over it, or what exactly are they supposed to do? I cannot imagine.

This is disrespectful towards the Georgian people. It is disrespectful towards the sovereignty of the Georgian people and the independence of our country. This is how Moscow used to treat us, and now Brussels is repeating the steps of Soviet Moscow.

Ultimately, such a dismissive attitude shows that they identify themselves with Soviet Moscow. After this, they should no longer take offence at this comparison. By looking down on us and adopting such an arrogant attitude, they are identifying themselves with Soviet Moscow,” Papuashvili said.