The honorary chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, on Wednesday, addressed the ruling Georgian Dream party supporters at a closing pre-election rally in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, stating that “Despite the progress and substantially better situation, we have a bulk of work to do to ensure the well-being of our people and nation, but do not be intimidated.”

Ivanishvili dubbed the Georgian Dream “the only responsible political force in the nation, which can successfully navigate Georgia on a challenging path to earn our place among the developed, wealthy, democratic, and advanced countries of the world.”

“A fundamental issue determines everything for our country, however. Our country’s history, including recent developments, has shown us the value of peace.

If nothing else, Tbilisi knows the cost of a peace. Georgians shot each other three decades ago in the city centre.

Not to mention the ’90s military conflict and the United National Movement-led 2008 tragedy.

And this is another, fundamental difference between the United National Movement regime and the Georgia born on October 1, 2012; the Georgian Dream achieved much-awaited peace in Georgia despite challenging geopolitical circumstances and amid continued armed conflict in the region.

Any rational and statesmanlike person would agree that maintaining peace is critical for our nation, considering the challenges that Georgia is facing in the background of ongoing military conflicts in the region.

It is evidenced by the success of the Georgian Dream government over the past 12 years of peace that the country can only develop under peace,” Ivanishvili added.

The parliamentary elections in Georgia are slated for 26 October.