FM participates in Paris Peace Forum
Georgia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maka Botchorishvili, is participating in the Paris Peace Forum, which is being held in the French capital.
As part of the forum, Maka Botchorishvili took part in a high-level roundtable discussion entitled “Children First: The Imperative of Investing in Children.”
The Minister spoke about Georgia’s experience, noting that Russia’s occupation of two regions of Georgia continues to have a severe impact on the daily lives of the local population, particularly children. She placed particular emphasis on restrictions on the right to receive education in one’s native language, which threaten children’s ability to preserve their identity and strengthen their ties with their own country.
“The consequences of Russia’s occupation of two regions of Georgia continue to affect children’s lives, with serious restrictions on their fundamental rights remaining an integral part of their daily reality,” the Minister noted.
In her address, the Deputy Prime Minister also spoke about the importance of peace for Georgia, stressing that over the past decade, preventing conflict and maintaining peace have remained among the country’s foremost national priorities.
She also highlighted the challenges facing children and young people living in the occupied regions, noting the adverse impact of unresolved conflicts on their daily lives and future opportunities.
As part of her visit, the Foreign Minister will also attend an official reception hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace.
The Paris Peace Forum was established in 2018 and is being held for the ninth time this year.
The forum aims to address pressing issues on the international agenda and discuss ways and opportunities to strengthen international cooperation. Leaders from various countries, as well as senior representatives of international organizations and partner institutions, are participating in the event.
The information was released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.