“The war 2008, Russia`s invasion and occupation of Georgia`s territory have not ended. And in fact, the aggression continues in different forms and with the bordarization, and seizure of the new territory, and the continued pressure on society”, – former U.S. Ambassador to NATO, the U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations, the executive director of the McCain Institute, Kurt Volker said today.

“We had the chance as part of the international delegation to go and visit the occupation line yesterday. You can stand there and look right across the valley at The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation base with the Russian flag flying right there. This is what is happening in Georgia today, this very day”,- Kurt Volker noted.

Kurt Volker also underlined that this conference is special for several reasons.

“Our conference this year is a very special one for a number of reasons, one of them is that is the fifth one. It is also a special occasion, we have the member of McCain family – Cindy McCain is here. It is also special, we have the translation of Cyndy McCain`s latest book, translated into Georgian language and it is available now”,- Kurt Volker stated.

As he added, Georgia is a small country with very big challenges.

“I hope that society, the opposition, the government will use the change of election legislation into the proportional system in order to strengthen Georgia’s democracy”,- former U.S. Ambassador to NATO noted.

Tbilisi hosts the fifth international conference organized by the McCain Institute and the Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC). High-ranking diplomats, international experts and members of the Georgian government are attending a two-day Tbilisi International Conference.

Among the conference participants are: former Secretary General of NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen, acting US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip T. Reeker, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevichus, former President of the Republic of Latvia Valdis Zatlers, retired United States Army officer Ben Hodges.

The main topics of discussion on a two-day conference are: Georgia’s prospects of gaining NATO an EU membership, Russia’s destructive policies and the fight against its misinformation and hybrid war, the Ukrainian conflict, Turkey and the neighbourhood, US foreign policy, Brexit, etc.