Despite all the positive synergies that we create in Georgia, our country still faces major Human Rights challenges on our occupied territories,  – Prime Minister of Georgia Mamuka Bakhtadze said at the opening the International Conference “Ten years of Valued Partnership – Passed Way and Perspectives” taking place in Batumi city of Adjara region.

The Batumi International Conference is dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Eastern Partnership Initiative.

“I often say that Georgia has two most painful challenges, occupation and poverty. This became my precept and serves as the basis of every reform or initiative that our Government introduces in the country.

Despite all the positive synergies that we create in Georgia, our country still faces major Human Rights challenges on our occupied territories. Growing militarization is in full swing and de-population intensifies by the minute, population in the occupied regions has decreased by 5-6 fold and we cannot let this continue.

As a result we have Russian military bases in the heart of Georgia and on daily basis we have to deal with the threats of abduction, torture and murder of Georgian citizens. Here I would like to thank our partners for supporting Otkhozoria-Tatunashvili list.

We all have to realize these are the challenges that not only Georgians have to counter, but it is our mutual European goal to unite barbwire divided societies and families. We should all unite and ensure that deliberate disregard of international law, rule of law and grave human rights violations never be tolerated!” – Prime Minister said.