Georgia is committed to protecting and promoting fundamental principles of democracy, the rule of law, and human rights, said Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili addressing the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe in Reykjavík, Iceland.
The PM said that Georgia knew “the price of war and the price of peace very well” from its experience of the full-scale Russian aggression in 2008. In his words, Georgia “suffered” from the war’s consequences having 20% of its territory occupied and, therefore, the country valued peace and stability.
Irakli Garibashvili underscored that Europe was undergoing one of the most challenging periods; No country could cope with these challenges alone; Multilateral cooperation was key in ensuring “rules-based international order,” peace, prosperity, and stability in the world.
Here is the PM’s speech in full:
“Today, Europe is undergoing one of the most challenging periods caused by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. In breach of fundamental norms and principles of the UN Charter, Helsinki Final Act, and the statute of the Council of Europe. Georgia firmly supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, drawing from its own experience of the Russian aggression in 2008, when we had a full-scale war with Russia. And as you know, our country suffered a lot from this war, and 20% of our territory is still occupied by Russia. So therefore, we Georgians know very well the price of war and the price of peace.
Since we regained our independence, we have witnessed several wars in our country. We are conscious of what war brings, and we do everything for peace. In our post-independence history, for the first time during our government’s tenure in power, we have safeguarded long-term and uninterrupted peace in Georgia. It is obvious that today the global order is changing. The world will never be the same again, and no one can find a way out of this difficult situation alone. So, therefore, we need unity and global consolidation for a new just order. Only by standing together, we will achieve this goal.
Dear friends, in recent years, democracies around the world have faced a number of challenges, testing the very essence of their foundations. Despite the challenges, the state of democracy in Georgia is strong and resilient, and, as our government stands committed to the values that underpin it, including freedom, equality, and the rule of law. My government has a vision for a strong Georgia committed to democratic institutions and a free market economy. The above is reflected in a multidimensional approach to strengthening public bodies that are essential to democracies, such as the judiciary, electoral system, and independent media, in protecting human rights, as well as ensuring overall stability, sustainability, and predictability for the Georgian people.
Since coming to power in 2012, our government has been developing effective and efficient policies and solidly defined our vision through dynamic actions. Reforming the judiciary, improving the electoral system, and ensuring media independence have been key elements of Georgia’s development agenda. With four waves of reforms in the judiciary, instrumented changes in the election legislation and media legal framework provide for a solid basis for ensuring the protection of rights and freedoms of individuals, as well as freedom of expression and media rights.
Today, this trusted environment in the above areas has been commended by renowned organizations such as Transparency International, World Justice Project, Freedom House and etc., that rank Georgia as a leader among Eastern European and Central Asian countries. Overall, Georgia has evolved into an exemplary, I would say, democratic country in the wider region, and our efforts have been given positive appraisal internationally. Considering all the progress we have made today, like never before, Georgia aspires to become a member of the European Union. As you know, on March 3, 2022, Georgia submitted a new membership application as a concrete response to the long-standing choice of the Georgian people.
Last year, the European Council recognized the European perspective for Georgia, which reaffirmed that Georgia’s future is in the European Union. We are determined to swiftly progress on the EU accession path, and the candidate status is our next immediate milestone. Taking this into account, we have truly worked diligently to address almost all 12 recommendations, which are outlined for granting Georgia the candidate status.
Our common history proves that multilateral cooperation and the rules-based international order have no alternative for peace, prosperity, and stability in the world. Georgia remains steadfast in upholding and promoting our shared principles and values, and we look forward to continued collaboration and progress within the Council of Europe,” he said.
The Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe is underway in Reykjavík on May 16–17, 2023. It is the fourth time in the 74-year history of the organization that the leaders of the member states meet under the auspices of the Council.
