Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili spoke at the Democracy Summit held at the initiative of US President Joe Biden, reaffirming Georgia’s commitment to democracy and its willingness to cooperate with international partners to build a more democratic world.

In her statement, the President said: “We have already last year taken note of the significant challenges facing equally long-established Democracies and those in the process of constructing democratic institutions.”

She went on to say that “destructive challenges face us all in the varied forms of polarization, disinformation, pandemic, social tensions and discrimination, conflicts, and occupied territories.”

“These challenges, fueled from within or from outside our borders, ultimately end up eroding people’s trust in their governments, institutions, and Democracy itself.

However, none of us had realized that the world would be confronted with an ever more direct, brutal, and all-out challenge in the form of Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, causing unimaginable destruction, suffering, human loss, and human rights deprivation. The war against Ukraine is indeed a war against democracy, freedom, and human dignity. A reminder of the consequences of unchecked authoritarian regimes with ancient and long-lasting imperialist ambitions appears here. A reminder that democracies need to be strong inside, i.e., be supported by a united civil society and united on the international scene to defend the long-held principles of international Law.

When we convene today, in even more difficult times we have to reaffirm our unwavering support to our common values, our solidarity and deliver on our commitments,” she underscored.

In her address, Zourabichvili noted that “Georgia, despite its tense geopolitical environment and internal tensions, has succeeded in advancing two core priorities: National Human Rights Strategy has been finalized and the National Action Plan to eliminate violence against women and measures to strengthen women’s economic empowerment have been adopted. Nonetheless, another of our set priorities – to further judicial reform through an inclusive process – has yet to gather momentum.”

“While these changes were part of Georgia’s declared commitments and have been tackled through new laws or Action plans, major progress has been achieved by the Georgian People by demonstrating on the streets of Tbilisi against any attempt to restrict the rights of civil society and showing their fierce attachment to the democratic principles that have inspired and inspire our country on its European integration path.

This protest has succeeded both to obtain the recanting of the “Law on foreign agents” and marks thus a victory of democracy, and demonstrating the capacity of the Georgian society to overcome polarization when united around a common goal. In that sense, the process of national reconciliation has started.

Our path to Democracy and towards European and Euro-Atlantic Integration enshrined in our Constitution is the basis for our stability and has no alternative.

I would like to reiterate Georgia’s resolute pledge towards building a stronger Democracy and express our readiness to work with all our global partners in building a more democratic, peaceful, and resilient world in which Georgia will find its place as a trusted partner,” she stated.