Georgia's PM delivers speech at UN General Debate

Prime Minister of Georgia delivered speech at the General Debate of the 69th Session of the UN General Assembly last night emphasizing Georgia’s commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and reaffirming the country’s position as a major contributor to world safety and security.

"We are now at the dawn of a new day for Georgia. Our democratic institutions are dramatically stronger, our foreign policy is making us more secure, and our growing economy is working to benefit all Georgians," Irakli Garibashvili emphatically told the audience.

But despite recent significant progress, his country was still a young democracy and took nothing for granted. He said in tough times the public protested and cast votes in the ballot box to ensure continued democracy. Steps had since been taken to break cycles of corruption and impunity and to make the economy more inclusive, he said.

Furthermore, governance and the rule of law were stronger, and he celebrated Georgia’s recent elections and stressed that his Government would be accountable.

According to the PM, Georgia’s human rights strategy and action plan, anti-discrimination laws and an independent judiciary were all in place and the media and civil society were playing a greater role.

"While we are deepening our European and Euro-Atlantic integration, we are also becoming a truly open, globalised economy. We are making important investments and reforms to unlock the full potential of the Georgian economy and Georgian people. From universal healthcare to investments in clean energy, Georgia is becoming a 21st century economy that benefits all citizens of Georgia," Garibashvili said.

He believed Georgia’s efforts towards NATO membership was complimented by its Association Agreement with the European Union, which would gradually establish European political, economic, social and legislative norms and standards in Georgia.

The country’s democratic transformation could serve as a model for other countries, he believed.

He noted the economy was opening with investment and reforms and the Government would implement a new development agenda and seriously take note of the "Rio+20” outcomes.

Social equity and protection of the environment were also important to economic growth, as were gender equality, women’s empowerment and a concentration on youth, he said.

Internally displaced persons and refugees were major concerns for Georgia, he said and noted increased numbers arriving from the Middle East and Ukraine. He said Georgia gave political and technical assistance to Ukraine and supported its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

In front of the forum participants, Garibashvili said he was committed to restoring Georgia's full territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Efforts to improve relations with the Russian Federation were ongoing under a two-track approach where on one hand, "significant results" had been achieved in the pursuit of resumed trade and economic, cultural and humanitarian relations, but in terms of pursuing Russian respect for the 2008 ceasefire and troop withdrawal, Georgia's efforts had not met the same spirit of cooperation, he stated.

"I also call on the Russian government to fulfil its obligations under the 2008 international ceasefire and join us in the search for peace, prosperity, and reconciliation,” Garibashvili said.

He said Georgia was the largest non-NATO troop contributor to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and he looked forward to eventual NATO membership.

He was committed, he said, to using Georgia’s strategic location to connect Asia, Europe and the Middle East. The "Silk Road” had reopened, which he believed was among the greatest post-cold war achievements.

"To unlock its full potential, the international community should redouble efforts on trade and transport, energy and people-to-people contacts,” he said.

Georgia had deepened cooperation with countries on the Silk Road, Garibashvili said, adding that transport and energy links were key to economic development and integration. In that connection, Georgia supported a route for Caspian Sea oil and gas to reach Europe. Noting the massive expansion of the South Caucasus Pipeline through Azerbaijan and Georgia, he said it was bringing 16 billion cubic metres of new natural gas to Europe and Turkey and thousands of new jobs to Georgia.

The head of the Georgian Government looked forward to the Silk Road Forum in 2015 to enhance cooperation between Georgia and surrounding countries. Georgia would seek to install clean and renewable energy, especially hydropower, in order to become carbon neutral, he added.