PM Kvirikashvili speaks to US Newsweek about Georgia’s independence

An American news magazine has published a piece by Georgia’s Prime Minister about Georgia’s 25th anniversary of independence.

The opinion column, published today by Newsweek, highlighted Georgia’s past hardships, the country’s European intentions and its close ties with the United States (US). 

Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili also addressed Russia’s aggression on Georgian soil, and gave examples why Georgia becoming a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) would be beneficial for Russia. 

In gaining independence, millions of Americans and Europeans shared our joy and with their help we prevailed. We reached for our dream and captured it. To get there, our small nation overcame dire poverty, a bloody civil war, invasion and partial occupation by a neighbour many times our size,” wrote Kvirikashvili.

He said independent Georgia had managed to transform itself into a democratic state with internationally recognised and praised reforms with the help of its foreign allies, with the US being a key partner among them. 

Georgia is rated the most democratic country in the region by nearly every measure. It has the lowest level of corruption, the freest media and an attractive investment climate with the ninth lowest tax burden in the world. Georgia has returned to its European roots and this is where we intend to stay,” Kvirikashvili said. 

Georgia’s Prime Minister said the country’s strategic location was extremely beneficial that connected Europe with Asia, and the country could be utilised as an important transit nation within the New Silk Road project. 

Continuing to develop Georgia’s economy was just as important as deepening the country’s defense and security partnerships, said Kvirikashvili. He noted security and economic development were "inseparable”.

There are those in the West who worry that bringing Georgia into NATO will provoke Russia. This is illogical. We no longer live in spheres of influence.”

Georgia and Russia have mutual interests too. Georgia is also on Russia’s borderline and we share Russia’s concerns for instability around it, especially the creeping influences of terrorism returning to Russia from the Middle East and elsewhere. Georgia in NATO serves Russia’s interests directly by helping to secure this borderland,” Kvirikashvili stressed.

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