Georgian leader at UN: “We took major steps to bolster rule of law”

Georgia’s Prime Minister has delivered a poignant speech at the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York where he spoke about his country’s direction and the importance of international support for Georgia to achieve its goals.

Kvirikashvili said Georgia had promoted the values of the UN since the country regained its independence 25 years ago and in return the UN "has been a valuable partner for us”.

Georgia’s top official said: in recent years Georgia had made great progress in building strong and effective state institutions to ensure:

• A free civil society
• Free media
• Free markets
• Social cohesion
• The rule of law

As of July, Georgia is an associated country of the EU, harmonising its policies, institutions, sectors and market rules with those of the European Union,” he said.

Watch Georgian leader's address to the United Nations General Assembly speech below:

We are an aspirant country to NATO, having the deepest and most comprehensive partnership with the Alliance of any nation,” adding in the last few weeks the US government, the EU and NATO all took various action that supported the fact that "Georgia’s future lies within the European and Euro-Atlantic community.”

He said one of the major intentions of the current Government was to ensure maximum inclusion of all stakeholders in decision making process, and to do this several platforms were created that encouraged regular dialogue with civil society and private sector representatives.

Kvirikashvili added his Government had overhauled its justice system and had done its utmost to ensure everyone is equal before the law.

We have taken major steps to bolster the rule of law. We overhauled our court systems, prosecutor’s offices, judicial ethics and attorneys’ responsibilities. We gave more rights to defendants and we ended impunity for Government officials,” Kvirikashvili said.

Today, Georgia is ranked number 29 in the Rule of Law Index of the World Justice Project, ahead of a number of old and new EU members,” he added.

Georgia’s PM mentioned past human rights violations that took place under the previous United National Movement (UNM) government and said now, these actions would not be tolerated.

The UN’s Special Rapporteur on Torture and Inhumane and Degrading Treatment recently observed that the Georgian government has turned this problem around since its election in 2012. The changes, he notes, are visible and quantifiable. We did this by putting in place legal and procedural mechanisms for combating the mistreatment of prisoners, including compensation to victims,” Kvirikashvili told the UN session.

He also said Georgia:

• Had enacted new anti-discrimination legislation
• Was worked hard to concretely advance gender equality and women's empowerment
• Was implementing a National Action Plan to ensure equal opportunities for persons with disabilities

Kvirikashvili noted the need to provide high quality market-demand-based education and general healthcare to all Georgian citizens – and these were some of the key priorities of the current authorities.

The construction of two new private technical universities, with an estimated development cost of 1 billion Euro, has started this year. We will soon be able to offer some of the best educational opportunities in our region.”

He then briefed the UNGA about the benefits of Georgia’s General Healthcare Program and the Hepatitis C Elimination Program, which had "saved many lives” in Georgia.

He also noted the benefits to come from the Government’s new Four Point Reform Agenda, which included new tax benefits, infrastructure plans, governance reforms and an overhaul of the education system.

Also, holding the upcoming October 8 Parliamentary Elections in line with highest standards was the aim of the authorities and the best interests of everyone in Georgia, he said.