Georgian President condemns Russian occupation during his final US trip in the position

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili, whose presidential term expires next month, pushed forward the occupation issue of historic Georgian lands during his speech at the 14th International Forum “Sustaining Peace and Development in a Changing World” in New York yesterday.

Addressing the audience, he recalled 27 September 1993, when the central Georgian government lost control of currently Russian-occupied Abkhazia region and August 2008, when Russia grabbed 20 per cent of Georgian lands during the Russia-Georgia war.

Margvelashvili said that both in 1993 and 2008 his predecessors were asking for help from the international community to avoid tragic consequences.

So, what I am looking forward today and the goal of our congregation is this very important issue of calling things what they are. This is a good start for a discussion when we are unified on terms and approaches. I guess we are all unified on the principles of the rule of law and international cooperation,” Margvelashvili said.

Calling things what they are, calling an aggressor - an aggressor, calling an occupation - an occupation, calling an occupation line – an occupational line and not a border line are crucial. These are the terms and the words that make us even closer and create our unity and our ability to create a better future,” he added.

Margvelashvili thanked his Polish, Ukrainian, Estonian and Slovak counterparts for their strong words against Russian aggression in Georgia from the UN high tribune.