Georgian PM raises Russian occupation at UN, calls on democracies to “act as one for freedom, peace”

Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday addressed the United Nations general assembly. Photo: government of Georgia press office

Agenda.ge, 23 Sep 2022 - 11:09, Tbilisi,Georgia

Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday addressed the United Nations general assembly, raising the ongoing occupation of 20 percent of his country’s territory by Russia and calling on the world’s democracies to “act as one to ensure that freedom and peace prevail”. 

Pointing to the founding principles of the UN - to unite to maintain global peace and security after World War II - the head of the Georgian government said the organisation’s member states continued to face aggression. 

In 2008, my country was attacked by Russia resulting in the ongoing occupation of 20 percent of our territory. At the time, the international community recognised this aggression. But, as we have learned, the world’s democracies must act as one to ensure that freedom and peace prevail”, said the PM, noting that the protection of state sovereignty and territorial integrity “is [the organisation’s] duty, our promise”.

Focusing on the Georgian government’s intentions to resolve conflicts peacefully, the prime minister said the Geneva international discussions, an international format on Georgia’s conflict issues since 2008, were “particularly crucial to bring Russia to the table to address the implementation of the EU-mediated 2008 ceasefire agreement”, expressing gratitude to the international community for its support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.