Georgia takes centre stage at Munich Security Conference (video)

This year will be a very successful year for Georgia and the country will prosper, Georgia’s Prime Minister believes.

Surrounded by influential world leaders, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili revealed this confidence in Georgia when he took centre stage at the Munich Security Conference last night. 

Garibashvili delivered a speech at the international conference where he praised the country’s recent parliamentary elections and spoke in depth about the difficulties Georgia had faced in its journey to becoming a member of the EU. 

"Last year was an important and successful year which created great possibilities for the countryand this was highlighted at the Vilnius Summit,” Garibashvili said in his address to the conference attendees. 

"Georgia is a small country but it is a regional hub with an extremely favorable location. Accordingly, by signing the Association Agreement with the EU we hope that Georgia will become a center for the region. And Georgia will use this chance it has,” Garibashvili said. 

"We will continue democratic reforms. Recent public surveys proved that more than 85 percent of our population supported the European and Euro-integration process and now this process has really become irreversible. We share the same values and aspire to become a member of European family. This desire has been in our mind and heart for a long time,” Garibashvili stated. 

He mentioned economic growth had slowed over the past three years in Georgia however it had begun to improve and would reach 6.2 percent soon. While progress was made to fulfill conditions set by the Association Agreement, last year was also a "complicated cohabitation year”. 

PM Garibashvili spoke about Georgia’s relationship with Russia and stressed that the Government had entirely changed its approach its northern neighbour. Cultural and trade relations had improved between the two countries, he said. 

"Russia is slowly opening its market for our products. It has removed restrictions on some Georgian products and this reflects positively on our economy,” Garibashvili said. 

Despite these positive steps, there continued to be a number of issues between the two countries and despite Georgia’s efforts to improve relations, there were "a series of provocations last year”. 

"This complicates our kind wish and aspiration to improve relations [with Russia]. Those barbed wire fences and artificial borders [installed by Russia on Georgian territory] has created many problems for our citizens.” 

Garibashvili said the ‘provoking activities’ which occurred at the occupation line were unacceptable and emphasized his point by speaking about the borderization process which was intensified by Russia last year.  

"As a result of this process, a 45 km border line was set on our territory. Also, Russia invaded a further 11 kilometers on our territory two week ago. They say this is a temporary measure connected with security of the Sochi Olympics. Our position is firmly clear on this issue and our one and only solution to gain back our occupied regions and solve the problem lies through political dialogue,” the Prime Minister stated. 

As a result of the two countries’ tense relationship, it was difficult to decide whether the country would participate in the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. Georgian Olympic athletes stressed their desire to compete against the world’s best and the decision was made not to boycott the Olympics. 

"This decision was hard to receive since we had a number of unsolved problems and conflicts and we are living without our brothers – the Abkhazians and Ossetians,” Garibashvili said. 

Despite this, Georgia had offered Russia assistance in security measures. 

"Georgia only tries to make constructive, positive steps,” Garibashvili stated. 

He said Georgia had tried to ensure Russia that the country’s aspiration to becoming integrated with Europe did not create a threat for Russia, but the opposite. He believed it would be beneficial for Russia to have a stable, well developed country as its neighbour. 

During his two days at the international conference, Garibashvili stressed the EU and the USA were clearly supportive of Georgia’s desire to integrate with Europe. After seeing this unwavering support, the PM said he believed the current year would be very successful for Georgia.