President at PACE: next stage for Georgia is full membership of int’l community
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has delivered her speech at PACE earlier today. Photo: PACE press office.
Tweet 
Share
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has stated at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe that the next stage for Georgia is to become a full member of the international community by having a voice in global issues.
She stated earlier today in Strasbourg that “Georgia has succeeded to turn itself from a post-soviet state, into an emerging, ever stronger and vibrant democracy.”
Zurabishvili has tweeted:
The next stage is for Georgia to become a full member of the international community by having a voice in global issues. Human rights, environmental rights are crucial for Georgia, for the world. pic.twitter.com/uLl8NdDFxv
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) January 28, 2020
In her speech delivered at the assembly Zurabishvili said that 12 years since the Russia-Georgia war 20 per cent of the Georgian territories remain occupied, with Russia and its controlled de facto authorities creating ‘severe humanitarian situation’ on the ground, ‘violating fundamental human rights.’
She stated that the efforts of the Georgian government to settle conflicts peacefully are responded by continued threats, erection of new barriers and creation of problems for the local population by Russia.
Zurabishvili said that the Geneva International Discussions on Georgian conflict issues “are politically stalled,” while Incident Prevention Mechanisms “are rarely successful” in solving technical, conflict-related issues.
Salome Zourabichvili, President of Georgia meets Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, discussing good progress of the Georgian Presidency @coe, the importance of the CoE report on the conflict, the reconciliation process through Confidence Building Measures @MFAgovge ???????? pic.twitter.com/aUndv3WLjS
— Daniel Holtgen (@CoESpokesperson) January 28, 2020
Both instruments are marked with constant walk-outs, as soon as important issues are raised. No progress or prospects seems to be expected from the existing formats. They have to be empowered to receive a new political input, to become formats for solving conflict, not merely managing them.”
She stated that international organisations have adopted ‘numerous resolutions’ to express their support for Georgia.
But we need more! We need engagement of all and we are ready to do our part, in order to find ways to a solution that will reintegrate our country and ensure freedoms for all our citizens,” Zurabishvili.
During the speech Zurabishvili said that freedom of speech and expression “is guaranteed by the Georgian constitution and is fully enforced,” as well as the freedom of media.