President Zurabishvili: ‘Georgian Diaspora should be given right to take active part in Georgia’s democratic processes’

“The Georgian diaspora needs political representation. I call on the entire Georgian society to unite around the idea, so that our [Georgian] diaspora can gain its own voice and right to represent its own interests in parliament”, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili said in a video address at the Diaspora Forum dedicated to Diaspora Day.

The aim of the forum is to deepen ties between Georgians living abroad and the state of Georgia, discuss the challenges facing the diaspora and ways to solve them.

In her video address Zurabishvili also said the Georgian diaspora has huge potential for the development of the country. Therefore, the president believes that they should have the right to take more active part in Georgia’s democratic processes, in which they need the support of the Georgian government.

Scattered Georgians around the world work in all sectors of society, be they academics and students, singers and composers, writers and artists, police officers, politicians, farmers, businessmen or workers. They are the ambassadors of our country. They also represent a huge potential for the development of the country”, said Zurabishvili.

President Zurabishvili also noted that involving more than a million Georgian citizens in state-building should be a priority.

This is necessary, because the decisions of the legislative body directly affect the lives of Georgian people abroad, from property rights to the Law on Citizenship”, said the President of Georgia.

Due to the circumstances caused by the pandemic, the 'Strong Diaspora for a United Georgia' forum was held online. Photo: 1TV.ge.

While talking about the importance of the Georgian diaspora, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said his main concern will be to promote the establishment of strong Georgian communities in more than 50 countries around the world.

PM emphasized the role of the Patriarchate’s representations in foreign countries and noted that these representations are a unifier of Georgians living abroad.

Garibashvili noted that Georgian culture centres abroad should be the subject of special care.

Today I’d like to once again greet with special honor those of our compatriots who work far from home for the well-being of their families. We [the Georgian gov’t] must do everything to enable those who wish to return back as soon as possible”, said Garibashvili.

Due to the circumstances caused by the pandemic, the 'Strong Diaspora for a United Georgia' forum was held online.