President Zurabishvili at Summit for Democracy: polarisation, hate speech undermine democratic processes in Georgia
She pledged to initiate an ‘inclusive process' and a national conversation in order to ‘achieve a shared understanding of recent history, to help healing the pains and move forward.’ Photo: President's administration.
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Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has addressed the virtual Summit for Democracy organised by US President Joe Biden and stated that significant threats undermine the progress achieved internally including polarisation, fake news and hate speech which ‘not only fuel internal divisions, but also undermine democratic processes’ in the country.
She also discussed various other challenges that ‘democracies across the globe’ are facing such as occupation, unresolved conflicts, cyber-attacks, disinformation and Covid pandemic.
New threats like the Covid pandemic have also been challenging the ability of democracies to find the right balance between protecting the health of society and preserving individual freedoms,” said Zurabishvili.
Democracy is confronted by serious challenges, to the point that we could say there is a war declared against democracy. A war which we need us all to confront with more political will and determination, consensus and solidarity
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) December 10, 2021
My address at @POTUS's #SummitforDemocracy pic.twitter.com/cafDMVrYWz
She underlined that the human rights and democracy remains ignored in the occupied territories of Georgia, noting that Russia still occupies 20 per cent of the country’s territories.
As a small country, we are even more vulnerable to all hybrid threats and even more in need of international solidarity,” added Zurabishvili.
She stressed the importance of Georgia’s partnership with NATO, saying that ‘the path chosen by the country 30 years ago has been successful and has made Georgia a reliable partner of NATO and an associated partner of the European Union.’
Zurabishvili also emphasised the Georgian government’s commitment to the several reforms including the implementation of judicial and electoral reforms ‘through an inclusive process’ and adoption of the new National Human Rights Strategy, the National Action Plan on Combating Violence against Women and the National Concept document on Women’s Economic Empowerment.
I look forward to reporting back on them next year, as they reflect the historic commitment of Georgia to democratic consolidation,” stated Zurabishvili.
She pledged to initiate an ‘inclusive process and a national conversation involving all of society’ in order to ‘achieve a shared understanding of recent history, to help healing the pains and move forward.’
The Summit for Democracy took place on December 9-10 where more than 100 countries' leaders were invited.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has stated that the government is currently working on a second strategy for national human rights which will ‘respond to internationally achieved progress in the protection of rights.'
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Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, who is on her historic visit to Austria, spoke about the situation in Georgia’s Russian-occupied regions as well as the importance of women’s empowerment with the OSCE Secretary General Hekga Schmid.
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Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili met with Patriarch Ilia II earlier today to familiarize him with her views on how to decrease political polarization in the country and allow Georgia to 'move forward.’
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Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has called for a 'national agreement' at a New Year's reception she hosted for the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party and opposition leaders at Orbeliani Presidential Palace earlier this evening.
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US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan has stated earlier today that efforts made by Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, who is holding meetings with political leaders of both the ruling party and opposition in order to achieve national reconciliation, ‘are extremely important.
Former Georgian president Giorgi Margvelashvili has visited ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili at Gori Military Hospital, where the latter is undergoing treatment following a hunger strike, and discussed security issues and the ‘difficult geopolitical situation’ in the country.
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Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has discussed her National Accord initiative with MEP Sven Mikser who paid an official visit to Georgia today. The sides exchanged ideas regarding the possible ways to "widen the space" for political discussions in Georgia.