President briefs patriarch on her views how to decrease political polarization

Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili met with Patriarch Ilia II earlier today to receive blessing on her new initiative for ‘national reconciliation.’ Photo: president’s press office.

Agenda.ge, 15 Dec 2021 - 17:43, Tbilisi,Georgia

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.’ 

Zurabishvili stated on December 10 that she would initiate ‘an inclusive process', with a large-scale involvement of the public, 'to heal the pains of the past and move forward.’ 

Earlier, imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili and several leaders of opposition parties called on the government to take steps for the ‘national reconciliation, which is in everyone’s, especially in the country’s interests.’ 

The Georgian Patriarchate stated following the meeting that the church will ‘always support the initiatives’ which will be targeted for reconciliation and peace and be based on the principles of Christianity and justice.’ 

Head of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party Irakli Kobakhidze stated earlier this week that ‘national reconciliation,’ making peace between the current and former leaderships of Georgia, is possible if the United National Movement (UNM) opposition party ‘admits to the grave crimes they committed while in office and then leaves politics.’