President Zurabishvili: national reconciliation initiative complicated to carry out, but process is transparent
President Salome Zurabishvili says that Georgia needs to end political polarization to move forward. Photo: president’s press office.
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Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili says that her recent initiative, which aims to reconcile various political parties in Georgia to end polarization, is complicated to carry out but the process is ‘very transparent.’
She stated that various rumors have been spread regarding the initiative over the past several days ‘which is not sourced from the presidential administration.’
Zurabishvili says that at the initial stage, she is ‘listening to every interested party,’ and holding meetings.
Not only political parties, but also the public and NGOs working on victims’ topics (those who allegedly suffered losses or were victims of inhumane treatment under the previous state leadership) are also involved in the process,” Zurabishvili said.
She stated that she has already met with Patriarch Ilia II, fourth president Giorgi Margvelashvili and members of various political parties over her initiative.
Zurabishvili initiated an ‘inclusive process and a national conversation involving all of society’ in order to ‘achieve a shared understanding of recent history, to help heal divisions and move forward’ on December 10 at the Summit for Democracy organized by US President Joe Biden.
Imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili, who earlier said that ‘reconciliation is in everyone’s interests,’ has immediately responded to the initiative and said that the process should have been launched by Zurabishvili’s meeting with him and Margvelashvili in Gori military hospital, where Saakashvili is now.
The Georgian Dream ruling party, however, says that the reconciliation is possible ‘if Saakashvili and his United National Movement party admit to all grave crimes they committed while in office and then leave politics.’
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.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili will hold a New Year reception today where she will host leaders of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party and opposition at the Orbeliani Presidential Palace. The head of the largest opposition party, United National Movement's Nika Melia, and Droa movement leader Elene Khoshtaria refused to attend the event ‘due to the format of the meeting.’
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.’
Head of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party Irakli Kobakhidze says 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.’
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has met with MPs Khatia Dekanoidze from the United National Movement (UNM) and Salome Samadashvili from Lelo for Georgia faction earlier today, where the ongoing issues in the country were discussed, including ‘political justice.'
Opposition United National Movement (UNM) Head Nika Melia has announced a mass hunger strike demanding imprisoned former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili's release during the UNM rally held in central Tbilisi this evening.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has said that 'the language of ultimatum, hunger strikes' do not relieve tensions during her speech at the 2021 Ambassadorial Conference held online earlier this evening.
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.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has stated that she has neither the leverage nor the power to reconcile the opposing forces in Georgia while discussing her reconciliation initiative, which she announced on December 10 at the Summit for Democracy organised by US President Joe Biden.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has stated in the New Year congratulation speech that her task is ‘to find a path of national consent for the country’s future,’ stressing the importance of reconciliation of the Georgian people.