President Zurabishvili: 'ultimatum, hunger strikes' do not relieve tensions
Zurabishvili initiated the national reconciliation process in Georgia. Photo: President's press office
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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.
Zurabishvili's statement came after opposition United National Movement Head Nika Melia announced a mass hunger strike demanding the release of imprisoned former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili.
Zurabishvili noted that although 'escalation and tensions' persist both on local and international levels, they cannot be resolved without 'real dialogue.'
We see escalation and tensions in the country and around the world. Inside and outside, the response to these tensions and challenges is out of sync with reality: the language of ultimatum, hunger strikes do not relieve tensions nor do they offer us a way out of stalemate and these cannot bring us and the world out of this situation, she said.
"Because we must seek deescalation and long-term stability, I started the process of #nationalaccord. In this, I need the full support of our diplomatic service because it should be supported by our partners and our diaspora"
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) December 22, 2021
My speech at the 2021 Ambassadorial Conference pic.twitter.com/b5NawMAtqk
Zurabishvili, who initiated the process of national reconciliation to end polarisation in Georgia, called on the diplomatic corps to support her endeavour.
The Georgian president also expressed her support and solidarity for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, encouraging 'all dialogue attempts' to de-escalate the situation.