Parliament speaker: young people can jointly contribute to ensuring peaceful future and prosperity, have “special role” in building peace

The parliament speaker welcomed the Georgian government’s efforts to improve the socio-economic conditions of the “conflict-affected population” and provide them with “better prospects” for the future, and noted the peaceful resolution of the conflict has been an outstanding priority for Georgia. Photo: IPN.ge

Agenda.ge, 21 Sep 2022 - 20:08, Tbilisi,Georgia

Young people have a “special role” in building peace, they can “jointly” contribute to the restoration of trust and the implementation of various peace initiatives, as well as ensure a peaceful future and prosperity, the Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili said on Wednesday at the event Youth in Peacebuilding in the country’s capital Tbilisi.

At the event, organised by the Georgian state ministry for reconciliation and civic equality for the International Day of Peace, Papuashvili stressed the importance of peace in the current “fragile and difficult” geo-political situation in the region, against the background of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, and the escalation between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The military confrontations in the wider region pose a great threat to the development of countries and the region, and the peaceful future of young people. Georgia has gone through many wars in the last 30 years, so we know the price of peace. The steps taken towards the occupation and annexation of the two regions of Georgia [Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia)] bring heavy consequences for our country and population every day”, Papuashvili noted during his speech.

The parliament speaker welcomed the Georgian government’s efforts to improve the socio-economic conditions of the “conflict-affected population” and provide them with “better prospects” for the future, and noted the peaceful resolution of the conflict has been an outstanding priority for Georgia. 

I am glad that the peace award was established for young people for their contribution to peacebuilding. I thank you for your efforts and ask you to continue your worthy work in the same spirit. You are the great hope of our country. With your active participation, we will be able to unify Georgia and ensure a peaceful future", Papuashvili added.