Agriculture Minister’s Parliament address highlights “responsibility” of maintaining peace in Georgia amid Ukraine war

Georgian Agriculture Minister Otar Shamugia on Thursday told the country’s Parliament the “responsibility” of the Government to “maintain peace [and] prevent a difficult political, social and economic situation” in the country had gained a further significance since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

Speaking in the Minister’s Hour format to present a report on the work of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture over the past year, Shamugia told lawmakers “we have even more responsibility to protect the interests of the country, maintain peace, prevent a difficult political, social and economic situation, and be able to move forward, including towards the main goal [of] European integration”.

He also cited the significance of maintaining economic development while ensuring protection of the environment, maintaining its sustainability and facilitating rational use of natural resources. The Minister called the task an “important challenge” both in Georgia and the wider world.

That is why all the activities, programmes and events that we plan and implement are, on the one hand, aimed at fully and effectively utilising the potential in the agricultural sector [and] promoting the production and sale of competitive Georgian products that are in demand on international markets, and, on the other hand, at protecting our environment as much as possible”, Shamugia told MPs.

He also stressed protection of water, land and forest resources from “pressure and damage”.

“Consistent implementation of the environmental policy should ensure a sustainable and balanced development of the country. With all of the above in mind, we will meet the standards set by the international community”, he said.