PM to Global Security Forum: peaceful de-occupation “end goal” of “every citizen”, Gov’t
The Government head told the panel the country had suffered wars and loss of territories “under every government” since the 1990s and before his party assumed power. Photo: Government Administration
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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday told a panel at the Global Security Forum in Bratislava achieving peaceful de-occupation of Georgia’s Russian-occupied regions was the “end goal” of the country’s citizens and his Government.
He told the event the ruling Georgian Dream party had developed an approach of “strategic patience” to the matter of ensuring de-occupation of the Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions - occupied since the Russia-Georgia war of 2008 - when it came into power in 2012.
Georgia has a direct border with Russia. It’s almost 600 kilometres. This is a big challenge for us. On the one hand, this occupation puts our country at enormous risks and challenges. On the other hand, what Georgia has managed to achieve is that we have managed to secure peace and stability. If you look at our modern history since we regained our independence, this is the only uninterrupted peaceful period in Georgia”, Garibashvili said.
The Government head told the panel the country had suffered wars and loss of territories “under every government” since the 1990s and before his party assumed power.
This is the only period where Georgia has not had any wars, any escalation, any conflict and has not lost any territories. [At the same time] we managed to sign the [2014] Association Agreement [and] visa-free travel [with the EU], we received the European perspective [from the bloc last year]. I think this is a miracle. It’s good experience. A good example”, Garibashvili continued.
The PM also stressed his Government was creating a “good precedent” on how to navigate through a “turbulent situation and survive”.
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