Georgian PM highlights protection of “interests of citizens” on backdrop of global challenges
In his speech at the Georgian Parliament to present the annual report on the work of the Government, Garibashvili said the country enjoyed a “continuous” period of peace and stability under the Georgian Dream party Government. Photo: Government Administration
Tweet 
Share
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday highlighted his Government’s task to “save the country and protect the interests of the citizens” in the reality of changes in the rules-based international order and a “real” threat of nuclear conflict on the backdrop of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
In his speech at the Georgian Parliament to present the annual report on the work of the Government, Garibashvili said the country enjoyed a “continuous” period of peace and stability under the Georgian Dream party Government.
We have to work in a situation when we have not only external threats, but also internal threats. Destructive actions of internal enemies represent a direct challenge, a threat to our country, to our stability”, he told MPs.
“What the Georgian Dream party has been able to do over the last 10 years is truly unprecedented. We have a continuous peaceful period, a continuous stable period, which is the basis for the development of our country”, he said.
The Government head also said the challenges included the “most difficult and challenging” period for the world, caused by the war in Ukraine.
We have to work in a very difficult situation. The war in Ukraine is, of course, a challenge not only for our region, but for the entire world. We are seeing the rules-based international order change and, in fact, the threat of nuclear weapons being used is real”, he noted.
“In such a situation, of course, the main concern of me as the Prime Minister and our Government is to save our country, protect the interests of the citizens and most importantly, maintain strong economic development”, Garibashvili continued.
Garibashvili also noted the country had had a “very strong” economic growth in the last two years.
We had a 10 percent economic growth in the last two years [and] [w]e started this year with quite strong figures [...] According to the data for the month of May, in the first five months we have had an economic growth of 7.5 percent, which, you will agree, is quite a strong achievement in such a situation”, the PM told lawmakers.
Georgia and its people, as a “proud and freedom-loving nation”, share the same values and principles of freedom and democracy that “form the foundation of the enduring friendship” with the United States, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Thursday at the official reception held at the US Embassy in Tbilisi on the occasion of the Declaration of Independence of the USA.
Georgian Vice Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze on Thursday said Georgia “has been doing its utmost” to support Ukraine amid the ongoing war and wished the latter the “return of the peaceful days soon” and restoration of territorial integrity.
Sanctions officials from the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States, who were on a visit to Georgia this week, on Wednesday highlighted they had been “convinced” that the country’s Government was “seriously” determined not to allow the circumvention of sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Wednesday said the European Union “cannot afford to lose Georgia” and to “have Georgian citizens disappointed again” in the upcoming decision on whether to grant the country the bloc’s membership candidate status.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday said if the European Union did not grant the country the membership candidate status this year, the decision would be “another strategic mistake” on the part of the bloc.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday said the “destructive war party” - a reference to some of the domestic political opposition and their alleged partners abroad - had experienced a “complete fiasco” in its plans to “open a second front” in Georgia amid the war in Ukraine, which he said had been “one of the main goals” of the forces.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday told the Parliament he had confidence that the country had “more supporters than opponents” in Europe in its efforts to be granted the European Union membership candidate status later this year.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday said the Abkhazian railway in the Russian-occupied Georgian territory “can be restored only when the country becomes reunited”.