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

Agenda.ge, 30 Jun 2023 - 12:53, Tbilisi,Georgia

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.