Georgia

It is a great honour for me to represent my country here at the United Nations. In recent years, the world has witnessed Georgia’s unwavering transformation to freedom, democracy and economic development. We have experienced tremendous advances, and occasional challenges, on our journey to a fuller and more open democracy. We are a vastly stronger nation than we were 20 years ago, and we are a much stronger nation than we were just two years ago. While we have made significant progress in a few short years, we are still a young democracy, and much remains to be done. I am fortunate to be part of a new generation of Georgians who grew up in the years following the Cold War. My entire life is one of being part of remarkable change. Our tremendous progress is due to the commitment of the Georgian people to democratic values and their embrace of international cooperation. Because our democratic transformation has been so hard, we do not take anything for granted. To paraphrase President Kennedy: we do not do these things because they are easy, we do them because they are hard. During difficult times, the Georgian people took to the streets in peaceful protest and made their voices heard at the ballot box to ensure that our democratic path continued. I want to express my sincere admiration for the people of Georgia and for their energy and commitment to securing our democratic progress. I would also like to express my gratitude to the international community, our partner countries represented in this Hall and international organizations, especially the United Nations, for supporting Georgia and listening to the Georgian people. Despite all the challenges that we have faced, the citizens of Georgia are full of hope. The support from the international community and international organizations continues to play a crucial role in Georgia’s progress. On behalf of the people of Georgia, we thank them. Georgia’s success is their success. Georgia’s journey is a testament to the good work done by the United Nations and our international partners. In the past two years, we have taken concrete steps to break the vicious cycle of Government corruption, impunity and an economy that benefited only a few. We have created a true democracy with a system of governance that is more open, more transparent and more accountable and that upholds the rule of law. We have established a social compact that rewards work and enterprise, while offering support for those in need. As recognized by various international organizations, the Georgia of today is another world compared to that of two decades ago, or even just two years ago. Every sector of our country has advanced dramatically, from health care and education to the economy and the rule of law. We are now at the dawn of a new day for Georgia. Our democratic institutions are stronger. Our foreign policy is making us more secure. Our growing economy is working to benefit all Georgians. We are strengthening and consolidating Georgia’s democracy. The parliamentary, presidential and municipal elections held in Georgia during this two- year period are truly something to celebrate. Because Georgia’s democracy was hard-won, there is no going back. The Georgian people will hold the Government accountable at the ballot box. My Government must earn every vote by serving the people faithfully and by achieving progress for the country. We are strengthening democratic institutions and establishing stronger checks and balances. Our new Constitution decentralizes executive power and creates greater accountability at all levels of Government. Our Parliament now functions as a true legislature. Laws are proposed, debated and amended. Committees hold hearings and question ministers. The old rubber stamp has been thrown away. We now guarantee the protection of human rights through a new human rights strategy and action plan. In addition, we are equally proud to have enacted a new anti-discrimination law that extends the protection of human rights to all Georgian citizens. We have restored the rule of law by establishing an independent judiciary and by instituting more rights for defendants. We have ended impunity by Government officials and torture and abuse in our prisons. All Georgians are now equal before the law. No one is above the law. Everyone will have the benefit of a judicial process that meets the highest international standards. We are committed to building truly strong, independent and high-quality media. The media, like civil society, are essential to a strong democracy. While I may not always agree with what the media say or write, I will always fight to make sure that they have the right to the freedom of speech. Such reforms will benefit all citizens of my country. Our goal is to unify our society through the rule of law and democracy. Our commitment to aligning more closely with the United States and Europe goes hand in hand with our commitment to continued democratic transformation. The United States is a key strategic ally of Georgia. The relationship between our countries at all levels of Government has never been stronger. Increased Euro-Atlantic and European integration is our way of returning to the family of European nations, with whom we share a history, a culture and, most important, common values. Our new Association Agreement with the European Union and our steadfast movement towards NATO membership form the foundation for that relationship and provide an umbrella for greater engagement. As German Chancellor Angela Merkel said at this very rostrum, there is no development without security and no security without development (see A/65/PV.5). Our Association Agreement is the master plan for the gradual establishment of European political, economic, social and legislative norms and standards. My country has embarked on a demanding path of wide-ranging reforms. We will deliver on our commitments. I believe that Georgia’s democratic transformation can serve as a model for other countries in the region. Today, we pledge to share our experience with nations going through similar transitions. As we deepen our European and Euro-Atlantic integration, we are also becoming a truly open and globalized economy. We are making important investments and reforms to unlock the full potential of the Georgian economy and the Georgian people. From universal health care to investments in clean energy, Georgia is becoming a twenty-first-s we pursue those reforms, we seek to implement the United Nations development agenda beyond 2015. We have become a leader in sustainable development, taking the outcomes of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development seriously. We are ready to work together with the international community to define a post-2015 development agenda that is inclusive and people-centred. That agenda will address the need to achieve economic stability, sustained economic growth, the promotion of social equity and the protection of the environment. At the same time, we are committed to enhancing gender equality, women’s empowerment and equal employment for every Georgian. The future belongs to the next generation, so the protection and development of our children to achieve their full potential must be based on greater investment in their education. A top area of concern for Georgia is the issue of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees. There are hundreds of thousands of IDPs in Georgia as a result of Russia’s military aggression. Yet Georgia is still taking in refugees from other conflict-torn regions. Sadly, the sources of new refugees are increasing, not decreasing, especially in the light of current conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. We are also doing everything we can to help our friends in Ukraine by providing humanitarian assistance, political support, technical help — such as sending doctors and medicine — and serving as a safe refuge for children affected by the conflict. We are also helping them implement reforms and strengthen their democratic institutions. The ongoing developments in Ukraine tear at our hearts. We strongly support Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. We hope that the recent peace treaties will put an end to the military operations once and for all and mark the beginning of an irreversible peacemaking process. The international community has spoken with increasing support every year for the right of return by adopting the General Assembly resolution on the “Status of internally displaced persons and refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia, and the Tskhinvali region/ South Ossetia, Georgia”. It is essential that the General Assembly continue to retain this humanitarian issue on the agenda and support the rights of the forcibly displaced with strength and conviction. I should now like to address my brothers and sisters in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. I say to my dear brothers and sisters, I dream of the day when we shall all live together in peace and prosperity. We are committed to the path of reconciliation and restoring Georgia’s full territorial integrity and sovereignty. We must work to find a way for them to participate in our success, including the benefits of our new European Union Association Agreement. I also call on the Russian Government to fulfil its obligations under the 2008 international ceasefire and join in the search for peace, prosperity and reconciliation. Our history and our values are a source of strength. When combined with our strategic location, this allows us to offer something unique to the world and serve as a driver of peace and security. Beyond our borders, we aim to contribute to global security as a supplier of security, not just a consumer. My country’s dedication to becoming a security contributor to the world is evident in our aspirations for European and Euro-Atlantic integration, which are the main pillars of Georgia’s foreign policy. Building on the achievements of the past two years, my country has made significant progress that reinforces our path to eventual NATO membership. The historic NATO Summit reaffirmed that Georgia will be a member of NATO in the future, and our people remain committed to this ultimate objective. As a result of the decisions taken at the Wales Summit, NATO will significantly increase Georgia’s integration and provide tangible cooperation initiatives that will increase Georgia’s capabilities and overall security. We are the largest non-NATO contributor to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (ISAF), and we are committed to taking part in the post- ISAF mission. From the operation’s outset, our troops, including medical personnel, staff officers and training instructors, will be ready for deployment. We also plan to contribute to institution-building in Afghanistan. We stand with our allies in combating all forms of terrorism and organized crime, anywhere in the world. We are also proud to contribute to the European Union’s efforts under the Common Security and Defence Policy to build peace and security worldwide. In that context, as the second-largest participant, a Georgian battalion and a light infantry company have already started a mission under the EU-led operation in the Central African Republic. Our willingness to serve shoulder to shoulder with our allies is not the only way Georgia is serving as a global security provider. We are also taking a rational approach to reducing regional tensions and preventing conflict. Let me be clear, Georgia will never sacrifice its territorial integrity and sovereignty. However, we will continue to look for pathways to reconciliation with our brothers and sisters in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. We Georgians want a good relationship with Russia, but never at the expense of our sovereignty and independence, which we fought so hard to achieve. To that end, we are pursuing a new approach, different from that of our predecessors, in dealing with Russia. We are pursuing a two-track engagement strategy based on our being a responsible, pragmatic and constructive neighbour. On the first track, we started an unconditional dialogue with Russia on the resumption of trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian relations. On the second track, we have continued to seek a peaceful settlement of the August 2008 war and the end of Russian occupation of Georgian territory, based on the fundamental principles of international law. The first track has produced significant results and has helped reduce tensions between Georgia and Russia. Trade has reopened and Georgian exports to Russia have increased over 300 per cent. People-to- people exchanges have also increased dramatically. We are coexisting more calmly as neighbours. This approach has also increased stability in the entire South Caucasus region. However, Georgia’s efforts to reduce tensions and extend an olive branch to Russia have not been met with the same spirit of cooperation. We have taken every constructive step. Now it is time for the Russian Government to stop the occupation and start on a path to lasting peace. My country is committed to using its strategic location to connect Asia, Europe and the Middle East, thereby expanding trade from one end of Eurasia to the other. The reopening of the Silk Road is one of the greatest achievements brought about by the end of the Cold War. The Silk Road region accounts for two thirds of the world’s population and 60 per cent of its gross domestic product. If its potential is fully tapped, it will become a key force for the expansion of trade, the development of new energy resources and supply chains and the promotion of cultural exchanges. To fully unlock that potential, the international community must redouble its efforts in three key areas: trade and transport, energy, and people-to-people contacts. We have deepened cooperation with Turkey, China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan to integrate transportation corridors and open new routes that will bring goods from Asia to Western Europe in record time. Energy resources are a key driver of Silk Road economic development and integration. We support a key route for Caspian Sea oil and gas to travel to Europe. Last year, the Shah Deniz Consortium announced a massive expansion of the South Caucasus Pipeline through Azerbaijan and Georgia, which will bring 16 billion cubic metres of new natural gas to Europe and Turkey and thousands of new jobs to Georgia. Several days ago, I was in Azerbaijan to break ground and lay the first segment of that new pipeline. The expansion will lead to approximately $2 billion in new investment by the Consortium in Georgia alone. Of course, that will result in Georgia receiving significant quantities of natural gas to improve our economic development and security. Clean, renewable energy can also be a driver for regional energy cooperation. In Georgia, we are utilizing our massive hydropower resources to become a carbon-neutral country and to export renewable energy to our neighbours. The potential of the region is great, but more is needed to turn such potential into reality. Georgia is ready to use its location as a strategic crossroads and to do its part to fully revitalize the Silk Road. To that end, I intend to establish a Silk Road forum in 2015, and in Georgia we plan to launch an annual high-level meeting of all States and international organizations that are interested in the future of the Silk Road. The forum will discover new ideas for enhancing cooperation in the fields of transport, energy, trade and people-to-people contacts across the Silk Road. The forum will move beyond discussion to action. In conclusion, let me reaffirm that I am so very confident that our best years are ahead of us, and that our worst are now part of history. I am confident that Georgians have come together to move our nation forward and to fulfil the promise of a strong, independent and free, great Georgian nation. Working together, there is no limit on what Georgia, the region and the world can achieve. I look forward to seeing many present here today in Tbilisi.