Irakli Kobakhidze: dream of Georgian people to become the full-fledged member of European family will surely come true

“The dream of our people to become the full-fledged member of European family will surely come true” – the Speaker stated at the 14th International Conference “Georgia’s European Way” held in Batumi.

According to him, since restoration of independence up-today, Georgia has been through the significant progress in terms of democratic development, which is universally recognized by the international community. During the last 26 years, Georgia qualitatively increased the human rights standard and enhanced democratic institutions.

“The role of the international society, including our European and American partners in this process is immense, for which I would like to express my gratitude again. Georgia and Georgian citizens are loyal to democratic values”.

According to him, on the basis of the 26 years of statehood experience, Georgia now moves to the qualitatively new stage of democratic consolidation and undertakes the wide-scale Constitutional reform serving for this historical task. “Currently, the wide-scale Constitutional reform is ongoing in Georgia which serves this particular historical task. It aims at compliance of the main law of the country with the modern principles of Constitutionalism, improvement of the state administration form, provision of long-term democratic and stable development of Georgia and occupation of our deserved place in the European family. The Constitutional democracy is the basis of the security policy not only for Georgia but for other regional countries”.

State administration based on democratic values is the integral part of the regional security. He noted that the democratic states less refer to wars and violence for solution of international problems. “Democratic states less refer to wars and violence for solution of international problems. They believe that cooperation is more successful and productive. They, forgetting the past, are doomed for repetition thereof – this phrase by Spanish philosopher, George Santayana was never so relevant. After accomplishment of the cold war, the developments in our region clearly demonstrated that degree of security increases under the cooperation and vice versa. Refusal of cooperation always brings the negative result”.

The Speaker noted that peace and stability can be achieved with cooperation based on the democratic values. “Equipped with this historical experience, we strongly believe that peace and stability can only be achieved through cooperation based on democratic values. Hence, the paramount dimension of the regional security is regional cooperation. Frank and close international cooperation based on a consensus allows sharing interests, positions, approximating and conflict prevention. EU is the best demonstration of this approach”.

The Speaker underlined the merit of EU in achievement of long-term peace, stability, security, development and welfare in Europe. This achievement shall be maintained with attachment of particular attention to conflict de-escalation in EaP states, including Georgia. “European project has survived various historical challenges and difficulties and keeps successful development during years. It is the merit of EU that peace, stability, security, development and welfare are provided in Europe. This achievement shall be maintained, so we shall attach particular attention to conflict de-escalation and prevention of new conflicts in EaP states, including Georgia. Although, we lack of so-called hot phase of the conflicts in Georgia at present, however, as one of the founders of modern EU, the former German Chancellor, Helmut Kohl used to say - peace must be more than the absence of war”.

Georgia still encounters the creeping occupation, he stated and noted that despite of these challenges, Georgia will become the full-fledged member of European family, which is a historical choice of Georgian people and a historical mission of the Government.

“The human rights are grossly violated on the occupied territories. Hundreds of thousands of our citizens are deprived of the fundamental right – not to live displaced in their homeland. Despite of these challenges, Georgia will become the full-fledged member of European family, which is a historical choice of Georgian people and a historical mission of the Government”.

The Speaker attends the 14th international conference “Georgia’s European Way” held on July 13-14 in Batumi.