Georgian FM Condemns Russian Aggression at Warsaw Security Summit
The challenges facing the region and Georgia due to the Russian aggression against Georgia were the key issue highlighted by the Georgian Foreign Minister, Davit Zalkaliani, at the Warsaw Security Forum (WSF), which he attended along with his Polish, Lithuanian and Ukrainian counterparts on October 24-25.
Zalkaliani brought the attention of the forum participants to the Russian aggression against Georgia in 2008 which is still ongoing 10 years later.
The Foreign Minister stressed that by recognizing the independence of Georgia’s two occupied regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Russia tries to impose a so-called new reality on the international community.
“Unfortunately, this occupation continues. We are facing a process of the factual annexation of both Abkhazia and Tskinvali regions and the new narrative the Russian Federation is trying to disseminate among the international community that Georgia is experiencing a different reality, is purely their perspective of what is happening in Georgia,” he said.
Zalkaliani stressed that this “reality” cannot be accepted, and the international community should raise its voice against this injustice.
In addition, he noted that Russia continues to build up its military bases in Georgia’s occupied territories, posing a threat to the security of the entire South Caucasus, and in particular, of the Black Sea region.
However, the FM underlined that Georgia’s response to the occupation is a peaceful policy and peace initiatives aimed at sharing the benefits of Georgia’s European integration with the population living beyond the occupation line as the main vector for the development of the country. He emphasized that Georgia’s aspiration to the EU and NATO is enshrined in the Constitution of Georgia and is one of the five key priorities of the government’s program.
“The way of European integration is really a very interesting and helpful process for Georgia. We understand that the Association Agreement signed back in 2014 together with the DCFTA, is not a membership agreement…but this process helps us to strengthen our state institutions and build a vibrant democratic society where human rights are protected, where national minority rights are protected in a country which is fighting corruption,” he said.
The Minister underlined Georgia’s significant progress on this path and said that a differentiated approach to the Eastern Partnership countries is essential for the further development of this format.
Speaking at the WSF, Zalkaliani highlighted Georgia’s outstanding role in the diversification of energy sources. According to him, the EU needs to put a greater focus on the region and use all the opportunities offered by Georgia, as well as the Central Asian countries.
Established in 2014, the Warsaw Security Forum is a leading conference in Central and Eastern Europe devoted to issues of international security, military affairs, cyber threats, transatlantic cooperation, as well as challenges and opportunities ahead not only for Poland, but the entire region of Central and Eastern Europe.
Each year, the WSF gathers key policy-makers, industry leaders, as well as military and civilian experts from around the world in order to discuss events, trends, as well as opportunities and challenges ahead for the Transatlantic Community.
By Thea Morrison
Image source: Georgian MFA