Top

Giorgi Gakharia: The time has come to take further steps

Giorgi Gakharia: The time has come to take further steps
Giorgi Gakharia: The time has come to take further steps

Georgia's role in the wider Black Sea region, the country's Euro-Atlantic aspirations, territorial occupation, security challenges in the region, and hybrid threats were the main topics of the Georgian Prime Minister's speech in the field of defense and security. Giorgi Gakharia participated in a thematic discussion organized by the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (RUSI) and the leading analysts of the organization.

"This is our daily life. For years, Georgia's democratic and economic development has been under constant pressure from the Russian Federation. Even today, during the pandemic, we face the so-called borderization process along the occupation line. Of course, the situation in the occupied territories is dire. Russia is continuously violating the 2008 ceasefire agreement, and we have thousands of internally displaced persons and refugees who are still unable to return home.

We daily face active disinformation campaigns, which is the most important aspect of the country's hybrid field. Georgia is recognized as a successful country in the fight against COVID-19. However, in this regard, we have become the target of a cyber-attack that has directly threatened our healthcare system - first and foremost, the Lugar Laboratory, a center that plays a vital role in the fight against coronavirus.

European and Euro-Atlantic integration is the main priority of Georgia's foreign policy agenda and the historical choice of the Georgian people. At the same time, it implies the process of democratization. In terms of Euro-Atlantic aspirations, the first goal is European integration. Yes, we currently have practical tools - the Association Agreement (including the DCFTA) and visa liberalization, but the time has come to take further steps.

We are starting negotiations with the EU on a new agenda - and not only for the Eastern Partnership, which has been very successful for us but also the associated countries. There should be new tools for them to expand cooperation with the EU. Besides, of course, the goal of our Euro-Atlantic integration is NATO membership. In recent years, our cooperation with NATO has been characterized by high dynamics. We are well aware that we have no political readiness for now, but we must reaffirm our decision to continue this process, as our country is ready to pursue structural reforms," Giorgi Gakharia stated. 

If you find out orphographic mistake in the text, please select mistaken part of the text and press Ctrl + Enter.

Last added

Latest news



orphus_system