A meeting on the economic issues was held on September 26. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan …
Day: September 25, 2024
On September 25, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze delivered a speech at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). While claims about Georgia’s successful macroeconomic figures were particularly prominent, his speech made no mention of Russia when briefly addressing Ukraine and Georgia’s occupied territories.
PM Kobakhidze started his speech by praising the Georgian Dream government, saying that it believes that “Georgia inherently deserves to be a peaceful, stable and developed country” and that it has ensured Georgia’s development along this path over the past decade.
He continued by stating that while the world should be concerned about global development challenges, the ongoing war in Ukraine has caused “an unprecedented level of uncertainty and humanitarian crisis.” PM Kobakhidze said Georgia’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity remains “firm” and “unwavering,” though he made no mention of Russia.
Continuing with the theme of peace, he said that Georgia’s efforts aim to transform the South Caucasus region “from a region of conflicts into a region of opportunities.” He added, “We welcome the process of peaceful settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan and, in particular, the efforts aimed at normalizing relations with neighboring countries.”
After that, PM Kobakhidze spoke about Georgia’s strategic location. He stressed the country’s “strong relations” with China and central Asian countries and noted that Georgia is a “key player” in the regional and Euroasian context. He stressed Georgia’s transit role, and mentioned its role in the Middle Corridor project.
PM Kobakhidze’s speech included broader praise for Georgia’s macroeconomic figures, citing several rankings and emphasizing that the country is ahead in various metrics compared to many European and other global nations.
He then made a brief comment on Georgia’s occupied territories, stating, “Despite the fact that 20 percent of our territories are under illegal occupation, we continue to thrive, continue to grow, and continue to ensure that our children live in a better, stronger, and more dignified Georgia,” without mentioning Russia.
He then addressed the people living in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali saying “Whatever actions we take are done to help our people so that one day with our children we can live together in one happy, united and developed Georgia.”
At the end of his speech, PM Kobakhidze said that Georgia’s government is “determined to guide our country with the best interests of the nation to make sure we overcome all our challenges and become stronger and more successful than ever before.”
He concluded by saying, “We are optimistic that Georgia’s desire to become a full-fledged member of the European Union will be achieved by 2030.”
After his speech, PM Kobakhidze spoke with Georgian journalists, stating that restoring Georgia’s territorial integrity is “the main national goal” of the government. Echoing his patron, GD Honorary Chair Bidzina Ivanishvili, who weeks earlier offered an apology to the Ossetians for the 2008 war, Kobakhidze emphasized that the path to the peaceful restoration of Georgia’s territorial integrity involves “mutual forgiveness” and “mutual reconciliation.”
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Discussed w/@volker_turk key priorities of cooperation w/@UNHumanRights, also given regional developments.
🇦🇲’s position on reaching more stable & peaceful environment in #SouthCaucasus is clear, while int’l partners, including 🇺🇳, also have an important mandate & role to play. pic.twitter.com/NNshaOQEig
— Ararat Mirzoyan (@AraratMirzoyan) September 25, 2024
Good opportunity to meet @FilippoGrandi at #UNGA79.
Touched upon ongoing coop w/@Refugees🇺🇳, including while addressing needs of people forcibly displaced from NK a year ago.
Reiterated 🇦🇲’s vision for establishment of lasting peace in #SouthCaucasus & signing the peace treaty. pic.twitter.com/RqOI884NDb
— Ararat Mirzoyan (@AraratMirzoyan) September 25, 2024
U.S. senators have called it “unconscionable” that Transparency International-Georgia Director Eka Gigauri is being “punished” by the Anti-Corruption Bureau for her recent testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee regarding anti-NGO laws.
The Senators’ statement comes after the Bureau qualified TI-Georgia, a corruption watchdog, along with another public movement, Vote for Europe, and their leaders as “political actors with declared electoral objectives” due to their voter mobilization efforts.
“We are concerned by Georgia’s Anti-Corruption Bureau’s decision to laber Transparency International Georgia and Vote for Europe as organizations ‘with a declared electoral goal.’ These NGOs are active in preparing monitoring missions for the upcoming Georgian elections, but are not party to the electoral contest. They support democracy regardless of whom people vote for,” stated the September 25 joint statement from U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.),
The Senators link the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s decision to target Eka Gigauri specifically to her recent testimony she gave before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s September 12 hearing on “Anti-NGO Laws and Other Tools of Democratic Repression.” The Senators assert the Bureau’s targeting of her “proves that autocratic governments are misusing laws to punish independent voices.”
Local CSOs and opposition politicians believe that the Anti-Corruption Bureau, which is supposed to monitor political parties, has overstepped its mandate by targeting CSOs for their voter mobilization activities and placing them under special legislation that applies only to political subjects. They warn that the Bureau’s action sets a dangerous precedent by misusing the law to restrict the activities and freedom of expression of other CSOs.
As part of its directive, the Anti-Corruption Bureau requires TI-Georgia, Vote for Europe and their leaders to disclose their financial statements.
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