Mikheil Kavelashvili, President of Georgia, highlighted his country’s 3,000-year history, unique alphabet, ancient language and 17-century-long Christian tradition.  “Despite centuries of continuous warfare with invaders, the cultural environment in Georgia has always been distinguished by exceptional humanism, tolerance and compassion for others,” he said.  With a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape and unprecedented global challenges — from conflicts and climate change to ideological polarization, cultural alienation and war-driven humanitarian crises — Georgia stands as a guardian of dialogue, peace, stability and sustainable development.  “The fundamental philosophy of the Government of Georgia remains to preserve peace, and no matter the cost, to spare our people from war,” he said.

A horrific, bloody war has been raging in Ukraine for four years and has brought immense human suffering.  As the wounds of the 2008 war still have not healed for the Georgian people, “we understand better than many the pain that the Ukrainian nation endures today”, he said, firmly expressing unwavering support for the Ukrainian people.  Georgia strives to help transform the South Caucasus from a zone of conflict into a space of dialogue among civilizations and economic prosperity.  He welcomed United States President Donald J. Trump’s peace initiative between Armenia and Azerbaijan and his efforts to end the war between the Russian Federation and Ukraine.

Georgia’s key position in the Middle Corridor makes it the shortest connecting route between Europe and Asia, the West and the East.  The Government is helping develop this strategic route to “ensure that the corridor becomes the safest, most reliable and most stable connecting route between East and West”, he said.  It is working with international investors to develop infrastructure and new energy transit routes to improve connections between Asian and European markets.  To promote the development of the Middle Corridor, Georgia has hosted the Tbilisi Silk Road Forum for eight years.  “Our goal is to develop constructive relations based on mutual respect and shared benefit with major economies such as the United States, China, European Union and others,” he said.

Noting that 20 per cent of Georgia’s territory remains under occupation, he addressed the Abkhaz and Ossetian people living on the other side of the occupation line.  “My Abkhaz and Ossetian brothers and sisters, our cultural code has not changed,” he said.  Georgians will always meet compatriots from the other side of the occupation line with “open hearts and outstretched hands.  It is our duty, through joint efforts, to overcome artificially created obstacles, rebuild broken bridges and leave past grievances to history, as a people of exceptional patience and resilience,” he said.  He thanked the international community for its support of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.