Georgia’s national interest cannot be a subject of compromise for us – Irakli Kirtskhalia
Speaking at the parliamentary plenary session, Irakli Kirtskhalia, a leader of the parliamentary majority, stated that the Georgian government's primary priority is the protection of peace, sovereignty, and national interests.
He noted that Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s address from the high rostrum of the UN General Assembly a few days ago served to declare Georgia's position as a state.
"The Prime Minister placed special emphasis on our country's paramount national objective: the peaceful restoration of territorial integrity. His message to our Abkhaz and Ossetian fellow citizens reaffirms that our path is one of dialogue, reconciliation, the rebuilding of trust, and mutual rapprochement," Kirtskhalia stated.
He added that the Georgian government "knows the cost of war very well," and therefore, speaking about peace is neither a political slogan nor a sign of weakness. "In today's complex and rapidly changing world, maintaining peace requires steadfastness, adherence to principles, and wisdom," he noted.
According to Kirtskhalia, Georgia will cooperate with any country that recognizes Georgia as an independent and sovereign state and respects the choice of the Georgian people.
"Georgia has friends and partners, but the right to determine Georgia's fate belongs solely to the Georgian people. This principle remains unchanged for us, regardless of the source of political pressure, the interests others may have in the region, or the prevailing political climate in any given capital," the majority leader stated.
He added that government decisions must be made in accordance with Georgia's national interests.
"We will not deviate from this path. We will not be swayed by external pressure, domestic political radicalism, or those who consistently view Georgian politics through the lens of others' interests and agendas," Kirtskhalia declared. In his assessment, it is the government's responsibility to prevent anyone from testing "their own political scenarios" on Georgian territory at the expense of peace.
"Georgia's national interest cannot be a subject of compromise for us. Therefore, when making any decision, the primary question will not be who outside the country might approve of it, but rather what it will bring to Georgia," stated Irakli Kirtskhalia.