The President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili held a New Year meeting for the representatives of political parties at the Orbeliani Palace and introduced them to her own initiative to start the process of national consent.
The President noted that 30 years have passed since gaining independence, Georgia is a mature state and it is time for the country to move to a more mature, new policy.
“We have been through very difficult processes, and with the exception of periods where there was total controversy, there were always two or more camps. No-one wants a repeat of this in the country. The past, which we have not yet analyzed, is a burden today. Society is already tired. With all those unbearable situations, with the emergence of Covid, and considering the social and economic conditions, there is practically no prospect in the country for calm and the chance to take care of the main issues. These issues are: development, overcoming poverty, uniting society. Everything is divided, even the Church is divided. We also notice that we forget the outside world. Outside, around us, very close to us – what is happening? What are the threats and opportunities? We somehow forget,” Zurabishvili said.
The President noted that today everything is polarized, all fields. She added that reconciliation is the result and not the starting point. It begins with a hearing, an exchange of views, continues with the telling of the truth and an understanding of the truth, with justice, and then reconciliation can take place, which, the President called the “process of national consent.”
“In order for this process to move forward, it is necessary to form a consensus platform, where we will jointly decide what the next stage of these talks should be, with foreigners, or the Georgian process. No matter the efforts and diligence of our partners from the outside, they do not have understanding from within to manage this difficult, powerful and long process, because it will not be a couple of days of waiting for such results – it is unrealistic. That is why it should be a process managed by us,” Zurabishvili said.
By Ketevan Skhirtladze
