A mission statement can be defined as a concise declaration of purpose—a summary that articulates why a group of people, an organization, a society, a political party, or even a nation exists, and what it aims to achieve. It serves as a guiding principle for decision-making, and communicates fundamental values and objectives to the wider world.
Drafting a Mission Statement for Sakartvelo (Georgia) is both a political and literary challenge and, in my view, a necessity. Such a statement could take many forms, shaped by an author’s values, education, cultural background, experience, and understanding of the nation. The following text represents what my own heart and mind have prompted, reflecting my personal vision of Georgia’s place in the world and its role in today’s complex struggle for humanity’s survival.
It has taken days of reflection to arrive at wording that I believe encompasses the essential elements of Georgia’s mission—a message that the international community should know for the sake of fair, constructive, and respectful cooperation with our country.
Here is the proposed draft:
“Georgia is one of the world’s oldest Christian nations, with its unique culture, language, and script. It continues to live and work peacefully alongside the rest of the world, supported by sufficient human and natural resources. Georgia understands that freedom and independence are both a confirmation of its self-governance and an opportunity for progressive development—an opportunity it pursues consistently by applying its physical and intellectual strengths. The knowledge and experience accumulated in Georgia form part of humanity’s collective heritage. Georgia is fully aware of its responsibilities toward the civilized world, and recognizes its place among nations. It aspires to be a country that safeguards its existence through the protection of its international rights and obligations. Georgia advances on the path of progress and democracy, and seeks to be an inseparable part of world civilization—a civilization still burdened by misconceptions and violence. Georgia considers the possible transformations in human life and is determined to guide these changes toward the benefit of humanist civilization, through mutually beneficial cooperation with other nations and adherence to universal human ideals.”
To my mind, this is the kind of statement that needs to be shared with the world if we are to ensure that the world forms the right attitude toward our nation—an attitude that Georgia unquestionably deserves.
And, speaking candidly, I would rather see such a text incorporated into the Constitution than the much-debated Article 78, which states that Georgia remains on its irreversible course toward Euro-Atlantic integration, prioritizing association with NATO and the EU.
Why do I say this? Because I believe that a constitution should primarily contain universal and timeless values—principles that are not vulnerable to political fluctuation and do not need to be altered unless extraordinary circumstances make amendment unavoidable.
To be clear, I am not calling for any change to the existing text of the supreme law. I am merely suggesting that a neutral, unifying mission statement might one day prove useful—should the need arise—in helping to safeguard the country’s stability and in keeping its guiding values above the turbulence of political change.
Blog by Nugzar B. Ruhadze
