ყოველთვიური არქივები: მარტი2023

Today’s speech of the President of Georgia before the highest legislative body of the country is aimed at deepening polarization in the country;

Chairman of the political group “European Socialists” of the Parliament of Georgia Fridon Injia stated this at the extraordinary session of the Parliament, where the President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili presented the annual report.

“Today’s speech of the President of Georgia and all recent statements are aimed at deepening polarization in the country.” – said Fridon Injia.

The chairman of the political group expressed the hope that the president of the country will make such statements during his presidential term, which will be aimed at the interests of the country, thus he will make his own small contribution to the construction and development of the state.

“Ms. Salome, you still have one more year before the end of your presidential term, and I ask you to make such statements that will be considered a step taken in favor of the interests of the country, a step taken towards saving the Georgian state – this means the interests of the citizens of Georgia, including the interests of the Georgian diaspora. You do not have any other great powers. Therefore, if you do this, you will be considered as laying even a small brick in saving the Georgian state.

What gives me the right to talk to you like this?

During the second round of the presidential elections, despite the fact that we are an opposition party, we fought day and night in Samegrelo for two weeks and you won in all eight districts in that very difficult region. Here, this gives me the right to say that we will not give up and the president we voted for will do the necessary things for the country,” said Fridon Injia.

In his speech, the deputy asked the country’s president to make an explanation based on his statements, what difference he sees between the events of March 7-8 and the fact of the invasion of the participants of the rally in the United States of America.

“Madam President, what difference do you see between the invasion of the participants of the protest action in the United States Congress and the storming of the Georgian Parliament building by the participants of the action?”

If there, the invasion of the capitol is considered an illegal act and the criminals were punished and sentenced to 10-15 years or more, here in Georgia, is it possible for radical groups to storm the parliament building, set it on fire and repeatedly use Molotov cocktails to kill policemen?

You, with your statements, support those people who are misled, who set fire to the parliament and attack law enforcement officers, mercilessly destroy the infrastructure and property of the state. Were these actions within the constitutional framework?

How are people who raise their hands on police officers punished in America? Here, during the March 7-8 rally, how many were maimed? Were the criminals punished? Or if they are punished, are you thinking of pardoning them?” Fridon Injia asked the president.

The deputy expressed hope that the time will come when the participants of the March 7-8 rally will realize the truth and everything will be called by its name.

The chairman of the political group reminded the president about the rules of the political game and team principles of cooperation, which principles should be followed by persons holding the highest political positions in the state.

“I want to talk to you about the rules of the game by which you became the president of Georgia.

We all have children, families and we know what responsibility we have before them. There are many historical examples in Georgia, where our kings, statesmen and first persons always put the interests of the country above everything else. Let me remind you that when you were the Minister of Foreign Affairs and had to resign, you had to make that decision precisely because you did not know the rules of the game. The “National Movement” despite many factors unacceptable to me, knows how to play the game, follow the rules, and the people you have gathered should not think that someone came to this gathering with your respect. They had a protest against the previous government. Therefore, you assumed and received the legitimacy that you could speak for the people. (Salome Zurabishvili in 2005, after her removal from the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs, gathered the population at the hippodrome).

Do not forget that the rules of the game were suggested to you by “Dream”. After all, you agreed and gave a promise to the then chairman of “Georgian Dream” that you would be devoted to Georgia and honorably fulfill the duty assigned to you as the president. He too, I mean Mr. Bidzina Ivanishvili, promised you that he would continue to provide colossal financial aid to Georgia, which he is doing, based on the interests of Georgia, despite his departure from politics and the unprecedented pressure on him, which cannot even be compared to the pressure on you and the existing obligations.

I believe that there is pressure on you today, but you have to rise above it, and I can give examples of that. Do you want an example of Israel, where the country’s prime minister and head of national security say that Israel is an independent country, they have their own national interests, and it will never become another extra star on the American flag.

“We respect the democratic system of the USA, but they should remember that Israel is an independent state, not just another star on the American flag.” – Prime Minister of Israel.

“Israel is a sovereign country, which makes decisions according to the will of its people, and not as a result of pressure from abroad, including the best friends”, – the Minister of National Security of Israel.

In his speech, Fridon Injia also reminded the president about the position of the government of Turkey, a strategic partner of Georgia, a neighboring country, which, according to the deputy, is a member of NATO and constantly fights for the interests of its people and country.

At the same time, the chairman of the political group believes that the country’s president and the government should properly understand the role of strategically important neighboring countries based on the interests of Georgia and the Georgian people.

“Economically, the real strategic neighboring countries for our country are: Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Kazakhstan, from which Georgia receives the main energy carriers – gas, oil, electric energy, essential products of primary consumption, which allows strengthening and strengthening of the economy of Georgia.” – said the deputy.

Fridon Injia negatively evaluated the statement made by the country’s president, according to which Salome Zurabishvili does not support the issue of restoring air traffic between Georgia and Russia.

“I think that you are making statements without looking ahead, against the interests of up to one million Georgians and the interests of their relatives living in Georgia, whose number is more than a million, who voted for you.

I believe that the restoration of air traffic between Sakatvelo and Russia is a humanitarian act, so that people can communicate with each other. We should try in every possible way to make life as easy as possible for our citizens and compatriots living in Georgia and Russia in terms of mutual transportation. We should seek and strengthen economic relations that will be beneficial for both countries. This will be the bridge over which the solution to our big problem, heartache, which is called the integration of Georgia, will pass.

The restoration of air traffic will provide a considerable benefit to the economy of the state as well as to our fellow citizens, and in case of restrictions and flight bans, who will compensate for the loss?

Are the statements made by you an action directed against the interests of Georgia? Who is responsible for this? why are you talking like that Whose president are you?” Fridon Injia asked the president.

 Georgian diasporas abroad made a great contribution to the strengthening of the GEL in the Georgian economy and the stability of the monetary and credit system;

 The most difficult task for the Georgian government today is to stop migration, otherwise Georgia as a state will no longer exist and will be scattered in different countries as a Georgian diaspora;

 The one million Georgian diaspora living in the Russian Federation, using public diplomacy, should become a bridge for direct dialogue with Russia. start

 Chairman of the parliamentary political group “European Socialists” Fridon Injia announced this at the meeting of the Diaspora Affairs Committee.

 At the meeting of the Committee on Diaspora Issues of the Parliament of Georgia, information on the activities of the Department of Diaspora Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2022 was heard, which was presented by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vladimir Konstantinidis.

 The chairman of the political group, Fridon Injia, requested an explanation from the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, on what principle the Ministry records the Georgian diaspora in different countries, because the information presented by the Deputy Minister clearly contains inaccuracies.

 For example, Fridon Ingia named the Republic of Turkey, Italy and the Russian Federation, where the number of diaspora does not correspond to the official information provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Especially if we take into account the statement of the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Gharibashvili, that, for example, up to a million of our compatriots live in the Russian Federation.

 According to the MP’s assessment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should have full information about what specific economic progress is being made in Georgia through Georgian diasporas working abroad, based on the same export, remittances and various economic indicators.

 “The population should have accurate information about what kind of economic relationship the Georgian government has with the Georgian diaspora abroad, because the development of the Georgian economy depends to a large extent on the remittances carried out by the Georgian diaspora abroad, and it should be noted that a large share comes from the Russian Federation. The society and the population should know on what basis the state and the government were able to achieve a 2-digit economic growth, which became the basis for the salary increase of at least 10 _% for the employees of public services and law enforcement bodies. It is clear that the Georgian diasporas abroad have made a great contribution to the strengthening of the Georgian lari and the stability of the monetary and credit system. – said Fridon Injia.

 At the meeting of the political group, the chairman of the committee was also interested in the future visions and plans of the Ministry in relation to the young ambassadors.

 “Do you have a bank of young ambassadors, which the ministry will have as a kind of reserve, because I believe that the ministry should have determined exactly how to use their knowledge and ability to strengthen the homeland.” – said Fridon Injia.

 The deputy drew attention to the problem of population outflow from the country, which, in his estimation, is the most difficult task for the government and must be solved.

 “I believe that the main function of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Diaspora should be to return fellow citizens who have left the country, and if it is not possible to return them, the state should use their capabilities as much as possible based on the interests of the country. Otherwise, Georgia as a state will no longer exist and will be scattered in various countries as a diaspora. As you know, there are such nations that do not have a state and they are represented in certain groups in different countries. If we do not stop migration and population outflow, then Georgia will not exist anymore. This is the most difficult task that our government has to solve today.” – said Fridon Injia.

 According to the chairman of the political group, despite the fact that Georgia does not have diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation, the Georgian government should do everything to maximize the potential of Georgian compatriots working in Russia, in particular, businessmen, for the benefit of the country’s interests.

 The deputy cited as an example the business association created by Georgian compatriots in Russia not so long ago, which works quite actively on important strategic directions for Georgia, such as attracting investments, main energy carriers, oil, gas, as well as importing wheat and primary consumption products and many others. An important issue.

 “Everything that is of strategic purpose for the country comes largely from Russia. Today, there is a lot of talk about strategic partners, but the reality is that the country stands on those diasporas who work abroad, and the largest share comes from the Georgian diaspora living in the Russian Federation. – said the deputy.

 Therefore, Fridon Injia believes that the role of the state must be activated in relation to Georgian diasporas working abroad.

 “The head of the Georgian diaspora in the Russian Federation, Davit Tsetskhladze, is doing a great Georgian job today. It practically plays the role of an embassy and helps our compatriots in every possible way. It works on various cultural and economic projects important for Georgia. This person managed to unite various diasporic organizations that cooperate with each other. It is a sad fact that in many countries diasporas are not able to cooperate with each other and in many cases they protect each other. Therefore, it is necessary and important to activate the role of the state with the view of closer cooperation with the Georgian diaspora”.

 “The one million Georgian diaspora living in the Russian Federation, using public diplomacy, should become a bridge for starting a direct dialogue with Russia. Therefore, the correct and consistent policy of the state will be the basis for making some progress in the political relations between the two countries. Without dialogue, there will be no result. You are the executive power, which is obliged to do what the country needs based on the interests of the country and not to listen to those who want to pursue their interests in our homeland. It gives the impression that your steps in this direction are not bold and certain factors will hinder you. Maybe some embassy dictates this to you, but I assure you, you should act only based on the interests of the country.”

 “As a result of the actions of the previous government, Georgia lost 20% of territories and today military units are stationed there. With this, they blocked Transcaucasia. They have everything guaranteed. They stand 30 kilometers away. Therefore, our task should be to somehow get out of the situation. We have to correct the mistakes of the previous government, and without starting a direct dialogue, we will not have results.” – Fridon Injia believes.

 The MP also drew attention to the Middle Corridor project, which, due to the geopolitical location of Georgia, is currently the most important and alternative project, as it can become a guarantee of the country’s security and stability.

 Fridon Injia also reminded the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the role of the state of Azerbaijan as one of the most important strategic partners for Georgia and noted that the deepening of relations between the two countries is necessary and necessary.

 The chairman of the political group proposed to the members of the committee and the representatives of the Ministry that the days of Georgian culture should be organized more intensively abroad, and the greater involvement of Georgian television stations and the more active use of television air will be very effective.

 On his part, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vladimir Konstantinidis, noted that the issues and proposals raised by Fridon Injia will definitely be taken into account in the future plan of the Ministry.