Democratic Republic of Georgia President Giorgi Margvelashvili took a break from global security discussions at the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit on Thursday morning to visit George Washington University to talk about his country’s 25th anniversary of independence.
A quarter century ago Georgians passed a referendum that gained the country independence from the former Soviet Union.
“It was a tough choice, in a tough environment, led by our first president, Zviad Gamsakhurdia,” Dr. Margvelashvili said to an audience of students, faculty and community members at the Jack Morton Auditorium.
“It was a choice that guaranteed our independence, but our independence must grow into freedom, into personal freedoms. We must ask how do we plan to turn independence from the Soviet Union into freedom for Georgia?”
The question was at the core of the discussion at the event, which was sponsored by the Elliott School of International Affairs. The Georgian president explored how the country’s 3,000-year history as a small, occupied state continues to affect its aspirations to join the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Gaining EU and NATO membership would indicate to the global community that Georgia truly has integrated into Europe as a free nation, Dr. Margvelashvili said.
GW President Steven Knapp and ESIA Dean Reuben E. Brigety II welcomed Dr. Margvelashvili and applauded his efforts to improve higher education and champion the development of a successful democratic system in Georgia.
George Washington Today reporter Brittney Dunkins compiled highlights from Dr. Margvelashvili’s address:
Building a democratic state
Dr. Margvelashvili said that he was proud of Georgia’s progress toward building a democracy. The country will hold a free parliamentary democratic election in the fall. Former Georgia President Eduard Shevardnadze was famously forced out in 2003—ending the peaceful “Rose Revolution”—because citizens believed that Georgia had an unfair election process.
Dr. Margvelashvili said that years of Soviet rule colored how Georgians view government structures, but recent movements indicate a shift toward a more democratic understanding of government where institutions cooperate and provide “checks and balances” to one another.
“We are a culturally European nation. We are of that family and hold those values,” he said.
George Washington University President Steven Knapp introduces Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili to Elliott School of International Affairs Dean Ambassador Reuben E. Brigety II.
European culture as a “workable system”
Dr. Margvelashvili said that he believes a majority of Georgian support has shifted in favor of Western political and economic ideologies but agreed that about 30 percent of citizens are “Euro-skeptical.” These citizens deserve adequate representation in government to ensure that the democratic process prevails, he said.
Dr. Margvelashvili said his role in the next election is to stay nonpartisan and make sure that Georgians understand that they hold power through the vote.
“We want a workable democracy based on principles that people elect the government and make the government serve them,” he said.
Strengthening global allies
Dr. Margvelashvili said that Georgia is open to trade with other countries and has received word that NATO will—at some point—accept the nation into its ranks. Currently, Georgia struggles with high unemployment, a low GDP and unevenly distributed wealth.
“It is important that we find partners and countries that share the same values,” Dr. Margvelashvili said. “Georgia has to be more actively embraced.”
Russian troops’ occupation
According to Dr. Margvelashvili, roughly 20 percent of Georgian territories are occupied by Russian troops. As a result, 15 percent of Georgian citizens are in exile in their own country.
Should Russia end its occupation, Georgia is prepared to be a “friendly neighbor” and act as a partner and ally, he said.
“The occupation of Georgia will never be accepted by the majority of countries,” he said. “It is an embarrassment to occupy the territory of your neighbor.”
Ensuring global nuclear security
Dr. Margvelashvili said that although Georgia was invited to the nuclear summit, it was a “pity” that some countries did not have a delegation represented. Georgia has implemented a system to keep the country safe from nuclear attacks and prevent smuggling, he said, but given rising terrorist attacks, it is important that all countries work together on global security issues.
“This problem cannot be solved by one state or within one state’s borders,” he said.