Georgian Foreign Minister: without peace, everything else becomes secondary

Georgian foreign minister Maka Botchorishvili on Sunday highlighted the complex landscape of modern global politics, emphasising that for a nation in Georgia's geographic position, challenges are spread across all sides.

In her interview with Imedi TV, the minister characterised the current era as a period of significant global transition, noting that the stakes for Georgia often transcend routine policy and enter the realm of survival.

“There are many challenges - generally speaking, what is happening in the world today. Every era has had its own turning points, but very major shifts are taking place now. In this process, of course, for a country like Georgia, located in such a geography, these challenges are spread in all directions. This is why, very often, this existential challenge is a problem directly linked to your country’s very existence. This is what we have collided with; we have to manage the country during such a period, and it is in such a time that you must mark your place on the international arena - how you mark it and what you are defined by carries immense significance”, she said.

Botchorishvili further stressed the importance of peace.

“We are a small country. We do not have the ambition to play a decisive role in global politics or to have the final say. However, the key question is how to properly adapt your country and its interests to these changes, and how to navigate safely through this big game. The first priority is security. For every country, this should probably be the starting point - ensuring that there is no war. Peace gives you opportunities for many things. When peace is absent, everything else becomes secondary”, the minister continued.

“Today, we face this very challenge: to secure peace. Our generation has been through a lot; the country has endured terrible periods. And everything ultimately comes back to this - without peace, you cannot offer future generations what they deserve”, she concluded.