Salome Zourabichvili: I, as a representative of the state, am ready to create a joint document, which will be one of the main results of the national consent process
By The Messenger Staff
Friday, February 11, 2022
The first public hearing of the national consent process was held today at the Orbeliani Palace with the participation of women from various fields. The administration of the President of Georgia spreads information about it.
The President of Georgia thanked the guests for their involvement in the process and readiness to participate in the discussion. According to the President, 30 years after independence, the country is in a very difficult situation and it is practically immersed in controversy.
“I am grateful that you came from different fields and with different political views. It is a sign that everyone can sit down with anyone, everyone can listen, and if we could not and could not bring it out into society, we would neither be a society nor a country!
30 years have passed since our independence. This country is in a very difficult situation. Practically this country is sunk in controversy, stagnant, and split in two. Where are we, where are we going, how are we going to build this country, what are we going to leave and prepare for the next generation? We need to think about why what is happening to us today is happening and to do that we need to look at our past.
It is not a process that starts and ends with a conversation. This process has the role of catharsis, to tell the truth, and we look at our mistakes or crimes and admit some of them. Society is the one that orders the political sphere. The public must remove the voice and take the process into its own hands. Nowadays he does not have a space where he can talk, there is no real debate in the media.
Without society, the president has no leverage to resolve a political crisis unless you empower yourself and work with you to create the order that is then passed on to the political parties. If society knows what it wants, it is a huge force. We may not feel it today, but we will feel it tomorrow.
I’m offering a new space. Discovering communities will be the first process and will be spread over many groups in different formats, going through regions, universities, villages. For the process to be impressive and expansive, you need to be very free. That is, whoever has the opinion and initiative, be it any university, any village, or any group can discuss these issues freely. There is no monopoly here.
By no means will I be the organizer, initiator, or manager of every group. There will be key principles and criteria that will be signed by all groups involved in the process. It should not turn into a political debate and swearing is forbidden. People will also be able to express their opinions freely through internet platforms.
Will different thematic groups will start talking for example about those who have been affected in different periods, what is their vision? What is expected from the state? And to see what and to what extent the state can respond, is also very important. No one should be left with a sense of injustice as this is also one of the very big causes of polarization.
Also, the role of the diaspora in this process is very important, as about a quarter of the population is outside our country. When you look at the situation in this country from there, it probably affects you differently and that is why it is necessary to involve them to feel that the present pain of this country and the future of tomorrow are theirs.
“This relationship with them can not be broken and you need your great help in this,” stated the President.
