Presentation

Your Excellency, Mr. President,
Dear Guests,

Today Georgia is at its most important stage of existence. The foreign relations and internal life of Georgia are undergoing processes of fundamental transformation. In the light of current dynamic changes in the world, Georgia has clearly determined its future plans and steps that will serve as an instrument in implementing of the set goals. The document to be presented at today's Conference has been drawn up to this very end.

Wide range of experts have worked out the document that we entitled "Georgia and the World: a Vision and Strategy for the Future". It is based on the Georgia's National Security Concept and practically presents its three main components: Georgia's foreign policy strategy, foreign economic strategy and defence strategy.

The Document briefly describes the actions undertaken by Georgia in the mentioned spheres for the past nine years, starting from the restoration of independence as well as its strategic vision of these spheres at the country's present stage of development.

The mentioned strategies are not mere statements made before the world community. They are included in President's pre-election campaign programme and, therefore, are to be viewed as a target of active efforts from the Government of Georgia.

While rebuilding its independent and sovereign statehood, Georgia was guided by the principles that have served as a starting point both for the authors of the National Security Concept and of this document.

These principles are as follows:

Supremacy of the universally recognized human values of democratic civilization;
Determination of such a place and function for Georgia that would enable the country to maximally use its potential in today's globalizing world as well as to tackle the challenges caused by this universal process;
Preservation in the globalizaion process and further development of the rich cultural heritage amassed for centuries.

Guided by these principles, Georgia has established fundamental national goals and strivings for security and strategic advancement as reflected in the document. It is the very vision of ways and means for implementing of the above goals described in chapters dealing with Georgia's politico-diplomatic, foreign economic and defence strategies.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Georgia's strategic geopolitical location and the country's historically European orientation largely determine the chosen course of our foreign policy, its priority vector being integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures.
This direction is based on both the historic experience of the Georgian nation and the orientation to universally recognized values of democratic civilization that constitutes Georgia's final and unshakable choice.

The South Caucasus has historically been an indivisable part of European political and cultural space, and it was only the historical misfortune due to which Georgia has had to fall away from that space. Therefore, Georgia views its aspiration towards common and indivisable Europe as a process of its return to the native civilization area.

In the country's political and economic reformation process the Georgian nation has unambigiously chosen to move towards a democratic and open society, and the establishment of free market economy. The country's constitution recognized the supremacy of human and individual rights having placed it at the center of societal values. All this has enabled the country to identify the international environment that would allow it to fully implement its choice.

The European family of nations was the very environment and it was why we have chosen integration into Europe as the top priority of our foreign policy.
The Government of Georgia fully acknowledges all the difficulties of such a decision and the responsibility taken on by the country while making such a choice. We clearly realize that membership to the common and indivisable European family is primarily a tremendous responsibility before the whole of Europe as well as each one of its members.

Georgia has already been making steps in this direction. Accession of Georgia to the Council of Europe serves as a clear example of this. Faced with most difficult conditions Georgia has managed to prove to the international community that universal humanitarian values are priorities of the Georgian state policy.

Accordingly, Georgia views co-operation with the Council of Europe as a significant instrument providing the irreversibility of democratic development.
At this point the main priority for getting the Georgian foreign policy closer to the European integration process lies in further deepening of co-operation with the European Union.

Co-operation within the framework of Partnership and Co-operation Agreement, along with the regional co-operation is viewed by Georgia as a route towards establishment of the unified European family.

For the purposes of strengthening of the defence capabilities, Georgia comprehends the importance of developing its relations with Euro-Atlantic structures. Georgia actively participates in NATO's "Partnership for Peace" Programme, being a founding member of the EAPC.

Georgia is actively co-operating in the formation of the new European security and stability architecture. In this regard, Georgia attaches great importance to co-operation within the OSCE framework. Georgia believes that principles stated in the documents adopted during the OSCE Budapest, Lisbon, and Istanbul Summits have a great value for strengthening the European security.
Special attention is focused on the Adopted CFE Treaty, signed during the OSCE Istanbul Summit, and the Joint Statement between Georgia and Russian Federation regarding the future of the Russian armed forces based on the territory of Georgia.

Besides the OSCE efforts to avert and prevent conflicts, Georgia attaches great importance to the OSCE tangible support in the establishment of democratic institutions in the country.

Along with its historic striving towards the establishment of its place in the family of the European nations Georgia has always thoroughly realized all the specificity and controversiality of the region the country is located in.
The developing processes in our region are marked with amazing dynamism and this factor along with the traditional problems makes the overall situation even more grave.

This far, proceeding from all European and regional political interests Georgian foreign policy sets two logically interconnected tasks: integration into the European realia and achievemnt of maximal level of regional cooperation for the very purpose of securing such an integration.

As you can percieve from the document, Georgia views the future of the South Caucasian region as that of a common, unified, and economically, politically and culturally integrated organism. We are firmly convinced that only as such will it be of special value to the world community.

The realia of the South Caucasus have always been closely connected and are going to be linked with the Northern Caucasian sub-region also in the days to come. Quite often this historically conditioned reality has served as a logic foundation for perceiving these two bordering regions as one natural unity.

The Government of Georgia is doing its best to enable the countries to act in a concerted manner in order to realize the idea of regional cooperation. Today it is quite a difficult task to tackle, but nevertheless we are firmly convinced that regional co-operation can be started only by finding common interests and their implementation. The security of the countries in the region along with the realization of their economic interests are indivisable concepts. Therefore, Georgia so actively welcomes every initiative that serves to the creation of the conditions of peace, stability and mutually beneficial cooperation in the South Caucasus, and in the Caucasian region as a whole.

Georgian position is based on the principles proposed by the President of Georgia Mr. Eduard Shevardnadze that later became known as the "Peaceful Caucasus" initiative.

We believe that implementation of these principles is possible only by concerted efforts from countries of region, neighbors, and other leading world players generally interested in the peaceful and stable Caucasus.
Georgia attaches great importance to the development of cooperation in the framework of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Organization to the cause of enhancing cooperation in the region, and integrating of Georgia into Europe.

Georgia considers that the Commonwealth of Independent States has not exhausted its capabilities as of yet, in terms of expanding economic links between the commonwealth members and creating a free economic zone within its borders.

GUUAM serves as one of the best examples of economic cooperation. The main axis in its framework for multilateral cooperation is the implementation of the Euro-Asian Transportation-Communication Corridor. Readiniess of GUUAM to cooperate with any country that shares the vision and approaches of its member countries is a matter of principle for Georgia.

Georgia aspires to cooperate with the Central, Eastern and South-Eastern European initiatives. It actively supports the formation and further deepening of the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea inter-regional cooperation.

The UN-Georgia cooperation comprises a seperate sub-chapter in the Document since we consider that the UN plays the leading role not only in establishing and maintaining peace in the world, but also in the coordination of adequate responses to any challenges caused by the overall globalization processes as reaffirmed by the Millenium Summit held recently in New York.
Georgia reaffirms its readiness to join its efforts to the common endeavor of this international community within the framework of the renewed and reformed UN.

Georgia attaches special importance to the establishment and consolidation of partner and equated relations both with neighboring and geographically detached states. The document duly reflects the necessity for further development of our priorities in bilateral relationships.

You must be aware, that the development process in Georgia and in the whole region is noticeably hampered by the conflicts in the country. In the document we have tried to display on the world arena those main trends that would facilitate their timely settlement.

Reaffirming its unambigous choice to settle the conflicts by peaceful means, Georgia considers it expedient to switch the international community into the restoration of territorial integrity and peaceful resoluion of conflicts. Georgia supports the Geneva process running under the UN aeigis, welcomes the participation of the UN Secretary General's Friends and the activation of the OSCE towards the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia.

At the same time, the Georgian Government attaches great importance to the activities of the OSCE in settling the Georgian-Ossetian conflict.

The cultural diversity, the co-existence of different ethnic groups and religions for centuries have determined the promotion of the dialogue of cultures as an important vector of Georgia's foreign policy.

In this connection, the Action Plan has been elaborated under the guidance of the President of Georgia aimed at the expansion of regional and inter-regional dialogue in the field of education, science, culture and communications. We hope, that this initiative will serve give a new impetus to the consolidation of peace and security in the world.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In the process of forging the national security system of the country, utmost importance is to be attached to the economic strategy. The document reflects the difficulties of the transition from administrative-centralized economy to market economy and the actions the Georgian government has carried out to boost economic development and overall prosperity.

At the modern stage of Georgia's independence the efforts of the country are directed towards establishing stable macroeconomic conditions, preservation of hard currency, provision of stable economic growth and creating attractive business conditions for the foreign investors. This process has been furthered by close cooperation with the international financial and economic institutions.
Joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) on October 6, 1999 became a significant step forward towards Georgia's integration into the global economy.
In the document we have tried to clearly reflect the significance attached to the formation of the Trans-Caucasian Strategic Corridor for the integration of Georgia and the whole region into the world economic processes which certainly is the key component for the restoration of the historic "Silk Road" global project.

The development of this transportation-communication corridor presupposes three main directions: Transportation Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia (TRACECA), Strategic Energy Corridor, and the telecommunications network.

We consider, that the revival of the "Silk Road" should become the best example for countries and peoples united by a commn aim of cooperation.

Such a cooperation should regain for the South Caucasus and particularly for Georgia the historical function of linking East and West, North and South.
The presented document includes the statemnt of Georgia in the sphere of the country's security and military build-up.

This part of the document covers those main goals and tasks that the government of Georgia intends to implement in this respect.

The armed forces of Georgia should be ready to protect the country's land, naval and air borders, to prevent armed uprisings and any coup attempts, procure humanitarian relief in case of catastrophies, avert terrorist attacks, and participate in international peace operations.

To implement the above-noted goals a thorough reform and restructuring of the armed forces are required. This process is being conducted in line with the western standards.

Georgia is duly utilizing the assistance rendered in the framework of the NATO "Partnership for Peace" program as well as the support provided by the western countries on a bilateral basis.

At the same time, Georgia is striving to make its tribute to the cause of establishing peace in the world. This was reaffirmed when Georgia sent a platoon to facilitate peace and stability in Kosovo.

The reformation process is underway in Georgia's Border Guards as well. It is noteworthy, that the whole land and naval border perimeter is controlled by the national forces.

Proceeding from the fact that Georgia is striving to play the key role in the Euro-Asian transportation and communication corridor, the Georgian Border Guards should prevent illigal traffic of drugs, arms and explosives and passage of terrorists.

The tangible and genuine support rendered to the build-up of the Georgian border guards by friendly nations should specially be noted.

We do acknowledge, that the implementation of the above-said fundamental changes in defending and securing Georgia is a lengthy and difficult process. But the country's authorities are unshakably determined to drive this most important undertaking to its successful end.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In the presented document we have tried to encompass all those main goals envisaged by the Georgian nation on its road of building a sovereign statehood.

We are delighted, that Georgia is not alone on its way to the realization of those tasks. International community is rendering us great assistance in the construction of the independent and developed country. This is why our conference has been entitled "Georgia and its Partners: Directions for the New Millenium".

We are deeply convinced that only through cooperating with its partners can Georgia successfully move in the main due directions of the new millenium and that independent and free Georgia will undoubtedly secure its place in the world community.