2017-05-27
Our diaspora has vast opportunities to engage in Georgia's ongoing processes and contribute to our country's progress and the building of the Georgian state. I believe that it is together with you, our compatriots scattered throughout the world that we will build a strong state and advance our country to a brand new level; Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili addressed today the participants of Strong Diaspora for United Georgia, a forum dedicated to Day of Diaspora.
The Head of Government once again wished everyone a Happy Independence Day, May 26, a holiday equally dear to everyone, which was celebrated yesterday in the streets of Tbilisi and other cities and villages throughout the country, celebrated by all of Georgia.
"It is exciting that these positive emotions and joy accompany today's diaspora forum as we celebrate Day of Diaspora. Out gathering today, and this forum, reiterate that Georgia needs its natives without exception, their intellectual potential and professional experience. I am convinced that our diaspora has vast opportunities to engage in Georgia's ongoing processes and contribute to our country's progress and the building of the Georgian state. I believe that it is together with you, our compatriots scattered throughout the world, that we will build a strong state and advance our country to a brand new level. The Georgian state values your active participation in the life of our host country," the Prime Minister addressed Georgian diaspora.
According to Giorgi Kvirikashvili, hundreds of thousands of Georgians abroad make up a tremendous asset for deepening Georgia's relations with different countries, for promoting Georgia's ancient civilization and culture and introducing Georgia's positive image internationally.
"Your role is also important for informing wider audiences of Georgia's European aspirations, which is why we will do our best to engage you in the information centers operating in EU member states, so that you may take active part in their work. These centers seek to promote the image of Georgia as a country upholding European values. In addition, we appreciate the effectiveness of citizen diplomacy, one of the most important and stronger mechanisms of foreign policy, as well your maximal engagement in this process. We especially value the preservation of national identity and cultural uniqueness and education in the diaspora. This is why we decided to enhance our support of diaspora organizations and Sunday schools, and to pay greater attention to our young students studying abroad, to promote further teaching of the Georgian language to the future generations of our diaspora. We continue working on attracting young professionals back to their homeland. We have created a very important database, and have worked with young people individually, so that not a single asset may be missed by our country. The Be Your Country's Young Ambassador and Diaspora Internship programs will expand. The diaspora relations is growing stronger at our embassies and consulates, which will enable us to learn more about issues facing the diaspora and, of course, provide assistance in solving them," the Prime Minister stated.
According to Giorgi Kvirikashvili, the Georgian Government prizes investments made by the diaspora in the country's economic development. The Prime Minister emphasized the recent increase in the engagement of diaspora representatives in the country's economic growth.
"In the past year, we saw a number of important investments by members of our diaspora, which is very promising. On our part, we will of course encourage our diaspora's interest in doing business here, and we hope that you will spare no effort to promote Georgia's investment opportunities among international business communities. As an incentive, we will hand special awards to successful representatives of the diaspora who have contributed to progress in their respective host countries. We will also award diaspora representatives who have made a special contribution to the promotion of our country abroad," Giorgi Kvirikashvili said.
According to the Prime Minister, equally important is to increase the numbers of Georgian churches and perishes abroad and to support their growth, and the Government of Georgia, in cooperation with the Patriarchate, will support this endeavor.
The Head of Government thanked every Georgian native contributing to the purchase of immovable property for Georgian churches and monasteries, also pointing out the vital importance of this cause for the preservation of Georgian identity.
On behalf of every Georgian native, Giorgi Kvirikashvili expressed his deepest gratitude to the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia for treating representatives of the Georgian diaspora with special care and tenderness over the past forty years.
"The warmth they receive from the Patriarch is invaluable. I thank our Patriarch for this exceptional warmth and special care he has for our diaspora," the Prime Minister stated.
The Head of Government expressed readiness to support any initiative to assist the Georgian diaspora's consolidation, its effective cooperation with the homeland, Georgia's promotion abroad and international support.
According to Giorgi Kvirikashvili, the country's constitutional reform involves, among others, an initiative to simplify the process of regaining Georgian citizenship for those Georgian nationals who renounced it in the past. This initiative was proposed by Salome Zurabishvili, for which the Prime Minister thanked her.
"I certainly hope that we will make this decision as part of the new constitutional amendments, which will significantly simplify ways for our country's representatives to keep in close touch with Georgia's life. Once again, I am convinced that today's forum will prove a favorable occasion to introduce you to the opportunities our state offers today to the diaspora, so that your involvement in the life of our country may be meaningful. I hope that this forum will be the beginning of new opportunities. I thank every one of you for your great patriotism exhibited in your everyday lives. I thank you for joining us here today, and I am convinced that, in unity, we will succeed in building a unified Georgia poised to shine forth," the Prime Minister addressed the Georgian diaspora.
The forum dedicated to Day of Diaspora was also addressed by His Holiness and Beatitude, Catholicos-Patriarch of All-Georgia Ilia II and Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze, who is scheduled to present during the forum Unified, Strong Diaspora with Close Ties to the Homeland, the state policy on the diaspora developed by the Foreign Ministry.
Prime Minister's Press Office