The State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Ketevan Tsikhelashvili delivered a speech at the thematic session of the NATO-Georgia Public Diplomacy Forum.

Under the sessions entitled "The Role of Public Diplomacy in Strengthening Sustainability of Society" was discussed in the role of strategic communication and public diplomacy in increasing of public awareness. As well as new security challenges in the regions populated by ethnic minorities. Session participants discussed the methods of fighting against disinformation through education and media.

According to the state minister, "propaganda and information influence has some geography in our country, due to the sad situation that 20% of the territory of Georgia is occupied by Russia and there is no access of international mechanisms and the information space is closed and controlled.

"Information propaganda is still a challenge to the regions populated by ethnic minorities. It’s linked to the lack of state language and access to information from foreign channels".

Ketevan Tsikhelashvili talked about the State strategy aimed against the spreading propaganda and targeted disinformation. In addition, the policy of civil integration, which includes the study of the State language, along with the native language, in minority populated areas.

"The NATO Week has started in Kvemo kartli in order to emphasize that the ethnic minorities living in the country are one of the main priorities. They should get full information about the importance of integration into Euro-Atlantic space and we will further intensify our campaign.

"As for the Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region, in terms of fighting against propaganda and disinformation, it is necessary for us to implement proactive and dynamic peacekeeping policies. Today is the first committee hearing in the Parliament of the new peace initiative "A Step for a Better Future," which has just recently been publicized. I hope the Parliament will support it and we will start implementing these initiatives, which is one of the ways to activate contacts between people. With the cohesive, peaceful, people-friendly and people-centered policy we will surely receive the results", - said Ketevan Tsikhelashvili.