"For 10 years occupation has been a major challenge for daily life of thousands people on the both sides of artificial dividing lines. IDPs still can not return to their homes. More than 60 villages are physically split by wire fences. Particularly difficult is the social, economic, humanitarian and human rights situation in the occupied territories. People live in the conditions of growing isolation and militarization, threat of the russification.  

"The fact is that this rough strategy of division and separation, which is used by Russia against a broader neighborhood, is directed against people. At the same time, the situation is not frozen. Regular provocative actions, whether it be artificial obstacles, the illegal detention of people or even in the most severe cases, are directed not only against concrete people and their families, but also against everyone's security and peaceful future. Today we can say that the current situation is not in the interests of Georgians, Ossetians or Abkhazians. Everyone suffer from it.

"That is why Georgia is making new, dynamic and proactive steps in the framework of peacekeeping policy, based on the needs of conflict affected people and their natural aspiration towards peace, development and a better future.

The "Step for a Better Future" is also the name of the new peace initiative of the Government of Georgia, its spirit. This initiative was recently unanimously supported by the Parliament of Georgia. I would like to express my gratitude to you, our international partners for the open, clear and solid support of this initiative, which is a precondition for our common peaceful efforts.

The three main directions of the initiative must encourage trade across the dividing lines, by creating new opportunities.

First direction - enhancing and simplifying trade along the boundary lines through creating new opportunities. Under the initiative, it will be possible to support and encourage individual and joint business initiatives across the administrative boundary lines.

Second direction - creating additional opportunities for quality education and simplifying access at every level of education both at home and abroad. Youths, their education and welfare on either side of the boundary lines, are important to us. They are the generation that will live together in a unified Georgia and participate in the country’s building.

Third direction - creation of a mechanism simplifying access to the benefits and goods available to our country resulting from the country’s development, including European integration, visa waiver, free trade rights, and others.

"Today, when Georgian citizens can travel thousands of kilometers to the European cities without obstacles, some of our citizens cannot move even a few meters, because they are separated by occupation. This is a reality and a symbol of the August war that shows that our peacekeeping policies has no alternatives.

"For the implementation of this peace initiative the involvement of our international partners is extremely important. Especially through interconnecting contacts, confidence building and dialogue, because this is the most needed investment for the peaceful resolution.

"I would like to express my gratitude for your support and hope that by our joint efforts we will be able to invite you to Georgia without barbed fences and wires“.   

Ketevan Tsikhelashvili