"Peace has no alternative, so we must never allow blood to shed and bring people such a pain”. Such statement the State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality made on the occasion of the 27th anniversary from the beginning the war in Abkhazia, near the Heroes' Memorial.

Ketevan Tsikhelashvili paid tribute to the servicemen who gave their lives for the territorial  integrity of Georgia and talked to the members of their families.

"27 years have passed since the tragedy that claimed the lives of many of our fellow citizens and of many young people. Here, I meet with mothers of killed sons, the parents who have been experiencing this pain since that time. But they are truly proud because their children have sacrificed their lives for the homeland. 

"This is the pain of our entire society. Thousands of people were affected. Today, there are people on both sides of the barbed wires who still cannot return to their homes. I think it is becoming clearer from year to year that we have all been affected from both Georgian and Abkhaz sides, and other force –Russia has benefited from it. So I think dialogue, communication and talking about the future have no alternative.

"I would like to believe that it is becoming more and more clear also for the society of Abkhazia and any such step will certainly be appreciated. From our side we also have readiness and willingness for dialogue. Naturally, it is apolitical, it cannot cross the red lines that the state has, but the space for such a conversation and dialogue is really huge. We have specific ways and proposals in this regard”, - said Ketevan Tsikhelashvili.

Later on, the State Minister, along with the Deputy, visited Vashlijvari Brotherly Cemetery, where she honored the memory of the heroes and visited a museum located in the cemetery, which displayed photographs, letters and artifacts from the war.