Mrs. President Amherd,

President Zelenskyy,

The war not in, but against Ukraine has been ongoing for over 800 days. 800 days of losing innocent lives, devastation, and economic destruction. 800 days many Ukrainians have been fighting for the freedom and territorial integrity of their country, but also for the freedom and security of Europe at large and beyond that, for the ideals of democracy, and for sustaining, maintaining, or restoring the rule of law.

My country, Georgia, can only share the plight of the Ukrainian people that we have experienced in turn. Before Bucha, there was Abkhazia, is the title of the film, and yes, before the war against Ukraine, there was a war against Georgia, not once, but many times. And, before the occupation of the territories in Ukraine, there was the occupation of territories in Georgia. So, my country can only share the concern for the human devastation that Ukraine is living through, including the forced transfer of children. 

My country can only share the concern for the instability and confrontation that Russia has brought to the Black Sea instead of cooperation and connectivity, which we are all thinking about, and the militarization of the Black Sea when Russia is planning to open a new, additional military naval base in the territory of Georgia, in the region of Abkhazia. 

My country can only share the concern about nuclear safety, having experienced the effects of the Chernobyl disaster. 

For all these reasons, we can only share the conviction that this war against Ukraine has to cease and give way to peace in Ukraine and peace in Europe. This can only happen if and when (beyond the initial steps that should be designed today), Russia realizes that it has borders like any other state, it has neighbors like any other state, and that the international community and new architecture of security can only exist when the big countries, the large countries, and one of the largest, recognize and respect their neighbors and their territorial integrity.