2022-05-27
We will remove every artificial barrier so as to enable diaspora representative easily to obtain Georgian passports, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili stated in his speech at Georgian Diaspora for Georgia's European Future, today's forum celebrating Diaspora Day.
On the Prime Minister's instructions, the Justice Ministry has started working on this issue, and the relevant bill will be referred to the Parliament in September.
"Dear diaspora representatives, I greet all of you with enormous respect and love! I wish all of you a Happy Independence Day! We all, as a state and government, are obligated to do everything to scale up the ties between the diaspora and the state, to make it even more effective, and-most importantly-result-oriented. I can certainly relate to the feelings of the diaspora community. Back when I was a student in France, I gained firsthand experience of living abroad as part of the diaspora, and I am well aware of the difficulties facing our diaspora representatives. Let me point out a few aspects observed by me then and now working in the Government. There are a number of smaller unresolved issues that would simplify certain procedures for our diaspora representatives. Together with Mister Rati Bregadze, we discussed one particular case when a diaspora representative returned to Georgia of his own accord, to obtain a Georgian passport. But, because of a minor grammatical error, this man, this patriot, could not obtain a passport. I spoke about it with Mister Bregadze, and we agree that this issue must be solved. On my instruction, the Justice Ministry is already working on it. And the relevant bill will be submitted to the Parliament in September, and we will remove every artificial barrier, so that diaspora representatives may obtain Georgian passports easily," the Prime Minister said.
The Head of Government also proposed an initiative for diaspora representatives to pay the same fees as in Georgia when obtaining Georgian passports abroad.
"For years, it cost diaspora representatives abroad 130 USD to obtain a passport, while it was two or three times cheaper in Georgia. Why? Mister Bregadze and I discussed this issue as well. On Rati Bregadze's initiative, these rates will also be equalized. We cannot have any differentiation, separation between citizens living in Georgia and citizens living abroad. We can discuss at length the many problems facing our diaspora representatives for various reasons. I know that our citizens were forced to leave the country, to leave their homeland temporarily, but we also know that their hearts remain forever with their homeland. It is impossible for a Georgian person's heart not to bend toward returning home. I also understand very well that many are presently unable to return, but their ultimate goal should be returning to Georgia nonetheless. We have many, thousands or maybe even hundreds of thousands, diaspora representatives outside Georgia. And looking back at the 20th century and even further back, we will see that we have always had very successful, brilliant representatives of our diaspora. I cannot single out any of them by name, because they are too many, some in the US and Europe, others in the Near East or our neighborhood. But they have been successful everywhere, doing something very important, and ensuring tremendous progress in their respective host countries. Unfortunately, their names are forgotten today, and we must remind our young people where we come from, what success Georgians have achieved not only at home, but also abroad. Madam President mentioned an initiative to ensure the engagement of diaspora representatives in Georgian politics. I might as well emphasize that Madam President is a brilliant representative of the diaspora who returned to Georgia to be elected President, and that in itself is also very symbolic, of course," the Prime Minister said.
In his speech, the Head of Government underlined the importance of empowering representatives of the Georgian Church and Georgian parishes abroad.
"From my personal experience, I want to emphasize the enormous importance of representatives of our Mother Church abroad, the Patriarchate's representatives. I remember how we, representatives of the diaspora, would go to church every Sunday. As Head of Government, I promise to maintain close coordination with the Patriarchate. We must further strengthen our parishes in each country. More organization and coordination are in order, and I more cultural missions, classes, ensembles, and others are needed. All these require strengthening. Of course, we are all very glad to see you back in Georgia for a while, but it is our major dream to see you back in Georgia for good. I understand that all this requires preparation, securing necessary conditions, but we must agree that we have all traveled or lived abroad, and when you live abroad, you do not feel complete, even though you may be a citizen of the host country, because it is not our natural homeland, our motherland. Consequently, I once again join the call and the great dream and wish to see all Georgians eventually return to their native soil. Until then, of course, we all must continue serving our Georgia," Irakli Garibashvili stated.
The forum celebrating Diaspora Day was organized by the Foreign Ministry, with the event's official part opened by Minister Ilia Darchiashvili. The forum's attending audience was addressed by Georgia's President Salome Zurabishvili and Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, also by Beka Odisharia, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Diaspora and Caucasus Issues. Bishop Vakhtang of Nikortsminda read the address to the diaspora by the Catholicos-Patriarch of All-Georgia.
The forum's opening ceremony was attended by representatives of executive and legislative authorities.
Thematic meetings on educational, cultural, and economic development, and on digital diplomacy, will be held on the margins of the forum.
The annual Diaspora Forum seeks to deepen cooperation with compatriots living abroad, to cement their ties to the homeland, engage them in the process of the country's building, and to find solutions to problems facing the diaspora.
Press Service of the Government Administration