Shalva Papuashvili, Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, stated that while the President of Georgia will deliver his own address at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, the focus will remain on issues that truly matter to the nation.

"Georgia’s core message is one of peace and respect for international law," Papuashvili said. "We are a country that has endured multiple wars, yet we’ve maintained peace for over thirteen years. This experience might now resonate more widely, especially as war returns to the heart of Europe."

Papuashvili noted that while past conflicts in Georgia were often met with international indifference, today’s global climate may help others better understand the high cost of war and the value of sustained peace. "The Georgian Dream government has shown that peace can be preserved even in a region surrounded by conflict," he added.

When asked whether the Georgian President would directly address Russia during his speech at the 80th UN General Assembly, Papuashvili dismissed the importance of such specifics.

“For some, it's about how many times Russia is mentioned and in what tone. That’s not our focus,” he said. “What matters is a commitment to peace and the avoidance of new wars—despite some still pushing for conflict."

He went on to criticize the opposition, saying, “Figures like Mikheil Saakashvili and the radical opposition were obsessed with rhetoric and confrontation, which dragged us into war before and nearly did so again in 2022. Some opposition politicians and NGOs would rather face bombs than public criticism."

“The President’s speech will reflect his own views. The message he delivers will be his alone,” Papuashvili concluded.