12 January 2023
Mr./Madam President,
First, let me thank you for organizing this debate on such an important and timely topic.
My delegation aligns itself with the statement made by the European Union, and in my national capacity would like to add the following:
We share the view of the UN Secretary-General expressed in his report on “Strengthening and coordinating United Nations rule of law activities” (A/77/213) that the rule of law is a “core component of peace, security and sustainable development.” Therefore, we believe that it is unconditional that the necessity of protection and promotion of the rule of law applies to all States equally and it should guide States’ activities both at national and international levels.
We also believe that protection and promotion of the rule of law can bring us closer to realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Mr./Madam President,
Regretfully, after 78 years since the foundation of the UN, the main principles of international law, including the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, inviolability of borders and non-interference into the internal affairs are still flagrantly violated that consequently threaten international peace and security, the UN Charter, rules based order and multilateralism.
Stemming from the above-mentioned, the list of challenges that States face goes long. I would like to mention example of my country, where Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali are under Russia’s illegal occupation, and its residents continue to face various types of human rights violation and discrimination.
Mr./Madam President,
Grave disregard of the norms and principles of international law also continues in the context of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, which Georgia deplores in the strongest possible terms.
It is deeply alarming that the norms and principles of international law that we are all bound to uphold are repeatedly violated by the permanent member of the Security Council, whose primary responsibility is and should be to contribute to peace and security.
We call upon the Russian Federation to comply with the provisional measures of the ICJ of March 16th, 2022, immediately cease the aggression, and withdraw all its troops and military equipment from the whole territory of Ukraine.
To conclude, Mr./Madam President, let me reiterate Georgia’s firm stance that enhancement of the rule of law is of utmost importance in order to ensure international peace and security.
I thank you