It is a universally recognized notion that peace is the most valuable and powerful prerequisite for a balanced and undisturbed human life on Earth. Whether steady and guaranteed peace is possible or not is an animal of a totally different color. A peace course on our planet is designed and controlled through a complicated and multifaceted sequence of activities and international discussions, aimed at resolving conflicts and establishing long-lasting peace in the world, involving both the political and social sides of our life.
This international endeavor involves executing agreements. At the same time, the peace process is characterized by certain intrinsic flimsiness and delicacy, which is always in the way of negotiations and conciliation attempts. The process may also include steps like ceasefires and confidence-building measures, which are not necessarily always fair and just. The most vivid basics of any peace process might envisage the official peace arrangements that are usually signed after manifold attempts at talks, and interchanges of opinions on various levels, but the agreements might only be halfway to the final target. Agreements need to be implemented, and once put into practice, they have to be supported by measures conducive to their longstanding efficiency.
When talking about the fairness and justness of negotiations and their consequential agreements, one should always remember that the possibility of human rights violations is ever-present. And, based on the perpetual idea that we modern humans are obligated to believe that accountability in this respect is extremely important, we have to behave accordingly.
On top of all that, the peace process includes our readiness and desire to prevent conflicts from escalating, sagely and dexterously using the so-called precautionary diplomacy and the potential of demilitarization. What matters most in the peace process is the chance of building confidence—meaning all specific measures oriented toward reducing tensions and building trust between the involved parties.
Societal changes must also be taken into consideration. A contemporary, healthy social structure cannot survive without promoting democratic values, always integrated into the lifestyle of currently existent civil societies. Changes in power structures—like regular, periodic elections—and, in certain cases, smaller or bigger constitutional alterations are also reckoned as a significant part of a regular peace process.
All kinds of impediments could become factors in the peace process, within which stakes could be serious and consensus very difficult to build. Therefore, the permanent monitoring of the process might not simply be helpful but absolutely essential in this complicated enterprise.
The world peace process naturally integrates the national-level effort to maintain local peace, directly working on preventing the recurrence of ethnic and other types of conflicts. For instance, the peace process in Georgia, which is being adamantly promoted and maintained by this administration, involves the idea of de-occupation and compromise—concentrating on returning occupied territories and uniting people separated by conflict. Georgia is ready to be a unified European state where all citizens and ethnic groups are protected. The country is fully prepared to contribute to regional peace and stability.
Here, quoting the 2023 Declaration of Civil Society Organizations on establishing the Civil Platform for Peace might be relevant:
“We firmly and unwaveringly support the resolution of conflicts in Georgia solely by peaceful means, as well as supporting the integration of Georgia into the European and Euro-Atlantic structures. In the peace process, it is especially important to promote the positive transformation of conflicts by further strengthening the dialogue, sectoral cooperation, and confidence-building between the divided societies and by spreading, reinforcing, and actualizing the idea of peaceful resolution of conflicts within public discourse. We believe that it is essential to revitalize Georgia’s peace policy. This will significantly improve the negotiation climate and conflict-affected populations’ humanitarian and legal situation, including unhindered access to livelihoods, quality education, health care, freedom of movement, and other fundamental rights aspects. The Platform will help to mobilize the efforts of civil society with regard to the peace process, including planning and implementing joint initiatives, ensuring appropriate responses in situations that are important and critical for society, as well as implementing monitoring and advocacy practices both on the local and international level. The Platform will actively cooperate with state institutions, the European Union, and other international partners essential in peaceful conflict resolution, including the confidence-building process.”
No doubt, this is the national attitude that goes in strong unison with the peace-loving voices heard all over the world today.
Blog by Nugzar B. Ruhadze
