The Council of Europe is celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2019. This unique system equals small countries with large ones and offers European citizens the equal opportunities for the protection of the fundamental rights, – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Davit Zalkaliani said at the 1129th meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. As InterPressNews was informed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during his speech Minister Davit Zalkaliani spoke about the reforms implemented in Georgia. The Minister said that for two decades, Georgia has undergone a fundamental transformation and has been established as a country moving through the ascending path, although it still faces threats. According to Zalkaliani, 20 years ago Georgia chose the path of progress through joining the Council of Europe and proved that nothing can hinder the desire for democratic development. During his speech the Foreign Minister also touched upon the situation in the occupied regions of Georgia. Russia continues to violate the territorial integrity of Georgia and militarization of the occupied territories with the gross violation of the norms and principles of international law. The fundamental rights of peaceful citizens are violated every day in the occupied regions. The right of life and liberty has lost all its values and the syndrome of impunity is firmly established. At the last year’s Ministerial, Georgia raised the issue of brutal murder of Georgian internally displaced persons – Archil Tatunashvili, Davit Basharuli and Giga Otkhozoria, but this tragic list has not finished! Another citizen of Georgia ‘ndash; Irakli Kvaratskhelia has been recently added to this list. He died in uncertain circumstances in an illegal Russian military base in the region of Abkhazia. The united international effort is crucial amid these serious challenges. In this context, the Council of Europe plays a vital role in maintaining the importance of the issues related to the occupied regions of Georgia, Davit Zalkaliani said. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia thanked the Council of Europe for the support of Otkhozoria-Tatunashvili list and the Consolidated Reports on Conflict in Georgia presented by the CoE Secretary General. FM Zalkaliani also stressed the significance of the decision made by the Committee of Ministers of Deputies of the Council of Europe on the Conflict in Georgia. source: IPN/ interpressnews.ge