President: “no man got left behind...”

The President of Georgia personally thanked the representatives of the Georgian Armed Forces who involved in the disaster response process in the Kakheti region. Mikheil Saakashvili briefed them on the importance of the rehabilitation work they carried out provided encouragement: “No man got left behind in peace or in war. You are the guarantor of stability and our country is based on your strength,” he said to the servicemen.

“Recently, Kakheti was hit by a huge disaster and it was almost similar in scope to the military aggression Georgia suffered in 2008. Your reaction was quick and you have arrived in the region to clean up roads and infrastructure,” Saakashvili said while addressing the soldiers. “Several thousand homes were damaged significantly, thousands of people were left in the open air, a large part of the residents’ vineyards were destroyed– peach orchards and so on...” He then went on to emphasize the speed of the government’s response to the disaster, adding that they have worked three times faster than any government would have done abroad.

According to Saakashvili Georgia's main value is the country’s solidarity and mutual support. He explained that the Kakhetian people know this better than anyone.

Saakashvili reiterated that reconstruction work will continue and that 2012 will be the year of Kakheti.

The cleaning and rehabilitation work in the disaster zone has been completed. The reservists of the GAF rendered assistance to the local population in repairing damaged roofs, cleaning up roads and restoring power lines. Today, while leaving the disaster zone, the local population bid farewell to the Georgian soldiers and thanked them for their assistance.

After the natural disaster, about 2,000 representatives of the various units of the Defence Ministry were sent to the disaster area quickly – including the IV and V Infantry Brigades, Construction Brigade, Engineering Battalion, Personnel of the National Guard Cadre Brigade and more than 1,000 reservists. Approximately 200 units of special automotive equipment were mobilized as well.

On September 1 of 2012, all military servicemen that participated in the recovery and rehabilitation process in the Kakheti region will be awarded with special medals initiated by the President of Georgia.