Ruling Party Supported Presidential Candidate Addresses Army
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Monday, November 26
The Georgian Dream ruling party endorsed presidential candidate Salome Zurabishvili has addressed the Georgian Armed Forces on Friday amid the statements of former soldiers made against her by saying that no one will be able to politically divide the army.
She stated that “as the country’s future president” she will do her utmost to protect the interest of Georgian soldiers and defend the political neutrality of the army.
“Strengthening Georgia’s self-defense capabilities is one the major goals of the Georgian state-the state defense conception should be renewed. The political neutrality of the Georgian armed forces should be protected.
Zurabishvili said that steps should be taken to provide modern equipment for Georgian servicemen and the army.
“Despite various unworthy attempts no one has managed to divide the Georgian army politically and no one will be able to do so, as the country’s future president and the commander-in-chief will guarantee that,” Zurabishvili said.
The Georgian Defence Ministry has made several statements that the United National Movement opposition-affiliated former servicemen have made appeals not to vote for Zurabishvili in the November 28 presidential election runoff.
The ministry called upon everyone to refrain from making the statements which could harm the Georgian army and involve it in political issues.
The former servicemen stated that Georgians must not vote for Zurabishvili as she has stated that “Georgia started the Russia-Georgia 2008 war.”
The United National Movement has also many times accused Zurabishvili of making anti-state statements.
Zurabishvili says that Saakashvili was provoked to start the Russia-Georgia war and with the step, the former president helped Russians fulfill their old wish to invade Georgian territories.