Main event of Independence Day of Georgia in Vaziani
By Natalia Kochiashvili
Wednesday, May 27
The main event of the Independence Day of Georgia was held in Vaziani, at the warehouse of the 4th Mechanized Brigade. The President of Georgia, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Parliament and the Minister of Defense congratulated the servicemen on Independence Day.
Speaking at the event marking the 102nd anniversary of Georgia's independence, PM Giorgi Gakharia said that every generation in the struggle for independence and freedom of the country had its hero and we should pay due respect to them. According to him, the fight for Georgia's independence and unity is not over yet and the goal is to unite the country.
According to him, the Georgian army is a guarantee of the country's security, which is very important especially today, when the world is facing a global pandemic and no one knows what the world will be like tomorrow. “Our unity, the success of our army is the guarantee of our country's security, its Euro-Atlantic orientation, our effective cooperation with our strategic partners, the United States, the European Union, NATO and the Georgian army.”Gakharia said.
In his address, he singled out the merits of Georgian soldiers in peacekeeping missions to ensure global security and the contribution they have made to the effective management of the new Coronavirus pandemic in Georgia.
“Today, Georgia can say and declare that we have all been able to localize this risk and manage it effectively,” the PM said.
The PM also spoke of the importance of the date May 26th in the Georgian history. 102 years ago, the National Council adopted the Act of Independence and ‘with this step took the most important step for the further development of the country...and then on May 26, the First Republic determined the further orientation of our country. Gakharia congratulated the citizens of Georgia, compatriots living abroad and the Abkhazian and Ossetian brothers on this day, believing that ‘together we will be able to create a successful state.’
The President of Georgia spoke about the importance of partnership with the West at the event dedicated to Georgia's Independence Day.
According to Salome Zurabishvili, it is unfortunate that during the global challenge of the pandemic, not everyone was equally aware of the need for solidarity and joint struggle: “Now it is best to see what is the right way - this is the way to cooperation and peace. The way Georgia stands. Refusing to support, escalating tensions and occupying them is an anachronism. ”
President said that in the new world, Europe is facing a great challenge and a new stage of solidarity, and Georgia has no alternative to close cooperation with it: “Our place tomorrow is undoubtedly in the European bloc, no matter how it changes.”
According to Zurabishvili, strategic partnership with the United States is gaining new importance, as in addition to direct military challenges, new global threats have emerged: “These threats require expanding cooperation, such as the Lugar Center and Scientific Relations.”
According to the President, in the light of the reorganization of the world economy, where the Black Sea destination is growing even more, the joint plans of Georgia and NATO to strengthen its security become even more urgent.
She also stated that success in the fight against Coronavirus should not weaken the society, because the country, together with the rest of the world, is entering the second, more difficult phase.
According to the President, Georgia should be prepared to overcome economic and social challenges, which require resilience, patience and more solidarity. She added that in tomorrow's world, Georgia can occupy even a small but dignified place: "It means rethinking our potential and steering society and the economy in the right direction.” She says these new directions are already emerging: the survival of tourism, the rise of agriculture, the restoration of traditional production and the capture of new industrial niches in world geoeconomics.
In connection with the Independence Day of Georgia, the opposition party European Georgia has taken the initiative to restore the hall where the Constituent Assembly of the First Republic adopted the Act of Independence and to hold important events and meetings in this hall.
"In the future, the solemn sittings of the parliament will be held in this hall, and such historic acts as I am sure will soon take place, for example, Georgia's membership in NATO, the European Union, or ratification of international legal acts.” Giorgi Kandelaki, a MP from European Georgia told the media.
On May 26th, 1918, a session of the National Council of Georgia chaired by Noe Jordania was held at the former residence of the Caucasus Crown Prince on Rustaveli Avenue (former Golovin Avenue) in Tbilisi. Today, there is a student-youth palace in this building.
