საქართველოს მთავრობა|Government of Georgia

On July 30, 2011, the Prime Minister of Georgia, Nika Gilauri, attended a graduation ceremony of Bachelors of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University and addressed graduates. We present the Prime Minister's speech:

"Good day. I would like to congratulate you on the present day.

There are several important days in the history of every person. One of such days is graduation from the university. You have finished one very important and very beautiful part of your life, and now you will start even more beautiful and important part.

I remember myself in your condition a few years ago; not very much time has passed since then. I was happy that I would not have to pass exams any more, while simultaneously I was sad as I would not see my friends so frequently, and I was nervous, as I did not know exactly what to do. As I see, you are in the same condition now.

You are a quite distinguished generation for Georgia. One of the first generations who paved your way by yourself. You did not have to pay bribes, as the previous generations had to; you did not have to pay sums to enter the university. You passed the Unified National Exams due to your work and knowledge; you were and still are better than others. Several years has passed. You have studied and victoriously graduated from the university.

As you have paved you way by yourself, expectations and hopes are much more with respect to you; expectations that you will do much more for yourself and for Georgia.

So what if Georgia is not very rich with minerals, and has not very big territory and population? In due time, the similar problems faced Singapore and Estonia, but due to their human resources, work, learning and knowledge, they managed to create most rich and successful states from these countries. This will be your duty to our country. This will not be easy, but the first foundation has already been laid.

We have carried out reforms of infrastructure, energy, probation, as well as against corruption, but this is only beginning. You will have to bring all these to a conclusion. You will have to make Georgia most successful country in the region and all over the world; it depends on you.

Time will pass and some of you will become a well-known scientist, the Director of a very big company, some of you will become Prime Minister and the others - President, but until then, there will be a few years, when very many question marks will appear, when you will not know, what to do. I would like to give you a few pieces of advice, which I have used successfully in my life. I would like to base these pieces of advice on histories which happened to me.

The following history is the first one: I worked for an Irish Company RAPI, which was a manager of a big energetic company in Georgia. I liked my work and energetics very much and I was annoyed that there was no electricity in the country. There was darkness in our country. Every day, after work, we stayed for 1-2 hours and I wanted to establish the reforms due to which the situation could be improved. Then I had no hope that anyone could carry out these reforms.

When the Rose Revolution took place, I did not know anyone from political leaders, neither Saakashvili, nor Zhvania, no one. It is still unknown to me who provided a reference to Zurab Zhvania for me. In December of 2003, they called and told me that the Prime Minister, Zurab Zhvania wanted to see me. When I came, they told me that I would have to make presentation on energetics for him in 2-3 weeks. I did not need so much time for this. I had worked on this every day and I submitted a presentation to him on the second day. I had not even finished my presentation when they suggested me to become the Minister of Energy at age of 28. So, I became the Minister then.

What is my advice? Love the job you do and try to work 1-2 hours more than you are obliged. Believe me, this will certainly be respected and help you.

I would like to retell you another history. I was the newly appointed Minister of Finance. A journalist came to me and asked very many questions, but one of the main questions was: "please, tell us in one phrase, what is your aim as the Minister of Finance? What the Ministry of Finance is going to be like?" It is very difficult to say this by only one phrase. I could answer with only one word and this word was "fair." What we have done for this period and are doing now, are intended for only one thing - to form a fair society.

Thus, it is my advice to you to work and love working, aspire to success and be fair. I would like to congratulate you on the present day once more and wish you success."

Prime Minister's Press Service