2022-05-26

I congratulate you on the Day of Independence of Georgia! Today we mark 104^th Anniversary from declaring the independence of our state. May 26 is a day of our freedom. It is a day that unites Georgian citizens most of all. It was announced by Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia in his keynote speech delivered as an event dedicated to the Day of Independence of Georgia today.

The Head of Government of Georgia congratulated the national holiday to everyone, who deem the homeland and freedom as the supreme values, who keep the bright memory of our great ancestors alive in their heart and participate in the building of a better future of Georgia with their daily labor.

"I congratulate our most important national holiday - Day of Independence of Georgia - to our praiseworthy army, every teacher and farmer, doctor and constructor, sportsman and artist, soldier and policeman, youth and elderly - everyone who deem the homeland and freedom as the supreme values, who keep the bright memory of our great ancestors live in their heart and participate in the building of a better future of Georgia with their daily labor. I wish to particularly congratulate our praiseworthy army recruits, who happen to be greatly honored to give an Oath of Devotion to Homeland today. I wholeheartedly congratulate the Georgian diaspora throughout the world.

I congratulate it with special warmth to our brothers and sisters living on the occupied territories. We have a common past and we should build a future together only with peace, mutual respect and cooperation.

I congratulate our foreign friends with a feeling of gratitude, as we have been constantly experiencing their sincere support since regaining our independence and who celebrate this day together with us.

On May 26, we pay tribute to the memory of our heroes, our great ancestors, who dedicated most valuable - their lives - to the idea of independence of their homeland" stated Irakli Garibashvili.

The Prime Minister of Georgia highlighted that a nation taking great price in its long culture and history, freedom-loving, one of the most ancient in Europe has always been loyal towards its values.

"Within a mere hundred meters from this place, on 26th May 1918, Georgian people declared national independence and thus its Europe-oriented government created a most democratic and truly European state based on western values, with its spirit and constitution being in full compliance with even current criteria of Europe.

Statehood regained in 1991 was based on the Constitution of the First Republic and European values, thus defining European orientation as a main aim of our country. Independence - my dear friends - is an essential and fundamental prerequisite in building such a future.

I wish to recall today the words uttered by one of the main creators of our modern state, first President of Georgia, late Zviad Gamsakhurdia: "Independence is a salvation of morality in a nation and thus it is a salvation of the nation itself".

Indeed, being one of the most ancient nations in permanent fight for our homeland, we have survived because the moral ideals of freedom and independence did not diminish in our people even in the most difficult times" stated the Head of Government of Georgia.

As Irakli Garibashvili noted, it is symbolic that today is also the birthday of a dedicated fighter for freedom of our homeland, the great patriot, late Merab Kostava. According to him, albeit among his peers he better symbolized the moral of our nation, devotion to the supreme ideals and inner freedom of Georgian people.

"Since regaining the ultimate independence, we have aimed to make this inner freedom that defined all our history and culture, implemented in the state and institutional setting.

And this, of course, means the building of a modern European state and that is why our aspiration towards returning to our natural environment - a common European family - has never been diminished in our people.

Day of Independence is celebrated at a special historic moment this year, as I signed the EU Accession Application on March 3 to gain the status of an EU Candidate Country. It should be said without exaggeration that we embarked on a completely new stage in the history of Georgia with this.

Naturally, a lot of work preceded this day. I wish to thank everyone for this.

I always highlight that the European future is a program and action plan without alternatives as defined by the Georgian nation to every government of the country.

"Since coming to power, the Georgian Dream has given a specific nature to this plan my dear friends. In a short period of time we made a number of tangible steps towards approximation with EU standards: we carried out wide scale reforms in the justice, political, economic, defense and security systems, for the improvement of governance and for strengthening democracy. We are continuing this work. We ensured the longest period of peace in recent history and gave foundation to an unprecedented, long-term process of peaceful development.

I am happy that in my term as a Prime Minister of Georgia, I was honored to sign the EU-Georgia Association Agreement. Georgia is currently enjoying free trade and visa-free travel arrangement with the EU, which is a truly important, tangible achievement for our population, of course.

Irrespective of the global challenges faced today by the entire world, which considerably damaged the economies of many countries, our government has been farsighted and prudent in pursuing policies of national interest thus maintaining stability and development in the country.

I wish to one again express the solidarity of our government and our people towards the people of Ukraine from this rostrum today" noted the Prime Minister of Georgia.

The Head of Government of Georgia highlighted that country is a reliable and loyal ally to the EU, and everyone recognizes that Georgia truly leads among the countries of Eastern Partnership, as well as in the so-called Associated Trio.

"Today Georgia expects a wise, farsighted, politically justified and - what is most important - fair decision from Europe. We expect an adequate recognition of our historic aspiration, tireless efforts, commitments met and implemented reforms within the process of integration.

We are one of the first countries in the world to declare Christianity as a state religion. Since then the biblical values, which serve as a basis of current Europe, have been shaping all our development. Georgian renaissance is the most significant achievement of the European cultural treasure, while the process of enlightenment and industrialization has been developing in our country - during the reign of Vakhtang VI and times of Sulkhan-Saba, later under the reign of Erekle II - along with that of Europe.

European values and lifestyle, oriented towards establishing the European institutional setting, were intended for introduction in the country by founders of the modern Georgian state ideology - Ilia Chavchavadze, Niko Nikoladze, Ivane Javakhishvili and other great patriots.

Thus, modern Georgia is based on this very great heritage and we - authorities and people together - work in a tireless manner to strengthen and develop it. This heritage and current achievements strengthen our belief that our ancient country located at the edge of east and west, with its unique history, culture and language truly deserves to become a decent member of a great common family of Europe.

Once again, let me congratulate you on Independence Day! I wish our homeland peace, progress and unification!

God be our protector!" concluded Irakli Garibashvili.

Event dedicated to the Day of Independence was attended by the President of Georgia, Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chkhorotsku Diosee being Co-Enthroned by the Patriarchy, members of government and parliament, diplomatic corps and the military.

Press Service of the Government Administration