Georgia’s Defence Minister marks Independence Day in Afghanistan
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Georgia’s Minister of Defence Tinatin Khidasheli is today congratulating Georgian and its people on Independence Day from Afghanistan, where she is currently holding meetings on her first official visit.
Khidasheli addressed Georgian civilians and military servicemen and recalled the merit of the heroes who had sacrificed their lives for Georgia’s freedom.
"Just one century ago, on May 26 of 1918, the following words were written in the Act of Independence: "From now on Georgian people are carrying a sovereign right and Georgia is an independent country.” These are not just words, this is an idea, which is much more than one phrase written in a specific document,” she said.
The Minister noted the idea of sovereignty, independence and freedom was the reason why generations of Georgians had sacrificed themselves for their homeland.
Georgian soldiers on the Freedom Square in Tbilisi watch the Defence Minister adress them from Afghanistan. Photo by Defence Minister
"The desire for freedom and sovereignty of our country is what united Georgian people,” she said.
"The present generation of Georgia are worthy of their ancestors, who fought for centuries to maintain the statehood and strengthen freedom. Georgia’s current Government is doing everything to become an honorable ancestor of the future generation,” she noted.
Minister Khidasheli also stressed the importance of her current location and said she particularly wanted to congratulate Georgian soldiers from Afghanistan.
"This is a point where the world is in most trouble and where we best prove that the whole of Georgia, together with the civilized world, fights for world security and independence,” she said.
May 26 is one of Georgia’s major public holidays and marks the day when the country declared national independence of the Georgian people from Russia and the creation of the Democratic Republic of Georgia in 1918.
A major public celebration is currently taking place in the Georgian capital Tbilisi and in 12 other self-governing cities of Georgia.
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