Ruling party endorsed presidential candidate addresses Georgian army

The Georgian Dream ruling party endorsed presidential candidate Salome Zurabishvili has addressed the Georgian army on the Saint George’s Day today and stated that despite “various unworthy attempts” to divide the Georgian army, this will not happen and she, as the future commander in chief of the Georgian Armed Forces will do her utmost to protect the interests of the army staff and to boost the country’s self-defence capabilities.

She stated that over the past 100 years Georgian soldiers have many times defended the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Currently our soldiers are protecting state interests inside the country and in international peace missions and are taking part in various activities to meet the challenges related to terrorism, Zurabishvili said.

 

Strengthening of Georgia’s self-defence capabilities is one the major goals of the Georgian state-the state defence conception needs to be renewed and equipment of our soldiers with modern techniques and defence technologies should continue. The political neutrality of the Georgian armed forces should be protected.

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 i will be the guarantee of that, Zurabishvili said.

Several United National Movement opposition affiliated former servicemen have made appeals not to vote for Zurabishvili in the 28 November presidential election runoff.

The Georgian Defence Ministry has immediately reacted to such statements and called upon everyone to refrain from making statements which could harm the Georgian army and its political neutrality.