Day of Georgian Diplomacy: PM, President praise professionalism of Georgian diplomats

Georgia is celebrating the Day of Georgian Diplomacy today.

Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has issued a statement regarding the occasion, saying that today is "a very important holiday for our state”.

He said that every success achieved by Georgia in the international arena should be credited to Georgian diplomacy.

"Today we are recognised throughout the civilised world as a country committed to Western values, which is a major achievement. It is thanks to the professionalism and tireless work of our diplomats that Georgia is drawing closer and closer to the European and Euro-Atlantic environment, the larger European family, where we belong by definition”, he said.

He added that Georgians take pride in Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani, a Georgian writer and diplomat who is known to have formulated the values of Georgian diplomacy and foreign policy in the 17th century.

"It is our duty to remain true to the key values and standards ushered in by Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani”, Kvirikashvili said.

Today we celebrate Day of #Georgian#Diplomacy. I congratulate our country's citizens and especially our diplomats! https://t.co/3S0UKSOVuB

— Giorgi Kvirikashvili (@KvirikashviliGi) November 3, 2017

He added he is convinced that, through Georgia’s potential and with firm support from its friends and partners, Georgians will enjoy many more achievements in the international arena.

President Giorgi Margvelashvili also marked the day by issuing a statement. He said that this occasion is especially important for Georgian statehood as independent foreign policy is directly related to the country’s sovereignty.

"Since the restoration of our statehood, thanks to Georgian diplomacy, our country has achieved numerous international successes”, he said.

President Margvelashvili named the visa-free regime and the free-trade agreement with the European Union as several examples of the successes of Georgian diplomacy.

"We have enabled Georgia to advance and become not only a full-fledged member of the international community, but also a state with crucial geopolitical function that brings together people, regions, and continents”, he said.

He added that Georgian diplomats are engaged in a difficult battle to protect sovereignty of their homeland.

"Their opponent is a country with strong diplomatic traditions, the Russian Federation. In this tense fight we have achieved impressive success: through consolidated efforts and support from international partners, attempts to recognise the occupied territories of Georgia as independent states have been thwarted and the non-recognition policy of the occupied territories has become widely embraced. Simultaneously, the number of states supporting the UN resolution that recognises the right of return for refugees and IDPs increases on an annual basis”, Margvelashvili said.

He added that the fight for statehood continues and de-occupation, the restoration of territorial integrity, European and Euro-Atlantic integration, and the advancement and prosperity of Georgia are the main tasks of Georgian diplomacy.

Georgia has annually celebrated the Day of Georgian Diplomacy since 2004.