Georgian top officials send kind wishes on New Year
Georgian PM Giorgi Gakharia has particularly congratulated a New Year to those Georgian citizens who live in the Russian occupied regions of Georgia. Photo: government of Georgia press office.
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Georgian top officials, the prime minister, the president and parliament speaker have sent kind wishes on a New Year holiday.
I wish you a Happy New Year 2020! I wish happiness and success to all of you and to our homeland. We welcome the New Year with hope and anticipation of beneficial change. May all our wishes-those of all our citizens, the younger and the elder alike-come true,” Georgian PM Giorgi Gakharia said.
Gakharia wished a happy New Year to Georgian citizens on either side of the occupation line, “those forced to deal with occupation on a daily basis.”
I wish a happy New Year to our Abkhazian and Ossetian brothers and sisters, firmly believing that eventually we will build our common future,” Gakharia said.
He stated that 2019 was abundant in events, emotions, and commotions, “though we all agree that peace and stability are key to the country's development.”
I am confident that 2020 will be a successful year in that Georgia, with its traditions and unique cultural identity, will achieve tremendous progress on the path to European and Euro-Atlantic integration. We will surely take our honorable place in Europe,” Gakharia stated.
President Salome Zurabishvili wished happiness, success and peace to all citizens of Georgia, saying that 2019 ended with the unity of the Georgian people and the result achieved with the unity - the release of well-known Georgian doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili from the illegal detention in the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region.
She stated that Georgia lacked to be calm in 2019, ‘but the year ends with joy and happiness.’
The depression in Georgia can only make our enemies happy. We can disperse hatred, black clouds and unite for the development of our country,” Zurabishvili said, praising the role and mission of Georgian soldiers inside and outside the country.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Archil Takalvadze has thanked “everyone who protected the country in 2019,” wishing happy New Year to Georgia and the whole world.
Catholicos Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II has expressed his warm wishes to the nation on the New Year and wished everyone happiness.
Members of the Georgian Orthodox Church, together with part of the Orthodox world, celebrate Christmas today according to the Julian calendar. The special liturgy commenced at Tbilisi's Holy Trinity Cathedral at midnight as Georgia's Patriarch Ilia II led the annual ceremony.
"Our supreme goal is to have Georgia united with the Abkhazian and Ossetian people” Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili said while sending his wishes to everyone in his New Year message.
"I want to wish all the best to everyone who does their best to serve our country and people. I want to send my special wishes to those who are carrying out their duties now”, this is how the Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili wished Georgian citizens a happy new year.
Georgian Patriarch Ilia II has addressed Russian President Vladimir Putin in his New Year video and stated that the “occupation of the historic Georgian territories [by Russia] should end.”
The State Security Service officials have visited the families of fallen officers in Tbilisi and in the regions, wishing them a happy New Year.
A Santa Claus and other fairytale characters travelling through Georgia for New Year met with children at the Abkhazia occupation line earlier today and wished them peace and unity. The fairytale character is visiting Georgian villages in the framework of a joint project between Finland and Georgia.
Eight children have been taken to M. Iashvili Children’s Central Hospital as a result of fireworks accidents on New Year’s eve.
Eighty-one people have been injured as a result of fireworks accidents on December 31-January 1 in Georgia, says the Ministry of Health.
Orthodox Christians in Georgia and across the world are celebrating the Epiphany today, during which the Georgian Orthodox Church conducts water blessing rituals.
“I wish a Happy New Year to all our fellow citizens both in Georgia and abroad, to our Abkhaz and Ossetian brothers. It is only in unity with them that we will secure a better future for Georgia… I wish you a year of a better tomorrow, of the country’s success, revival and development”, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said late last night while wishing Georgian citizens a happy new year.