“Gospel values”, “ideal of freedom” have determined Georgia’s development “for centuries” - PM on Independence Day
The Government head also called Georgia a “country of heroes” and cited its historical rulers including Vakhtang Gorgasali, David the Builder, King Tamar and Erekle II, and noted their history as the reason “freedom has a special value for us”. Photo: Government Administration
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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday marked the country’s Independence Day celebrations by saying its development across the ages had been determined by “gospel values” and the “ideal of freedom”.
In his comments as the date was marked across Georgia in events, Garibashvili said “[w]e are an ancient Christian country where apostles of Jesus Christ were preaching the word of the Lord themselves. For centuries, our development has been conditioned by gospel values, among which freedom is the supreme one”.
The Government head also called Georgia a “country of heroes” and cited its historical rulers including Vakhtang Gorgasali, David the Builder, King Tamar and Erekle II, and noted their history as the reason “freedom has a special value for us”.
“For our great ancestors, freedom was a goal to be achieved through constant struggle, and not something to be taken for granted”, he said.
Even today, despite the fact that Georgia is a politically independent country, our freedom and sovereignty unfortunately have many internal and external, visible or hidden enemies. Therefore, our freedom and sovereignty need to be strengthened, which requires the greatest efforts - and this is our duty”, Garibashvili noted.
“Independence means freedom from others, and freedom - as the great Ilia Chavchavadze [Georgian publicist, author and a major figure of the country's 19th century national movement] taught us - is when our fate belongs to ourselves”, he continued.
He also said in remarks for the date freedom implied a “sovereign state implementing domestic and foreign policy only in the interests of its own people”.
[It also] implies a state where the political and social rights of each citizen are guaranteed, [where] the rule of law, eternal values and national interests [are protected], [...] an environment where the strength of each family is the main task of the government and, at the same time, it is the basis of the state's strength; freedom implies a society that aspires not only to territorial but also to value-based and substantial unity, where our past, present and future meet”, he concluded.
Top diplomats of Georgia’s partner countries on Friday extended their messages of congratulation to citizens on the country’s Independence Day, the Georgian Foreign office said.
The United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday wished Georgian citizens a happy Independence Day and said they understood “deeply” the “value of independence, freedom and democracy”.
Cities across Georgia are marking Independence Day with events and exhibitions for residents and visitors today, with the main programme hosted in capital Tbilisi throughout the day. The annual celebrations are marked after May 26, 1918 – the day the Act of Independence established the First Democratic Republic of the country.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday said his office had ensured peace and stability in the country on the backdrop of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict despite “numerous destructive attempts by ill-wishers both inside and outside the country”.
Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze on Friday said the Independence Day was an “important event” for citizens of the country and called the date a “pillar of our national identity”.
Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday said a “just recognition” of Georgia’s “merits” would see the European Union grant the country its membership candidate status by the end of this year, in what he said would be a “historic step” that would help end the polarisation of the domestic political scene.
Landmarks across the world were illuminated in red and white on Friday to mark Independence Day of Georgia, as the country celebrated the 32nd anniversary of the restoration of its statehood.
New recruits of the Georgian Defence Forces took their oath in 10 cities across the country to launch celebrations of Independence Day on Friday.
Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Friday congratulated citizens with Independence Day by saying “true independence” could only be achieved through ensuring a strong economic basis for the state.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashili on Friday attended the ceremonial reception marking the Independence Day of Georgia, the Government Administration said.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Sunday attended the civil funeral of a politician, state and public figure Aleksandre Lomtatidze, the deputy chair of the Georgian Constituent Assembly in the First Republic of Georgia, at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi.