Georgian President addresses nation on Independence Day

Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili on Monday delivered a keynote address during the official ceremony commemorating the country’s Independence Day.

“Today marks a symbol of the unity of the Georgian people, love for freedom, resilience, and tireless struggle. Exactly 107 years ago, our ancestors laid the foundation for the restoration of our country's independence and the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Georgia by adopting the Act of Independence. The Act of Independence is the first Georgian constitutional document, clearly reflecting the desire of the Georgian people to determine their own destiny.

We must understand what it means to be Georgian, to live on Georgian soil, to speak Georgian, and to be descendants of one of the oldest European Christian nations. We must understand how precious independence is, which requires constant protection and care. Caring for the homeland is not a one-time act or obligation. It is a continuous process, a mission - the fate of the Georgian people, which began with the struggles of our ancestors centuries ago and will never end as long as Georgia and the Georgian nation exist.

For this very idea, our ancestors preserved three divine treasures: the homeland, the language, and faith, the protection of which is the duty of each of us. If any of these is lost, we will lose the main idea called Georgia, we will lose the Georgian roots that have withstood centuries, and the Georgian nation will face the threat of destruction.

Our country will always face threats that require appropriate responses. Once and for all, we must realize how futile it is to wait for some foreign force to come and save us, to do what we should do, to know better than us what our people and country need. We must believe in ourselves and remember that we alone determine our future, and no one else.

If it weren't for the strength and wisdom of the Georgian people during a very difficult and dangerous period for the country, the reasonable and national policy of the Government alone would not have been enough. I want to thank every patriotic citizen of Georgia, everyone who believed in the strength of their country, stood guard over the homeland, and made a significant contribution to the survival of Georgia and the preservation of peace. You should be proud of your dedication, wisdom, and loyalty. You should be proud because we have earned a rare opportunity and united for our country at a turning point that could determine the future decades. Together and with foresight, we successfully passed the first stage of the threat, and I am confident that we will lead Georgia to safety with the same success.

You will agree that caring for the future of our country and children requires constant movement and action. As the great Ilia said - Movement and only movement is, my dear Tergi, the giver of the country's strength and life..

The Georgian people, in our country's history, reached the most glorious and proud period - the Golden Age - through constant movement, continuous preparation for decisive moments, and tireless work.

The fact that today we have our own homeland, language, script, and faith is precisely because Georgians never stopped moving. This struggle throughout history has taken various forms. There was a time for fighting with sword and weapon, as well as patience, endurance, and resilience. There was a time when the pen had more power than the sword. Just as today, in the modern world, our words and foresight have immeasurable power, especially for a small country like ours. Our word, wisdom, and belief in ourselves are our main weapons today.

For centuries, we have shed much blood, which has left a heavy mark on the Georgian people. The firm character and exceptional bravery of the Georgian man always involve self-sacrifice for his country and family. I am confident that, if necessary, every patriotic Georgian is ready to lay down his life. Our task is not to let this necessity arise—to prevent the need for a Georgian man to defend his country at the cost of his life. He should have the opportunity to care for his family and homeland in a peaceful and stable environment through honest labor.

I want to emphasise once again Georgia's commitment to European values and the European idea. The foundation of the Georgian people's European belonging was laid by our ancestors. For them, European values - justice, peace, Christianity, culture, protection of traditions, and national identity - were synonymous. They knew that the Georgian people are an inseparable part of civilizational Europe. For centuries, Georgia, alone in the extreme east of Europe, fearlessly and firmly defended Christian and European values. Our nation did this at the cost of great blood and sacrifice.

I want to state clearly that we are open to any relationship based on equality, which includes mutual benefit. Our decisions will, of course, be based on Georgia's national interests. The Georgian government, with the support of the Georgian people, will be firm and unwavering in upholding these principles. We will not allow the Georgian people to become victims of the interests of certain forces.

The cornerstone of the strength of the Georgian people has always been the strong family. A particularly solid institution that has withstood centuries. The Georgian people have raised their voice for the whole world to hear and said that traditional family and family values are an inseparable part of our national identity. Our duty is to strengthen Georgian families and promote the multiplication of our nation.

We are not a numerous nation, so we must treat each other with special care and attention. We must understand that the success of each individual is equivalent to the success of Georgia. Just as the success of our homeland should be the success of every Georgian citizen. Caring for the homeland should always be a part of every person's life and career. The homeland should always accompany each of us.

Georgia is not just a union of individuals, it is a country created by the Georgian people over centuries, with a great and proud history of statehood.

I believe that Georgia will definitely be united, strong, and prosperous. Once again, congratulations on Georgia's Independence Day! Glory to a united, strong, and prosperous Georgia! May God be the protector of us and our homeland!” the Georgian President said.