Speaking at a ceremony marking Independence Day, Mikheil Kavelashvili, the sixth president of Georgia, stated that in the face of modern global challenges, it is particularly important to realize that independence is not a state achieved once and for all.
He emphasized that independence is a value that must be won and defended daily, requiring immense effort and imposing a colossal responsibility.
“Independence Day reminds us of the need to be firmer, more united, and to shape the future of Georgia solely in the interests of our country,” he noted.
Kavelashvili also stated that Georgian society must remember the heroes who fought for the country’s independence and cherish their legacy — “to honor their memory and preserve, protect, and strengthen their legacy” — and do everything possible to ensure that “together with our Abkhazian and Ossetian sisters and brothers, we can build a united, developed Georgia and leave our children a much stronger, more resilient, and free state.”
Addressing the youth, the politician emphasized their role in the country’s future.
“You are the future of this country. Your energy is an immense driving force behind the development of our state. God, Homeland, the individual, language, land, faith, the sanctity of the family — these are the eternal values that have defined our existence. It is on these ideals that you must strive to be the best in your field, so that our Homeland may live forever,” Mikheil Kavelashvili declared.