On the 33rd anniversary of the fall of Sokhumi, Western diplomatic missions accredited to Georgia issued statements in support of the country’s territorial integrity. The embassies of the United States, Germany, France, and Sweden in Tbilisi reaffirmed their solidarity with Georgia and paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the war.
In an official statement, the U.S. Embassy noted that today Americans join their Georgian partners in remembering “the selflessness and courage of those who gave their lives to defend Georgia, and those who were forced to flee their homes as a result of the war.”
U.S. Chargée d’Affaires to Georgia Courtney Austrian visited the memorial to the victims of the struggle for territorial integrity at Heroes Square in Tbilisi.
A statement from the German Embassy stated that September 27 is “a day that unites generations”:
“Today, we share the grief and sorrow of the Georgian people. Germany continues to stand firmly and steadfastly with Georgia, supporting its sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. May the memory of this day make us even stronger in our tireless efforts toward dialogue, lasting peace, and a European future in which reconciliation becomes possible.”
The French Embassy also honored the memory of the victims of the war in Abkhazia and all those who, according to the mission’s statement, “sacrificed their lives for the homeland and the idea of a united Georgia.” The diplomatic mission underscored that on this day Paris stands alongside the Georgian people and “reaffirms its unwavering commitment to Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.”
“More than thirty years have passed, yet this painful chapter in Georgia’s history remains etched in the collective memory and in the everyday lives of hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons whose right of return, reaffirmed annually by the UN General Assembly, has still not been realized.”
The Swedish diplomatic mission stated: “Today we honor the memory of those who lost their lives during the war and remember the hundreds of thousands of people forced to leave their homes.”
“Sweden reaffirms its unwavering support for the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Georgia and expresses its deepest condolences to all those affected by the conflict.”