Happy Independence Day to all those, who associate the present day and freedom of homeland with national pride, personal dignity and happiness, said the Prime Minister of Georgia during his speech at the event dedicated to the Independence Day.

“I congratulate this day to our brothers and sisters, living on the temporarily occupied territories – our Abkhaz and Ossetian compatriots with special warmth.

I particularly congratulate our praiseworthy recruits, who have given an oath of dedication to homeland on this special day.

I also congratulate our foreign friends, strategic partners, who are celebrating Independence Day with us today. Their support is invaluable to us.

Dear friends, today we remember with pride all those who passed on the love of freedom from generation to generation; Once again we bow before the bright memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the motherland.

On 26th May 1918, Georgians firmly and loudly, for the whole world to hear, said that we want to “stand as a nation among other nations” again. Although the first independence was short-lived, it turned out to be of fundamental importance for our further development. In this short time, the Georgian people and their government created the foundations of a democratic, European state based on Western values, whose spirit and constitution were highly progressive even by today’s European standards”, - said Irakli Garibashvili.