National unity at core of Georgia’s future, says President Kavelashvili

In an annual address to Parliament regarding the state of the nation, Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili on Tuesday declared that Georgia was entering a new stage of state development. Set against a backdrop of rapid global geopolitical transformations and an increasingly unpredictable international environment, the President emphasised that the cornerstone of this new era must be a commitment to the motherland and the unwavering protection of independence.

Addressing the internal political and social climate, Kavelashvili urged citizens to look past their differences. He reminded the audience that Georgians are a nation with an ancient culture and history, having survived numerous trials through a shared language and common values.

“To summarize, on the backdrop of the accelerated geopolitical transformations taking place today and the unpredictable, tense environment in the world, Georgia is entering a new stage of state development, the starting point of which should be caring for the homeland and protecting its independence. Naturally, our future generations must play the main role in this process, and the state must do everything possible to provide our children with high-quality education based on Georgian, national values”, Kavelashvili said.

He highlighted the Government’s task to promote global peace, strengthen the country's economy, minimize the security risks facing the country, preserve freedom, a stable environment, and ensure the growth of prosperity.

“This can only be achieved if the Georgian people are united. We are a nation with an ancient culture and history, we have gone through many trials, we have a common past and values, one language and one country. Georgians have much more in common than they have to divide. Therefore, we must be able to put aside excess emotions and find those issues around which we can unite”, he continued.

The President also noted that Georgia would face many difficulties and challenges in the future, therefore, the Government must make constant vigilance, caution, strength, and unity a part of daily life.

“Our centuries-old history and the experience accumulated since the restoration of independence have shown us clearly that Georgia is constantly walking on a razor’s edge, and if we observe the events taking place at the international level, especially in our region, we will be convinced that we are facing a great test. The main prerequisite for development and strengthening is precisely the preservation of peace, and we must constantly take care of this not in a specific period of time, but in the long term”, he added.

“The past centuries confirm that our country has always found itself in difficult situations at times when the Georgian people considered that the danger had passed and allowed themselves to be satisfied with the current situation instead of thinking about a better tomorrow. Of course, this shortcoming can be corrected. We must understand well that many difficulties and challenges will arise in the future, therefore, we must make constant vigilance, caution, strength and unity a rule of our daily lives”, he continued.

Kavelashvili stressed that only a public consisting of ever-vigilant, educated and intelligent people, who are fully and accurately aware of their responsibility to future generations, could continuously build a country and strengthen the country's institutions.

“On the other hand, states with strong, sovereign, and solid institutions take the best care of the well-being of their citizens! Building a strong state by patriotic people, who are multifacetedly developed and educated, focused on maintaining peace and independence, is the most complete and reliable path to success”, he noted.

“I am sure that by uniting around national interests, showing mutual respect and more love, we will be able to build a country that every Georgian will be proud of”, the President concluded.