Georgia Revives Despite Blockade – Saakashvili Tells ‘Patriots’

President Saakashvili said on September 16 that Georgia will revive and reunite despite attempts from “a neighboring country” to thwart Georgia’s success.

“We are the people who are a beacon in the fight for freedom… and we will retain this status… Three years ago we were separated and our enemies thought Georgia was a buzzing fly that was possible to squeeze… But those days are already gone,” Saakashvili said.

He was speaking at the second Forum of Patriots, which gathered 12 000 teenagers from all over Georgia who spent the summer in state-sponsored camps in different parts of the country to the Tbilisi Sport Palace. These summer camps were called “Patriot Camps” and aimed, as the organizers said, at boosting a patriotic spirit among the youth.

Saakashvili said that the authorities plan to set up a Patriotic Camp, similar to those which are operating in different regions of Georgia, in upper Kodori Gorge, breakaway Abkhazia.

He described upper Kodori gorge as “Abkhazia’s first liberated land.”

Saakashvili also spoke about Russia’s ban on Georgian wine, mineral water and agricultural product imports and said that “an economic embargo was made by those who think that Georgians would have fought with each other as a result of this embargo.”

“But during this embargo we have found out that we have not only enemies, but many friends as well,” Saakashvili said, adding that the “entire civilized world is with Georgia.”

He described the Russian ban as a “masochistic” decision.  

He compared Georgia to St. George, who was able to defeat “powerful evil” on his own because of his “inner spiritual strength.”

“We will do the same; we will gain victory,” Saakashvili added.

The Georgian leader also said that the country needs “a courageous generation that will not be afraid of anything.”

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)