Foreign Leaders Congratulate Georgia on Independence Day

Foreign leaders, diplomats, and officials sent congratulations and well wishes to Georgia on May 26 in celebration of Georgia’s Independence Day.

President Joe Biden sends a letter to President Salome Zurabishvili on Georgia’s Independence Day. He underlines the strong partnership between the United States and Georgia, which has contributed to peace and prosperity across on region and around the world. “We’ve stood together to help advance Georgia’s aspirations for further Euro-Atlantic integration, including into the EU and NATO. And the United States will continue to support Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and stand against Russia’s aggression-including its unjust occupation of Georgian territory and efforts to stoke conflict and division” the letter reads. President Biden looks forward to further strengthening the partnership and wishes Georgia a joyous national holiday.

Congratulations were also sent to President Zurabishvili by leaders of various countries, including President of France Emmanuel Macron, President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins, President of Switzerland Alain Berset and others.

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Georgia, emphasizing Georgia’s fight for independence and highlighting once again the US support for it. He noted: ““We recognize and condemn Russia’s behavior of aggression, including in the 2008 Russian invasion of Georgia and subsequent and ongoing occupation. We steadfastly support Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.” He also stressed: “On this day of celebration for Georgians everywhere, I reaffirm the United States’ continuing commitment to helping Georgia build the secure, prosperous, European democracy its citizens want and so richly deserve.”

In addition, the US Embassy in Tbilisi released a statement extending warm wishes to Georgia on its Independence Day. The US Ambassador to Georgia, Kelly Degnan offered her congratulations while speaking to journalists at the celebration.

His Majesty King Charles III of United Kingdom wrote a letter to Georgia’s President Salome Zurabishvili and the citizens of Georgia, extending his “warmest congratulations” and “looking forward to the continuing warm friendship and the strong partnership between our two countries, as we face this challenging times”.

UK Ambassador also to Georgia took to Twitter to congratulate Georgia with the independence anniversary.

The EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi showed his support towards Georgia’s EU aspirations in his post, noting that “Georgia belongs the European Union”.

The Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg, Denmark, Poland, Greece, North Macedonia, Latvia, Estonia, Romania and others, wished a happy Independence Day to Georgia. Furthermore, Ambassadors of Germany, France, and the Netherlands, Peter Fischer, Sheraz Gasri, and Maaike van Koldam, respectively, were also among those who congratulated Georgia on the occasion.

The Embassy of Ukraine in Georgia shared the letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the Georgian President Salome Zurbishvili. The letter reads: “Our state has always consistently supported and will continue to support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders. I am sure that the Ukrainian and Georgian people will de-occupy their territories, return a just peace to Ukraine and Georgia, and security to the Black Sea region”.

Ukrainian President also congratulated Georgians with a recorded address he twitted today, saying inter alia: “I greet all the people of Georgia and wish them to be together with us and all other European nations in a free, peaceful and united European family”.

The Foreign Ministries of Georgia’s neighboring countries – Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Armenia – joined others in extending their congratulations to Georgia. Notably, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev and the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan congratulated the President of Georgia in respective letters.

Members of the European Parliament also took to Twitter to extend their wishes for a happy Independence Day to Georgia. Viola von Cramon emphasized the significance of EU solidarity, particularly “in a time, when the freedom of the Georgian people is threatened from both inside and out”. Vlad Gheorghe joined his colleague in extending greetings, stating: “Happy independence day to the brave & EUROPEAN people of Georgia!”. Notably, Anna Fotyga congratulated Georgia entirely in Georgian, stating: “We wish you the fulfillment of your wishes, restoration of territorial integrity, institutional development and joining the Euro-Atlantic space”. MEP Markétka Gregorová congratulated Georgia on its Independence Day and emphasized the need to “let the ideals of free and democratic Georgia be renewed as soon as possible, getting Putin’s Russia off your borders and its influence off your politics”. The congratulation was sent to the people of Georgia by the EU Delegation to Georgia as well.

Also Read:

• 26/05/2023 – Photo Story: Georgia Celebrates Independence Day
• 26/05/2023 – Georgia Celebrates Independence Day

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