GEORGIAN PRESIDENT MAKES SPEECH AT PACE SESSION
Support A1+!Newly elected Georgia president Mikhail Sahakashvili delivered a speech at the PACE session on Wednesday. He welcomed all his friends in his speech and expressed gratitude for support.
In his opinion, despite the fact that the European Union is increasingly being enlarged, the role of the Council of Europe remains extremely important.
He spoke on velvet revolution in Georgia and explained its causes, one of which is leaning to European standards.
“We displayed our commitment to European values, we showed an example that is worth to be followed. Georgia’s success is the region’s success. If we fail, this would be the region’s failure. I am proud of my nation”, he said.
“Our ambitions are to become a EU fully-fledged member. No matter, how we are called today – pro-American or pro-Russian, I feel myself a European. I lose no touch with Russians and Georgia’s neighbors. But is goes without doubt: I’m Georgian, I’m European.
We will combat corruption, without any compromise. We will improve the legislative field, justice system. Poverty must be rooted out as well. But we are in need of help. Let’s rid our country of dirty money!”, Sahakashvily said.
Speaking on Georgian-Russian relations, Sahakashvili noted that Abkhaz-Georgian conflict is actually Russian-Georgian one. In his opinion, this is retaliation against Georgia for its aspiration to be independent. Sahakashvili expressed hope that Russia will play more positive role in Georgia’s fate. “I give my hand to Putin and hope he to shake it”, he said.
