National Day Message by H. E. Mrs. Tamara Liluashvili, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Republic of Bulgaria

On May 26^th, Georgia marks the day of the highest significance in the country’s history. It commemorates the 26 May 1918 adoption of the Act of Independence, which established the Democratic Republic of Georgia in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution of 1917. It is the national day of Georgia. On this date 103 years ago Georgia gained independence from the Russian Empire, a part of which it had been since the early 19th century.

During the past several decades, Georgia has established diplomatic relations with all the European countries. Excellent bilateral relations with European partners have been upgraded to strategic partnership and created different formats of high-level dialogues.

Today, Georgia is a European Democracy, located at a historically vital crossroads connecting East and West, the Caspian and Black seas. Today, Georgia has established a strong record of reforming its economy and raising the living standards of its citizens. Georgia has a shared consensus on national priorities including NATO membership and European integration. 

Georgia’s strong European aspirations are reflected in Georgia’s ever-closer integration with the European Union. Country has become one of the closest and reliable partners of the European Union in its neighbourhood. EU-Georgia relations recent years have been characterised by historically unprecedented dynamism.

Country’s continuous progress in political and economic reforms resulted into visa-free regime for the citizens of Georgia (since 2017), thereby offering new opportunities for business, research, academic work or cultural exchange. 

Today, Georgia continues to deliver on its reform commitments aiming to strengthen its democratic institutions, improve the everyday life of Georgians and open up new opportunities for further bringing the EU and Georgia together, until both partners are ready for the next big step - Georgia’s accession to the Union.   Georgia has expressed its political commitment to officially submit membership application in 2024.

Recent World pandemic has taken a toll on the country, although the country already begun to pull out of the recession caused by COVID-19. Georgia’s initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic stands out globally. The key contributing factors were speed of response, evidence-based policies, and broad social compliance with measures imposed to halt the pandemic. This strategy led the Government to shift from voluntary recommendations to mandatory restrictions to enforce social distancing, culminating in the imposition of a state of emergency.  The pandemic posed potent threats for Georgia’s two conflict regions, Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, where healthcare systems have languished with little investment over the past three decades. The Georgian Government has underlined its readiness to help in combating this pandemic.

Bulgaria and Georgia are connected by strong friendship. They share a long history of traditionally close and friendly relations, and vibrant cooperation in many areas of common interest.

The two countries are connected geographically: the Black Sea builds a natural bridge between them, offering unique opportunities which will help to strengthen the stability, security and economic well-being of both countries and the Black Sea region as a whole.

Today, Georgia stands strong to strengthen our statehood and defend our ideals and values we fought throughout the history. Happy Independence Day Georgia!

The photo was provided by the Embassy of Georgia in the Republic of Bulgaria.