Saying that an enemy is not an enemy and an ally is not an ally is the same as denying that a mother is a mother and a father is a father. Such a statement the President of Georgia made during her speech at the event dedicated to the Day of the Defense Forces.

“Who or not the Georgian army knows who trained us, who received our students in various military academies, who encouraged us when we were in trouble and when we needed equipment and many other things.

Even today, who stands by our side precisely at the time when the country is at a crossroad and the most existential choice has to be made or not to be, because without freedom, existence is not existence.

It is our duty to all of us to find a way of unity, to show endurance, courage, an example of attitude and love for the motherland, and whoever sows controversy and provocation is also against his own army and motherland.

Whoever preaches unity is betting on the future of the country, on the youth.

Your and our victory is not about war, but about peace. A peaceful Georgia can only be imagined in the bosom of Europe and in an egalitarian community, you stand on the guard of this future.

Long live the Georgian army, defense forces, every soldier, long live the heroic soldiers who sacrificed for the country’s independence, sovereignty and freedom, their memory is immortal.

Long live all those who stood for centuries where you are standing today, who believed in what you believe today and who will protect tomorrow’s strong, united, European Georgia.

Long live Georgia, congratulations on today’s day!”, - said Salome Zourabichvili.