Kaveladze on Veterans' Day: Peace Is Not a Given

Georgian President Mikheil Kaveladze, speaking at an event dedicated to Veterans' Day, said that Georgia is the homeland of heroes, and that a centuries-old chronicle filled with the country's upheavals confirms this.

According to the press service, the president congratulated veterans on the holiday and thanked them on behalf of the country. He paid special tribute to the memory of heroes who died for Georgia's freedom and noted that their sacrifice, courage and devotion to the homeland are an integral part of the history of Georgian statehood.

"Georgia is the homeland of heroes. The centuries-old chronicle filled with our upheavals is a sure confirmation of this - it is a history whose living, worthy and inseparable part is each of you present here," said Mikheil Kaveladze.

The president drew attention to the importance of veterans' social and health protection and of ensuring their dignity and well-being.

"Your contribution to the nation and the country is invaluable. Caring for veterans is a moral duty and an unwavering priority of our state and society. It is the state's obligation that each of you feels every day the proper respect, support and appreciation from the state," the president said.

Kaveladze also spoke about security challenges in the modern world. According to him, amid ongoing wars and conflicts, preserving peace, the strength of state institutions and social unity are of particular importance. The president said that the experience of veterans especially highlights the value of peace and freedom.

"Your experience teaches us that peace is not a given; it requires constant vigilance, resolve, a strong state and the unity of the nation," said the President of Georgia.

The event was attended by the prime minister, the speaker of parliament, the defense minister, the director of the State Service for Veterans' Affairs, representatives of the Patriarchate and invited guests.