Georgia, Tbilisi, may 26 / Trend , N., Kirtskhalia/
"Our enemies want Georgia not to celebrate Independence Day on May 26, 2009," Georgia President Mikheil Saakashvilui said at a ceremony of opening of memorial to victims of the Georgia-Russia war on May 26.
Saakashvili said that the current authorities drew lesson and resisted to aggressors. "I am often asked why there was as a response to Russian troops, when more powerful European countries gave up in such a situation. But we were right, and those guys who lost their lives gave us the opportunity to stand proudly in front of the aggressors," he said.
"We adopted this decision so that there will be no suspicion that we were first to open fire. It is very important to our history. After the first turn of Russian troops crossed the Roksky tunnel and began massive bombing at our civilians, we were forced to give response. Our troops behaved heroically. The troops that were in Tskhinvali were not able to respond to our attack and our troops seized Tskhinvali so that part of the Russian Army trained in Tskhinvali was not able to provide serious resistance. Our military men showed heroism, and I am ready to bow before the living and the fallen soldiers," Saakashvili said.
Saakashvili thanked the military men for the fact that they behaved noble in Tskhinvali as indicated in reports of international organizations. "I want to thank each Georgian military man, who is still alive or already dead. I am one of you and we are all willing to fight to make the last occupier to leave and finally for the holy land of Georgia. This is service of all ethnic groups, which serve in our army including Ossetians, Russian, Azerbaijanis, Armenians and other nations. We have a unified multi-ethnic state," he said.
He said 20 percent of Georgia's lands are occupied. "We will not calm down until the last occupier leaves Georgia."
The Memorial of Fame is built in Muhatgverdi cemetery where victims of Georgia-Russia war have been buried.
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