"A century has passed since the first annexation of Georgia by Russia, but we again face the threat of occupation," the President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili stated on Feb. 25 in the museum of Soviet occupation.
In the museum he held a meeting with the students.
"I am the fourth President of Georgia. Before me the Presidents were Noe Zhordaniya, Zviad Gamsakhurdia, Edward Shevardnadze, and during their presidency, Georgia incurred attack of Russia and then they attempted to annex Georgia. During Shevardnadze's presidency, the entire country was destroyed by our hands and Georgians warred against each other and then he himself invited Russians, General Baltin and Moscow placed its ministers in Tbilisi and governed the country," said Saakashvili.
He remembered Zviad Gamsakhurdia, who in his term yielded to Moscow and formed guards, calling on people not to resist Russia. "During presidency of Noe Zhordaniya in 1918-1921, Russia also pressed on Georgia and authorities legalized the activity of Communists in the country, after which troops were sent to Georgia and the country was annexed. Then, for a long time, we lost freedom and threw many centuries back," said the President of Georgia, emphasizing that with all three Presidents, Georgia lost its independence.
"I speak this not into the reproach to them, because then we were not prepared for much, did not have resources," stated Saakashvili.
He stressed that he was in bad condition in August 2008 and decided to fight to the last drop of blood. "But we did not leave Tbilisi, did not yield towns, did not allow them building bases, did not give in and managed to preserve state system. Our five-cross flag is fluttering over Tbilisi," the President said.
Russia took off territories, mainly, lives of our best servicemen and civilians, Saakashvili said. "But we were not deprived of our nation and honor. Our people went into the street and created chain surrounding all the country," he said.
Russia did not achieve its goal and failed to capture Tbilisi and overthrow the power, Georgia's President said. "The whole world supported us and we appreciate it. Most of our friends showed heroism and assisted us in the terms of Russia's aggression," he said, thanked all for help.
Saakashvili again stressed importance of the Geo Strategic Charter signed between Georgia and the USA "Presently, Georgia is another country. No forces will involve us in the new civil war. Our nation operates and ready for protecting law and order in the country, as well as not to allow disorder," he said.
Georgia does not intend to wage war and advises others to refuse from aggressive plans, Georgia's President said. "We are ready for talks to solve the problems politically but only if Russia refuses from occupation plans and breakdown of Georgia. We have never considered Russian people as our enemy and none of the Russian injured during Georgian-Russian war. Our hearts are always open for Russian people but not for the Kremlin's tanks. We are ready to receive the Russian and we have never closed our borders for the Russian. We are ready for conducting business with the Russian and invite them to Georgia. Our opposition often criticizes us on this regard," he said. Georgia will never make a compromise in territorial integrity, state system and will not refuse from independent determination of its policy.
"Georgia will never accept that three embassies will operate on Georgia's territory, including Tbilisi, Sukhumi and Tskhinvali," Georgia's President said.
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