President: May 9 Has Double Importance for Georgia

May 9 has double importance for Georgia, President Salome Zurabishvili says in her address.

The President noted that 75 years have passed since the end of World War II and 70 years since the birth of the European family, the idea of the European Union.

"First of all, I would like to congratulate our World War II veterans on this day, express our gratitude to them and wish them long life and courage.

"It was after the Second World War when the foundations were laid for a completely new format of cooperation and solidarity for peace and prosperity in Europe - the European Union. The idea of the European Union arose against the backdrop of that devastating war. Throughout these years, European countries have been working together for human security and prosperity.

"And Georgia, with its values, true European culture, and its own achievements, is taking convincing and irreversible steps towards the European family.

"I must point out that today, when the whole world is involved in the fight against the greatest challenge, the European Union still stands by our side. It has already provided financial assistance in implementing our anti-crisis plan. The crisis has further strengthened the aspirations of the Georgian people to fully return to the European family.

"In these days, I have talked to the Presidents of almost all European countries, the President of the Council of the European Union; I emphasized that it is important to be fully involved in making post-crisis plans with the European Union - because the solution in tomorrow's world will not be to lock ourselves in space, but to strengthen relations with allies and have more solidarity.

"Both Georgia and the European Union are ready to further deepen cooperation. I am confident that with solidarity, we will strengthen each other again and we will come out from the crisis with dignity," Salome Zurabishvili said.