Independence Day Celebration in London

LONDON - Official Press Release

The Georgian Embassy in London hosted a concert and reception to celebrate Georgian Independence Day, as well as 25 years of restoration of Diplomatic Relations between Georgia and the UK.

The event was held at the prestigious Lansdowne Club on May 30. The ceremony was attended by high level guests including Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps, Alistair Harrison, the Secretary General of IMO Kitack Lim, Ambassadors accredited in London, FCO Director of the Human Rights Department Robert Jones and the Director of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia Department Michael Tatham, as well as representatives of the NATO Association of Junior and Assistant Naval Attaches (AJANA). Georgian Diaspora, NGOs and the business heads were also present. Young representatives of the local folk group “Pesvebi” in traditional Georgian costumes greeted the audience and presented them with pins of both Georgian and UK flags.

Ambassador of Georgia to the UK, Tamar Beruchashvili, and the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps, Alistair Harrison addressed the audience. In her speech, the Ambassador underlined the successful steps taken by Georgia to achieve democratic development, the progress achieved on the path to European and Euro-Atlantic integration, as well as the country’s traditional transit role in the Silk Road project. She stated: “Georgia is no longer a Post-Soviet state. It is a democratic Eastern European state.” The history of diplomatic relations between Georgia and the UK dates back to 1919, when the British diplomat Oliver Wardrop was assigned as the first British Chief Commissioner of the Transcaucasus in Tbilisi, which was later restored on April 27 1992.

The two countries have developed a strong strategic partnership within the framework of the “Wardrop Dialogue” which is based on common values. Strong ties have developed in a number of areas throughout the years, including defence, political, trade, economic and cultural cooperation. The UK strongly supports sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Georgia, as well as our European and Euro-Atlantic integration aspirations. Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps congratulated Georgia on its successful democratic development. He underlined Georgia’s extensive history, as a homeland of wine and golden fleece. The Georgian and British national anthems were followed by a performance of Georgian piano players Ilia Lomtatidze and Barbare Tataradze. The young musicians performed compositions of European and Georgian composers, which was met with applause. Both successful piano players have already won several local and international awards and participated in concerts both in Georgia and internationally, with the support of the SOS Talents Foundation. The guests were then had the chance to savour Georgian food and wine