Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said the foundation of the ruling Georgian Dream party 11 years ago had been a “milestone” and a “turning point” in the country’s contemporary history, and said it had “saved” the country from “complete destruction”.
Describing the Saakashvili period as the “most challenging”, Garibashvili said the “anti-national, anti-state and anti-European regime” - in reference to the United National Movement Government - had turned “fear, terror, oppression and violence against its own citizens into the main weapon of politics”.
"Not only the democratic development of the country, but also the life, dignity and freedom of each person was at risk. A regime treacherous to its own people sought to maintain power even at the cost of destroying the country”, Garibashvili said.
The 2012 Parliamentary elections saw the Georgian Dream coalition “peacefully replace the anti-state regime”, he claimed, adding the new Government “immediately” began to pursue a “national policy”, including through “strengthening of the country’s sovereignty, ensuring peace and stability and freedom of citizens”.
"Today we are witnessing significant progress in all directions - welfare, social justice and democracy”, he said.
Strengthening the country's sovereignty, ensuring peace and “economic revival”, and protecting and developing its “culture, faith and traditions” remained the Government’s aim with the objective of seeing a “united, free and strong” Georgia, he added.
