Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili congratulated the Georgian people on New Year and wished them happiness, health, and success.

President Zourabichvili noted that 2023 would be the year of Europe. She remarked that 2022 was the hardest for Ukrainians.

According to the President, Ukrainians showed the world that they can fight for independence, freedom, and the freedom of others.

“Georgian people know well what this fight means because they underwent this path. This is why Georgians demonstrated miraculous solidarity with their friend country in all possible forms telling them that Georgians stand with the Ukrainians. We are not in a war but share the same future and prospects, which Ukraine’s struggle is paving for us,” she said.

According to President, 2022 was a year of great expectations and European hope as well as partial disappointment.

“However, we received a European perspective. This is most important because it ended geographical questions, which existed over Georgia. European perspective means unanimous recognition that Georgia is Europe. We need to prove that Georgian values, which are European values at the same time, drive us. If we prove that, we will overcome the disappointment, and 2023 will be a true year of Europe,” President said.

President Zourabichvili wished a Happy New Year to the Georgian Diaspora and urged the youngsters to return to their homeland to bring “so-much needed” rules and standards.

President congratulated compatriots from occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions.

“We should stand with you and defend your identity, your language, and living together. I don’t know if this will be Monaco or something else, but I know that we should ease your current living. You should be taking documents in a facilitated manner so that you could come close to Europe from Georgia,” she said.

The President of Georgia congratulated Patriarch, who is “giving hope to people and continue to do so for the next year and following years.

“I want to congratulate everyone on New Year. I wish to meet New Year together, with unity and solidarity,” President concluded.