The UK has been our reliable and devoted ally since Georgia regained its independence, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said in his speech at the official event in honour of King Charles III’s birthday.

Below is the PM’s full speech as delivered:

“It is a great honor and a privilege to be here and convey to His Majesty, King Charles the III, to the people of the United Kingdom and members of the Commonwealth, my heartfelt congratulations on this historic occasion of his Majesty’s birthday.

The United Kingdom and Georgia have been the long-time strategic partners and our friendship and cooperation have become even closer in light of the current security challenges in the region. Let me, on behalf of the Georgian people and my Government, express immense gratitude to the United Kingdom for its unwavering support to the Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The UK has been our reliable and a devoted ally since Georgia regained its independence.

Our strategic partnership dates back in 1919 when Sir John Oliver and Marjory Wardrop laid the foundation for the long-lasting friendship between our countries. Thus, it is not only symbolic that we have developed such close relations through the Wardrop Strategic Dialogue. This platform has given us an opportunity to carry on the legacy of our ancestors and opened the venue for regular discussions on issues of common interest.

The recent visit by the Secretary Cleverly to Georgia demonstrates the UK’s commitment towards the region and the resilience of our strategic partnership, which has been based on common values and principles of freedom and democracy. I want to seize this opportunity and convey my appreciation to the UK Government for its involvement in strengthening our state institutions and supporting democratic development through the “Good Governance Fund” (GGF).

The Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement signed in 2019 was another important milestone in our relations. This document strengthened our partnership into a solid legal framework, which offers large-scale opportunities for collaboration and free trade arrangements.

The United Kingdom has always given an excellent example of how centuries-old traditions can make modern state institutions even stronger without compromising freedom of individuals. Your culture and traditions that have passed on to generations along with your bold stance for freedom and democracy have shaped our long-standing friendship.

Having experienced a number of wars since regaining independence, we know and value the support of our friends and we firmly count on the UK’s steadfast assistance for peaceful conflict resolution and Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration. Georgia, along with the UK, has always stood up for international rules-based order and has always defended international fundamental norms and human rights, since those are the means for building sustainable peace and security.

Defense and Security is one of the most vibrant part of cooperation between our countries encompassing conventional as well as unconventional dimensions, and we are extremely grateful to His Majesty’s Government for the substantial input into strengthening Georgia’s resilience in this regard.

The same time, cooperation in the areas of culture and education are crucial components of our bilateral partnership playing leading role into shaping long-lasting bonds between the UK and Georgia.

Dear Friends, I am confident that with joint efforts we will further deepen our ties, set new benchmarks for our partnership in pursuit of peace and stability for ensuring economic prosperity and well-being for our nations.

Excellences, Dear Guests, let me once again extend my heartfelt and sincere congratulations to His Majesty King Charles the III. May His Majesty’s reign be blessed with peace, prosperity and joy! God bless the King!”