The reception was held in the President's Residence today in the honor of the winners of Yurmala Festival "New Wave". Mikheil Saakashvili hosted Rati Durglishvili and Maka Zambakhidze.

"I have an honor and pleasant obligation to greet the winners of Yurmala Festival - Rati and Maka. I want to congratulate you and those people who have worked with you with this victory. I know that this was the result of their long and fruitful job. A group of motivated and willing people worked on this project. I want to underline their share, because it's only possible to make such success by means of tremendous work. You need two things for victory - great aspiration for victory and preliminary work. You can work without rest for years, but no one would see it. Victory lasts one day only, but you remember it forever. We had a long pause in winning the festivals. But we all remember Soso Pavliashvili's victory at Yurmala. I want to express my gratitude to all those people who have worked with this duet, especially to Maia Kipiani. I want to award the winners with the Orders of Honor for presenting Georgia in such a respectful way", stated Mikheil Saakashvili.

Mamuka Akhvlediani presented cars to the winners and promised them full support.

The President of Georgia awarded Lela Tsurtsumia and Soso Pavliashvili with Orders of Honor as well.

"A couple of days ago we awarded Buba Kikabidze for his exceptional civilian heroism, with the highest order of St George. He is not only an artist or public figure, he was defending Georgia's national interests urgently. It's possible to defend the interests of your country in various ways. Soso Pavliashvili popularizes Georgia without rest and represents the name of our country. Everyone knows his name, at least in the borders of the former Soviet Union. This is why to give honor to his work and to mark his share in the popularization of Georgian culture on the whole I wish to award him with the Order of Honor as well. Our country will always appreciate you and support you, because we need many victories, much happiness and great progress. We have to spread the name of our country far beyond our borders and show the whole world our talent", - Mikheil Saakashvili stated.

Press Office
of the President of Georgia