The President of Georgia was awarded honorary title of Doctor in New York University. "A champion from the viewpoint of democratic development," this is how the President of New York University characterized Mikheil Saakashvili.
The President of Georgia delivered a speech in the University and recalled the period when he arrived in the city to receive education. Mikheil Saakashvili stated that Barack Obama's and his recollections of the first days spent in this megapolis are alike. He spoke about Georgia and once again stated that the country has no other choice rather than a democratic way of development.
" I want to express my deep gratitude for such reception. I am proud to be in this wonderful University.
I am happy to see my dear professors. It is great honor for me as for a former student to be within the precincts of this University.
My political views are firmly connected with New York. I arrived from absolutely different world.
It was the Soviet world full of corruption and bureaucracy. I always knew that I would never love that society.
I needed something radically different.
New York is not the city that generously hosts you. The life here is quite difficult, I have enough experience of this.
When I was studying in the University of Columbia, one evening I left my student ID in the room. That's why I was not allowed to enter the building.
I, as well as President Obama had to spend the first night outside the building. But this is the city of opportunities where you can fall down and stand up. This is the city where no one will judge you because of your name or views. I studied a lot here and this experience still helps me.
This is the city where independence, democracy and all state values are built on transformation.
Today I met a well-known magnate and businessman Donald Trump, who once lost everything, but survived and now stands firm. Trump told me that he is delighted with Georgia. Years ago everyone got on his way but he still managed to return. No matter how you fall - the main thing is to be able to stand up again. Georgia is such country, this is the homeland of brave people. Georgian people will never return to corruption and nihilism.
"The Rose Revolution" was not only what was shown on TV, even by CNN. Everything happened later - social transformation of the people. Our region is in tough situation now. We have to rule in the conditions of chaos created in the regions. If not the Kremlin hostile attitude there would have been a different picture.
New York is the city of survivors and from this point of view it resembles our country. We spoke about the Rose Revolution and those changes that our country experienced in the last 7 years.
But the main thing that happened in our country was social transformation, which is based on democracy, freedom, security and Western integration.
This is not an easy process. We have a long way to go and we believe that we will survive."- The President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili stated.
Press Office
of the President of Georgia