President of Georgia MikheilSaakashvili awarded the Chief of OSCE Mission in Georgia Terry Hakala with the Georgian State Award - Order of Dignity. President of Georgia held a reception in the honor of the representatives of OSCE Missions that lasted for 17 years in Georgia.

"Unfortunatelyone country blocked this mission in Georgia, it has to be closed down after so many years. We evaluate this fact negatively, but at the same time I would like to say that Georgia will continue its struggle for the de-occupation, for the liberalization of every inch of our land and for spreading our legislation within the internationally recognized borders. There are our citizens let behind the new Berlin Wall. Last Summer thousands of these people were displaced from their houses but we still have our citizens left there and everyone knows well that Georgia belongs to them as well. We will do everything to fully defend their rights. I would like to award Mrs. Hakala with an Award of Dignity".

Terry Hakala, the Chief of OSCE Mission in Georgia delivered a speech as well during the reception. She noted that she is in a very unpleasant situation because she has to leave Georgia.

"This is not only me who says that Helsinki aspiration was breached. It is a fact that uninvited guests are residing on Georgian land. One of the member countries OSCE stopped the steps taken in the direction of progress and in spite of all participation sides' efforts the deadened position of decision-making mechanism was added to the lack of political brevity. This created a threat full vacuum and directly opened the way for the military aggression", stated the Chief of Mission.

Press Office
of the President of Georgia