President Saakashvili today bestowed the Order of King Vakhtang Gorgasali on Ajaria Supreme Council chairman Mikheil Makharadze. In remarks at the ceremony, the president drew special attention to the historical importance of this date.

"Exactly three years have passed since the first Ajaria Supreme Council meeting following the Ajaria revolution. We all endured that trying time together. We all came through those historic moments together. Since then each and every day has been of historic importance for Ajaria. The changes that have taken place in this region have been a particularly good example of development, advancement and the establishment of a new Georgian civic mentality. This is a region of talented people, a region that should serve as an example not only for Georgia, but for many post-Soviet countries. I don't think you have a single rival in the whole Black Sea coastal region. Ajaria has an outstanding group of citizens in the form of its legislative body," Saakashvili said.

Press Office
of the President of Georgia