My fellow countrymen, dear guests, friends

Today we are writing a new chapter of history together. The walls of this city span millennia. They have witnessed the history of a small, albeit tough and proud nation engaged in a never-ending struggle for freedom. Few are those known empires, which at one time or another did not venture to bring fire and destruction to the walls of this city. These walls remember the Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans, Persians, Mongols and the Russians.

Also in the course of centuries many a head of a superstate visited the city. They, however, came as conquerors to their colony. Their visits were both a result and a cause of ruin, blood and tears. Today, for the first time in the history of this country, we are hosting in the very heart of Tbilisi the leader of the most powerful nation in the world, who stands among us as a partner and the-comrade-in-arms, the man whose visit fills every Georgian's hearts with joy and whom I, as the President of this country, am proud to welcome.

Dear Mr. President, welcome to Georgia. Mr. President, before visiting us you went to Maastricht, Netherlands in the South of that country to pay respect to the American soldiers buried there. Just two days before that I had visited the Northern part of the Netherlands, the island of Texel to pay homage to the memory of 620 Georgian freedom fighters who died there on May 20, 1945 in what may have been the last battle of the World War II.

Our people have done their utmost in the efforts to liberate Europe. Suffice it to say, that proportionally to the size of its population Georgia suffered the greatest casualties in the WW II. Historically, the key objective that prompted Georgians to fight was pursuit of freedom, for themselves as well as for others.

Among many individual examples of this spirit is that of Grigol Peradze, a Georgian philosopher, who fled the Soviet regime and moved to Poland, where he helped Jewish children survive. He never abandoned them and ended up in the concentration camp. There he offered his life in order to save a Jewish child from suffocation in a gas chamber. Another example is Meliton Kantaria from Abkhazia who was the first to fly the flag of victory over Hitler's Reichstag.

The Georgians' struggle for freedom was constant and ubiquitous, although they often failed to secure that long cherished freedom for themselves.

However, we have not gathered in this plaza to discuss our past or the pains and tragedies of our history. We have come here today to speak about the present and contemplate our future.

The presence of George W. Bush is yet another confirmation of how much we have achieved and how much we can do - when we are united as a nation. Once we stand united, nothing is impossible for us to do - no dream is beyond our reach, and no goal is unattainable, since we live in an entirely new Georgia. And largely due to this unity for the first time in our history, the Georgian government is your government. This is a government that is accountable to the people - to you citizens of Georgia because we truly realize we are responsible to you, to your children, and to our common future. We listen to the people, we respect their views, we serve them.

What is clear to me today - and I think is clear to you all - is that together we are rebuilding Georgia. As you know, the last 18 months have been a critical period for our country. We have suffered tragedies and faced challenges - from the death of our dear friend Zurab Zhvania to the resent floods that are still damaging the property of our citizens. But nothing can stop us.

We have, managed to overcome these difficulties and to keep developing steadily.

We came with roses in our hands only to face a thorny path of reconstructing Georgia.

There is no weakness we have that cannot be cured by our own strength. We have already accomplished a lot over the last eighteen months. No longer do our elderly or those in need of immediate health care have to fear for tomorrow - of being abandoned and left behind. No longer do our young people have to leave Georgia to get a good education and seek new opportunities. No longer are the most talented Georgians leaving our country because they have no opportunity here or because of instability. Instead, they are returning with confidence, patriotism and sense of responsibility.

No longer do travelers and tourists have to fear the corruption and harassment that used to plague our roads and city streets. No longer do we live in a country where the people of Adjara have to accept an atmosphere of fear and dictatorship. And no longer do we have to live in a nation where human right are routinely violated and that cannot defend its borders or its people.

By working together we have achieved a great deal. But this is not enough.

In order to make Georgia strong, whole and prosperous - all of us need to do more. For the task ahead cannot be done by one man or one cabinet of ministers or one political party. It can only be done when all of you take part when all of you participate in rebuilding Georgia's future.

We share a common commitment to freedom and a shared vision of what liberty means for the lives of our people and future generations. This common belief imposes on us a shared responsibility to extend freedom to those who have been denied the right to make their own democratic choices. From Belarus, which we have rightly called the "last dictatorship in Europe" - to Cuba to Burma to the totalitarian slavery of North Korea - there is a common view, which brings us together in one purpose.

The path to security will only be found through this spread of freedom, the development of democratic governance, and the rule of law. The Rose Revolution in Georgia ended with the victory of liberty here but it continues with a new wave of democracy, which is freeing more and more nations. Georgia will be your partner in spreading democracy around the world.

Mr. President, we vehemently agree with your belief that the seeds of change are beginning to appear in the broader Middle East. The image of millions of Iraqis holding up their purple

ink-stained fingers to show that they had voted for the first time in the history of their country - this is very bit as powerful - and as full of meaning - as a nation carrying Roses to its government in peaceful protest. Let me tell you that you are not alone in the efforts to spread democracy in this region.

Once again Georgians are committed to their historic mission to fight for freedom. And like in World War II in Europe, the best of Georgian soldiers are defending the freedom of others in the Middle East. I now want to salute the Georgian soldiers who serve in Iraq. We are proud to say, "Today, we stand with you!"

A solidarity in the defense and expansion of liberty is but one of the responsibilities of democracy. In Georgia we face many challenges, but the first is strengthening the foundations of our natural democratic society.

Georgia is proud of its centuries-old cultural tradition of multi-ethnic tolerance. Democracy for our society is a natural attribute and we will defend it as we do our national identity. A Georgia secure in its borders and united in its many peoples will be a country of great diversity, many faiths and diverse cultures.

I want to use this opportunity to thank the US for its support of Georgia. At the beginning of 1990s when Georgia won its independence, the country found itself facing famine. That's when Georgian families baked their bread using American wheat. This aid allowed us to survive in our desperate hour. And we thank you for that.

When three years ago Georgia territory was bombed and we were under direct threat of aggression, America stood up to protect Georgia and drew a red line on Georgia's Northern border. The strong support of the USA was the only thing that prevented military aggression against Georgia. And we thank you for that.

And 18 months ago, when the Georgian nation rose to defend freedom and democracy and when saving democracy in Georgia required support, America stood next to the Georgian people and its support was crucial for the victory of the Rose Revolution. And we thank you for that.

We welcome the support of the United States for the peaceful restoration of the territorial integrity of Georgia. Despite the successes of the Rose Revolution, there are parts of Georgia where our citizens are denied the benefits of liberty. We need to end the suffering and isolation of the Ossetian and Abkhaz people. We reach out to them with the offer of viable and sustainable peace, with the offer of wide self-government that will secure the respect of their rights, identity and distinctive culture.

Let me extend special thanks to the US for assisting us in the process of joining NATO. During its entire history, Georgia was never able to freely choose its path. Now, Georgia has chosen its path. We have a destination and our destination is Europe. We are and have always been part of the family of European people and we will continue to work to rejoin the Euro-Atlantic community. We know the road will be hard and long but we know that the road ends in NATO membership.

Mr. President, in the last few hours I have told you many stories about my country but I have one more. This past winter (the first winter after our democratic revolution) I had the opportunity to watch your second inaugural address. I remember when you said:

All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know: the United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for liberty we will stand with you.

I felt on that evening that you were speaking to me personally, but I was certain that you were speaking to the Georgian people. 18 months ago, the Georgian people stood for liberty in this very place. Today, America is true to its word. You stood with us during our revolution and you stand with us today. On behalf of my nation, I would like to say "Thank you".

We welcome here today a leader who has contributed as much to the cause to freedom as any man of our time. We welcome a true friend of Georgia people. We welcome a freedom fighter.

Mr. President, welcome to Freedom Square.

Communications Office
of the President of Georgia