My dear fellow citizens!
Our country is facing days of decisive test!
It is very tough and important period for each of us.
First of all I want to express my condolences to those families, which members died in result of barbaros attacks during these days.
I, as the President of Georgia deeply regret this loss and cry together with my people.
It concerns peaceful population and citizens. It concerns our soldiers, who sacrificed their lives for our homeland.
My dear people!
At the same time I would like to express my gratitude for your heroism, for your incredible ability to stand firm and incredible patience, which each of you has shown the world during last few days.
I went to Zugdidi today, because the circumstances and I met many our populace there.
I saw how organized these people were. They were trying to keep calm maximally, how good the work of police, ambulance, municipal cervices work was on the roads. How right and organized were all of these.
During last years we all developed this state together.
I think, no one is uncertain that these battles are going not for Tskhinvali region only and not for Abkhazia only, but for Georgian statehood.
This is the moment to be or not to be for Georgia.
Of course our state must be solved by the participation of each of us, because our state belongs to us, to our children and grand children, it is the only future for them.
The price of the loss of freedom was remarkable once already.
We all have to take great care for not to repeat the same mistake.
No matter how hard it may be for me to say, that these attacks and bombardments are count on causing panic in you.
No how hard it is for us, we must not panic.
We must be like we were before - calm, organized and I am sure that everything will be fine.
Right now we are holding out negotiations.
I talked to President Sarkozy several times, he is talking to Russian leadership as well. I am in the permanent contacts with US, with it's highest leadership - the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary of State. We are holding negotiations wit the Russian MFA on the deputy and minister's level, we have intensive consultations with many other parties.
And the most important fact is that the attention of world is directed to us and everyone watches Georgia with great concentration.
Of course I would have been happier if our country got the world attention because of some good events, but I can not say that what's happening right now will be left in history only.
It is incredible to see the endurance of each person and the aspiration of Georgian people towards freedom. It is so incredible to see people working so hard and fighting for it's own future.
I would like to greet tens of thousands of people, who are gathered at different squares around the country.
They spontaneously arranged this manifestation, and I myself found out about it about half an hour ago.
This is a peaceful and well-organized action to show the world, that Georgia is peaceful, well-organized country and it is most willing to live in peace.
Once again I want to express my gratitude, I wish you patience and ask you to be patient and to stand firm.
I want to ensure you that Georgian government does everything to come out of this crisis as soon as it is possible.
We all knew that such an experience was awaiting us, because we chose statehood and the way to freedom.
We did everything to avoid confrontation in Tskhinvali region and you know it very well.
During these years not me, neither our government had a will of confrontation - in 2004 withdrawal of forces from this region was my initiative, to make sure confrontation at that moment would not continue.
We were trying to avoid this, but we were still found ourselves in this situation, because it concerns not only Tskhinvali region, it concerns to our future, our children and grandchildren.
This is why we have to solve our dear country and achieve this together for our children and grandchildren.
The fortune of our country will be decided during these days.
Thank you very much!
Press Office
of the President of Georgia