President Saakashvili attends revolution anniversary in Ajara

5/6/2005

President Mikheil Saakashvili visited the Autonomous Republic of Ajara today, to attend a ceremony dedicated to the one year anniversary of the Ajarian revolution. President Saakashvili visited a newly built bridge on the river Choloki, exploded by the previous government, and congratulated the public on St. George's day and on the anniversary of the Ajarian revolution.

President Saakashvili also visited the garden of roses in Ajara and addressed the public from the same balcony as he did a year ago.

"Many of you, despite intimidations and repressions came at this square with me to declare - Ajara is Georgia! Ajara has been regained by the Ajarians and it belongs to them and to Georgia" the President said while recollecting the events of the last year.

President Saakashvili also commented on the withdrawal of Russian bases from the Georgian territory stressing that Georgia's position is firm and it is not going to bargain with Russia on this issue, though adding that everything has to be done in a civilized way and a benign relationship has to be established with Russia.