Georgia (country)

Georgia is a country in Europe. It is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the south by Turkey and Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital and largest city is Tbilisi. Georgia covers a territory of 69,700 square kilometers (26,911 sq mi), and its 2017 population is about 3.718 million. The sovereign state of Georgia is a unitary semi-presidential republic, with the government elected through a representative democracy.

It is time we Georgians did not depend only on others, it is time we asked what Georgia will do for the world. ~ Mikheil Saakashvili

It is not by mere chance that we [Georgians] have adopted two very important ideas as our watch words: freedom and responsibility. ~ Zurab Zhvania

Georgia, the rule of law will prevail, and freedom will be the birthright of every citizen... [T]he seeds of liberty you are planting in Georgian soil are flowering across the globe. ~ George W. Bush

Georgia's transformation since 2003 has been remarkable... The lights are on, the streets are safe, and public services are corruption free. ~ World Bank

Georgia's character - now and forever - celebrates tolerance, embraces diversity, relishes lively and open debate, and above all, respects liberty and human dignity. ~ Mikheil Saakashvili

Arranged alphabetically by author or source:
A · B · C · D · E · F · G · H · I · J · K · L · M · N · O · P · Q · R · S · T · U · V · W · X · Y · Z · See also · External links

Quotes

B

• You are building a democratic society where the rights of minorities are respected, where a free press flourishes, a vigorous opposition is welcome, and unity is achieved through peace... In this new Georgia, the rule of law will prevail, and freedom will be the birthright of every citizen... [T]he sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia must be respected... As you build freedom in this country, you must know that the seeds of liberty you are planting in Georgian soil are flowering across the globe.
  • George W. Bush, as quoted in "President Addresses and Thanks Citizens in Tbilisi, Georgia" (10 May 2005), Office of the Press Secretary

G

• The Georgian Republic aspires to its worthy place in the world's community of states; it affirms and equally guarantees, as envisioned by international law, all the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual, of nations, ethnic, religious, and linguistic groups as demanded by the rules of the United Nations...
  • Zviad Gamsakhurdia, as quoted in Georgia: A Political History Since Independence (2013), by Stephen Jones, I.B. Tauris, p. xxi

J

• Georgians have a proverb: "custom is stronger than faith". It reflects Georgians' belief that the past is always trumps.
  • Stephen F. Jones, Georgia: A Political History Since Independence (2013), I.B. Tauris, p. 8

• Soviet colonialism sabotaged the foundations of a modern, liberal national state in Georgia.
  • Stephen F. Jones, Georgia: A Political History Since Independence (2013), I.B. Tauris, p. 16

P

• Praise be to the heavenly bestower of Blessings, praise be to paradise on earth, to the radiant Iberia. Praise be to brotherhood and to unity, praise be to liberty, praise be to the everlasting, lively Georgian people!
  • Kote Potskhverashvili, "Dideba" (1918)

S

• Georgia is the country of unique culture. We are not only old Europeans, we are the very first Europeans, and therefore Georgia holds special place in European civilization. Georgia should serve as a paragon for democracy where all citizens are equal before the law, where every citizen will have an equal opportunity for the pursuit of success and realization of his or her possibilities. Georgia should become and will become a homeland for independent, educated and proud people.
  • Mikheil Saakashvili, inaugural address (25 January 2004)
  • Also quoted as: "Georgia is not just a European country, but one of the most ancient European countries." in A World of Curiosities: Surprising, Interesting, and Downright Unbelievable (2012), by John Oldale, p. 274

• It is time we Georgians did not depend only on others, it is time we asked what Georgia will do for the world... Our steady course is towards European integration. It is time Europe finally saw and valued Georgia and took steps towards us.
  • Mikheil Saakashvili, as quoted in "Georgia swears in new president" (25 January 2004), BBC News

• Standing at David's tomb, we must say Georgia will unite, Georgia will become strong and will restore its integrity... I want all of us to do it together and I promise not to become a source of shame for you.
  • Mikheil Saakashvili, as quoted in "Georgia swears in new president" (25 January 2004), BBC News

• Georgia does not need Russia as an enemy.
  • Mikheil Saakashvili, as quoted in "EU integration a key aim of Saakashvili" (26 January 2004), Irish Times

• [W]hen the people of Georgia rose up to defend their freedom - they also rose up to reclaim their future. A future that would no longer be defined by the false promises, wholesale decay, and state disintegration of the recent past. A future no longer dominated by the politics of division, state-sanctioned theft and disregard for the poorest parts of society.
  • Mikheil Saakashvili, as quoted in "Remarks of the President of Georgia H.E. Mikheil Saakashvili to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe" (26 January 2005), ReliefWeb

• Georgia's character - now and forever - celebrates tolerance, embraces diversity, relishes lively and open debate, and above all, respects liberty and human dignity. Georgia is a democracy, because above all - its national identity is rooted in the traditions of democracy.
  • Mikheil Saakashvili, as quoted in "Remarks of the President of Georgia H.E. Mikheil Saakashvili to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe" (26 January 2005), ReliefWeb

• For the first time in 15 years, Georgia this winter has its electric power guaranteed without deficit. This is a historic achievement.
  • Mikheil Saakashvili, as quoted in "Ebullience in Georgia replaced by energy crisis" (29 January 2006), by Mike Eckel, Deseret News

• A united Georgia needs our unity now, to work together towards our many common goals.
  • Mikheil Saakashvili, inaugural address (21 January 2008)

• Well, killing me makes no sense because Georgia already has a Western-educated political class.
  • Mikheil Saakashvili, as quoted in "An American Friend" (19 October 2008), The New York Times

• We must create the Georgia that our ancestors dreamed of, the Georgia that we dream of.
  • Mikheil Saakashvili, as quoted in "Selling the Georgian Dream" (23 November 2012), by Luka Oreskovic, The Moscow Times

W

• Georgia's transformation since 2003 has been remarkable... The lights are on, the streets are safe, and public services are corruption-free.
  • World Bank, as quoted in "Georgia: Saakashvili The Corruption Slayer" (2 February 2012), by Adam Cardais, Transitions Online: Regional Intelligence, East of Center

Z

• It is not by mere chance that we [Georgians] have adopted two very important ideas as our watch words: freedom and responsibility.
  • Zurab Zhvania, as quoted in "President Addresses and Thanks Citizens in Tbilisi, Georgia" (10 May 2005), Office of the Press Secretary

External links

• Encyclopedic article on Georgia (country) on Wikipedia