Day: January 2, 2025
Iranian-Azerbaijani relations have been normalized for some time now, following the tensions that arose following the terrorist attack on the Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran in January 2023. Although Iran has always stated its intention to develop relations with Azerbaijan at a high level, for some inadequate reasons, this idea has not been reflected in the behaviour of official Tehran.
With the arrival of 2025, the leaders of Georgian Dream, including honorary president Bidzina Ivanishvili, issued New Year’s addresses that were characterized by underlining the numerous “victories” achieved in previous years and especially in 2024 under the Georgian Dream rule, appeals to preserve peace and importance of achieving unity. The speeches were marked by a conciliatory and solemn tone, while at the same time completely avoiding the subject of the deepening political crisis, international isolation, repression and the ongoing protests in many Georgian cities.
Georgian Dream’s elected President Mikheil Kavelashvili congratulated the nation on the New Year in televised a address and in the best tradition of the Georgian festive toast and wished the Georgian people “peace, happiness and joy.” He wished a Happy New Year also to “Abkhazian and Ossetian brothers and sisters”. “May the joy of the New Year be the foundation for our shared, happy future”, he said. Kavelashvili expressed the hope that 2025 will be a “triumph over evil.” He said that the unity of Georgian society around the “homeland should serve as an example to politicians so that they, too, can find common ground for a better future for our country.” He added that societal unity must be based on love and mutual respect, “reflected in the traditional family relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren.” “May the power of love triumph over all the temptations that could divide and oppose us,” he concluded adding: “May God be our protector”
The message of Speaker of the GD’s ramp Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili’s had more geopolitical undertones.” He stressed: “Our homeland’s historical path has never been easy, but in the past few years, Georgia and the world have gone through an incredibly difficult period: a global pandemic, devastating wars around us, and dangerous geopolitical confrontations.” He said: “I especially wish two things for each of you and for all of Georgia – peace and unity.”
Papuashvili stressed: “The past years have especially demonstrated the value of peace, firmness, wisdom, caution and prudence.”
He claimed that 2024 showed the government what it means to carry a responsibility to protect “the treasures bestowed by God and left by our ancestors – our country its history, past, present, and future.” “Therefore, our only right and wise choice is the politics of peace”, he stressed. “We all know that success to Georgia, along with peace comes, with unity,” he said.
While assessing 2024, he stated that it was “a year of many victories”, and expressed his belief that the 2025 year “will be a turning point for our homeland’s ultimate victory.” And while 2024 was the victory for strengthening of the country’s sovereignty, for strengthening its national identity, for peace”, in 2025, he said “we must succeed for our prosperity and for the reunification of our country,” he highlighted.
GD’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has released a New Year address on his Facebook page, congratulating each inhabitant of Abkhazia and Samachablo [Tskhinvali region] “The year 2024 was filled with many challenges for our country.” Habitually alleging interference by evil forces from abroad, he claimed that “Georgia had to continue its unequal struggle to protect the peace, independence, and national identity; it had to fight against the hatred imposed from outside, adding: “But the main thing is that Georgia emerged victorious in every battle in 2024.”
Referring to the disputed parliamentary elections he said: “Georgia won the October 26 referendum, where the Georgian people firmly stood for freedom, independence, peace, dignity, prosperity, and Georgia’s bright European future!”
He thanked all the “teachers, scientists, artists, doctors, peasants, farmers, workers, entrepreneurs, public servants, and professionals from every field who have contributed to the success of our homeland” and expressed his confidence that ” 2025 will be even more successful.”
He especially thanked law-enforcement structures, army, judiciary and prosecutor’s service, as well as clergy: “I also extend special thanks to our Mother Church, the Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia, and every clergyman whose invaluable contributions preserve and uphold Georgia’s national identity and values.” I express my gratitude to all religious denominations for their efforts to safeguard our traditional values” Kobakhidze added.
He said 2024 was the year of “numerous victories,” listing various achievements in sports and economic development.
GD Prime Minister said: “Most importantly, I hope that 2025 will be the year of the defeat of hatred and of triumph of love over hatred. Where Georgians love one another, no external enemy can defeat us.”
This year marked the first time that Bidzina Ivanishvili delivered a New Year message jointly with his wife Ekaterine Khvedelidze in post of the Facebook. In the online letter, published by the Facebook page of the Georgian Dream party, the couple stated their wish that in 2025 “we have the strength to be worthy heirs of our noble ancestors – a people who honor our past and, with loyalty to our homeland, create a happy future for our country!”
The couple also invoked the concept of unity, saying: “May our unshakable unity give us strength that will not allow anyone to stop our firm steps! Steps that will serve to strengthen the strength and independence of our country and our people”.
Similarly to other GD representatives, the honorary chair of the Georgian Dream and his spouse maintained that 2024 was a year “full of challenges and victories” and that the Georgian people have once again proven that “they are wise and resilient.” “We have shown the world once again that we stand by ourselves and that we will decide how to guide Georgia on the path of peace and success.” “Let us prove together that with tireless work, love for one another, and true patriotism, our country will be able to shine and establish a worthy place in the world!” the couple stated.
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Why has Ukraine been so ungrateful towards Azerbaijan? – https://t.co/AuyhJ9YgKi
It might be news to some, but there is no clearly defined military or political alliance between Baku and Kyiv. Simply put, neither Azerbaijan… pic.twitter.com/74Jb9uJgGs— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) January 2, 2025