"We still have to prove that we are independent, we have the right to be a full member of the international community and no one should decide for us what is our path or orientation," Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili said in her speech at the event dedicated to the Day of Diplomats.

According to her, diplomacy has always been important.

"Thank you for serving us today with strong diplomacy. This diplomacy is important for our country. It has always been important. Therefore, the work of Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani 300 years ago was essential for Georgia to be diplomatically active. That was the beginning of the path we are on today much more actively, in a totally different state. We are an associated country of the Europe that Sukhan-Saba Orbeliani dreamed of and many great Georgians have dreamed of since then. This is the result of the efforts of all the people, first ambassadors, who fought under much more difficult conditions for the same goal – for Georgia to be recognized by the international community as one of their part, a democratic country, a country that has the right to be fully independent. We still have this challenge today, due to our occupied territories and various challenges. We still have to prove that we are independent, that we have the right to be a full member of the international community and that no one should decide for us what our path or orientation should be.

I agree with you that this is one of the issues on which we are all united. For some reason, sometimes we forget that in a state of polarization, we are united around this issue, at least the society is united around this issue," Zourabichvili said.

According to her, the main goal and commitment of diplomacy today is to bring the country to the goal of membership of the international community as quickly and efficiently as possible.

"I am convinced that all our diplomats will spare no effort to walk this path quickly and efficiently. The second challenge is our very painful issue - occupation. Our ambassadors abroad tell the world that we will not tolerate occupation. I hope that the time will come when they will be able to intervene more actively. Geneva is one of the places. One day de-occupation will be in their hands and they will manage this issue successfully”, said the President.