Solemn event dedicated to the professional day of the police was held in front of the administrative building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Tbilisi. The ceremony was attended by the President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili, the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Gharibashvili, members of the government and Georgian Parliament, representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Georgia and employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
After the solemn marching performed by the units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri congratulated the police employees on their professional day and addressed the participants of the event with a speech.
"Being a policeman - requires great physical and spiritual strength, fairness, courage and efficiency.
It is difficult not to know whether you will return home or not, however it is your reasonable choice and I wish you all to wear a police uniform with dignity and most importantly, safe return to your families after the working day.
Fighting for the enforcement of the rule of law on the daily basis, for ensuring protection of human lives, safety and health - requires great courage, however, serving the citizens of your country, along with fully-realized responsibility, is a notable public role.
Personally for me and for the police, human lives and its inviolability are important today more than ever. During daily police activities, when fighting against crime, there are moments when we have to make instant decisions, guided by key principles of protecting human lives.
Despite the difficulties caused by the pandemic, we have not been hampered in our uncompromised fight against crime. Throughout this period, all departments of the Ministry have been operating effectively and I think each of you and, most importantly, the public will agree with me in this regard.
We ensure the security and order throughout the country, we protect and control state borders, we fight crime, we protect human rights, we fight fires, face natural disasters and take care of traffic safety.
I promise that we will always be defenders of your honor and dignity, yet at the same time be demanding and unbiased.
Finally, in the end, I would like to tell you honestly - it is a great honor and responsibility for me to be the Minister of Internal Affairs of this country and I will serve Georgia along with you! "- stated Vakhtang Gomelauri.
In his speech, the Minister of Internal Affairs underlined the support of international partners and expressed gratitude for their exceptional contribution to the capacity building of the Ministry.
After the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili, addressed the police with a speech and expressed appreciation for their dedicated service to the country.
"It was a great honor for me, dear friends, to be your Minister, to work with you and to serve our country and people. It was one of the most precious, most memorable period of my political career. I am well aware how hard is your work, your 24-hour service to our people and our country, for which we would like to thank you. You are defenders of our country. You ensure the security of the state and our citizens, safety of the people, of every citizen while they are asleep as well as the rule of law and public order.
"Unfortunately, many of your colleagues have lost their lives in this heroic service. I bow my head in memory of those hero police officers who sacrificed the most precious gift of life for our country and laid their lives on duty in service to our country and people. I am grateful to their families, parents, spouses, and children, and I want them to know that the state is standing by their side.
I know how hard your job is. There is nothing more precious and honorable than to serve your country and people.
Unfortunately, certain anti-state forces are constantly trying to discredit the police and police officers, which is absolutely unacceptable. The state will take an uncompromising stance every time such an attempt is made, and we will not let anyone discredit our honorable police officers. We must do even more for you, to improve your social conditions and secure your social guarantees. Today, the police force is a politically neutral institution. Today, we have a strong, functioning professional police force, for which I once again thank you. We are proud of you! You have a worthy Minister of Interior. I would like to thank Mister Vakhtang Gomelauri. Once again, I thank all of you, every police officer, and I wish you success. May God be your protector," the Prime Minister said.
"I would like to salute police officers who protect us in different parts of the country and ensure security of the state and peace, protect our citizens, for which I would like to express my gratitude. I want to congratulate you upon your professional day. Today, along with you, I would like to congratulate the veteran police officers, all of you who have contributed to the preservation of the stability of the state. On this day, I would like to honor those who have spared their lives or health to perform their official duties. A democratic, strong and free state is formed only when the security of the citizens is protected in the country, as well as their rights. The country’s goal is to establish such democratic, European and stable state. The role of the Georgian police in achieving this goal is huge.
30 years have passed since the restoration of Georgia's independence. The Georgian police, as one of the main supporting institutions of the state, have fully reflected the important events that have taken place in the country for three decades, the challenges faced by the state and the demands of the society. Along with the Georgian state and society, the Georgian police also set out on their path towards Europe. As a result of radical and large-scale reforms and determined work of each police officer, it has evolved into a police with modern and democratic standards.
Today, Georgia has a police force with contemporary technical equipment of international standards, where highly qualified professionals are employed. This is what laid a foundation to the signing of the Agreement on Operational and Strategic Cooperation between Georgia and Europol. With this agreement, the European Police Service recognized the credibility and importance of the Georgian police in the field of the fight against international organized crime. Strategic cooperation with Europol implies full involvement of the Georgian police in the process of strengthening European security and stability. It implies the preparedness of the Georgian police and Georgia as a whole to effectively fight international crime and thus contribute to strengthening regional, European and global security”- stated the President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili.
A minute of silence was observed at the event in memory of the police officers killed in the line of duty.
The President of Georgia and Vakhtang Gomelauri awarded successful employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
At the end of the Police Day ceremony, twenty cadets of the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs participated in oath taking ceremony.
