President Raul Khadzhimba congratulated the military personnel of the Abkhazian Army on the Day of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Abkhazia.
Below, the full text of the President’s congratulation is published.
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Dear generals and officers, soldiers and sailors!
I heartily congratulate you on the Day of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Abkhazia.
Our Army – Victorious Army – was born in battles, in the conditions of a self-sacrificing struggle of our nation against the Georgian military aggression. Since 1992, the formation of Abkhazian statehood is inseparable from the strengthening and development of the Armed Forces.
You have honourably defended our country’s right to sovereignty and independence, protected our nation from annihilation, and completed your noble mission of liberation.
Eternal Memory to the defenders of the Homeland, who sacrificed their lives for the freedom and independence of Apsny.
In the difficult period of the formation of Abkhazian statehood, you carried the burden of responsibility for maintaining peace, security and the territorial integrity of our state. In the past years, a lot has been done for the development, the strengthening and the increasing of the combat capability of the state’s Armed Forces.
Our state should continue to create favourable conditions for the work and life of our defenders. The combat capability of the Army, and the demand and prestige of the military profession directly depend on these conditions.
The Republic of Abkhazia is a peace-loving and democratic state. We do not threaten anybody and we do not intend to act from a position of military power. However, there are many challenges and threats in the contemporary world. This is why the powerful potential of our Armed Forces is the most important guarantee of national security and progressive development of Abkhazia.
It is necessary to continue the work on the modernisation of our Army. It should fully respond to contemporary demands, be mobile and ready for combat, and have high strategic and tactical capabilities. These aims will also be achieved due to the active efforts that we undertake in order to intensity the military and technical cooperation between Abkhazia and Russia.
I am certain that the military personnel of the Abkhazian Army will continue to safeguard the peaceful lives of our citizens, defend the independence and the national interests of the Republic of Abkhazia.
I wish you strong health, prosperity and new successes in your service of defending the Homeland.
Raul Khadzhimba