Saakashvili Attributes Release of Georgian Hostages from Somali Pirate to Giorgi Karbelashvili and Vera Kobalia
January 10, 2012
Georgia’s President, Mikheil Saakashvili first commented on the release of Georgian hostages from Somali pirates.
The President thanked to the Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Giorgi Karbelashvili. According to Saakashvili, negotiations lasted several months, though details were not voiced.
“I thought about this problem every day. I was worried, because in several occasions negotiations were in deadlock. EU member state citizens are also kept hostage and our friends suggested us to surrender because it was beyond our power, but we never yielded; we could not put up with the situation. We took all possible measures; we sent delegations several times. The problem was that we could not announce about our activities publicly and people criticized us. We could not say what we were doing because it could fail everything. Good for Giorgi Karbelashvili! Vera Kobalia also did good job; she was sent to the Somali based international organization. They instructed us how to act; then Karbelashvili traveled half of the world, met a lot of people, found out everything and finally we succeeded. It proves that Georgia is a state and Georgia cannot lose people”, Mikheil Saakashvili said.
He added the government of Georgia will fight for each of its citizens till the end.
“It is our ultimate ambition and goal. I was calling Karbelashvili at least fifteen times a day and finally, two days ago, when I heard the news, it was a serious relief for me and I said – good,” Saakashvili said.
The President thanked to the Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Giorgi Karbelashvili. According to Saakashvili, negotiations lasted several months, though details were not voiced.
“I thought about this problem every day. I was worried, because in several occasions negotiations were in deadlock. EU member state citizens are also kept hostage and our friends suggested us to surrender because it was beyond our power, but we never yielded; we could not put up with the situation. We took all possible measures; we sent delegations several times. The problem was that we could not announce about our activities publicly and people criticized us. We could not say what we were doing because it could fail everything. Good for Giorgi Karbelashvili! Vera Kobalia also did good job; she was sent to the Somali based international organization. They instructed us how to act; then Karbelashvili traveled half of the world, met a lot of people, found out everything and finally we succeeded. It proves that Georgia is a state and Georgia cannot lose people”, Mikheil Saakashvili said.
He added the government of Georgia will fight for each of its citizens till the end.
“It is our ultimate ambition and goal. I was calling Karbelashvili at least fifteen times a day and finally, two days ago, when I heard the news, it was a serious relief for me and I said – good,” Saakashvili said.
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