National Day of Swiss Confederation celebrated in Tbilisi
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Monday, August 5
On August 1, a special event was held in celebration of the National Day of the Swiss Confederation, at the restaurant Otium. The event was attended by the Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to Georgia, H.E. Patric Franzen, and the Deputy Minister of the Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Vakhtang Makharoblishvili.
During the celebration, the National Anthems of both, Georgia and Swiss Confederation were performed. At 20:30 the Tbilisi TV Broadcasting Tower was lit up in the colors of the Swiss flag.
In his welcoming speech, H.E. Franzen talked about the history of Switzerland and the importance of the day for the Swiss people. He expressed his gratitude towards the people who gathered to celebrate.
During his speech, H.E. Franzen talked about the creation of the confederation in 1291 and the bilateral relations between Georgia and Swiss Confederation. “More than 30-35 companies are already operating in Georgia, and there is a potential to attract more. We are working together with the Georgian partners to develop this potential further,” noted the Ambassador.
Makharoblishvili also addressed the audience; he congratulated the Swiss people on their national holiday and wished them peace, stability, and prosperity. He also talked about the increasingly higher level of close relations between the two countries.
“Georgians often compare Georgia to Switzerland, which is proof of how much our citizens love Switzerland. However, we want to be comparable to Switzerland not only in terms of landscapes but as a strong and modern state with rich historical past and the outlook for the future that can be seen as a synthesis of traditions and innovations, stable and sustainable economy and effective education system,” noted Makharoblishvili during his speech.
He expressed gratitude for Switzerland’s strong support for Georgia’s European integration, support of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as for its role as a mediator in Georgia’s relations with the Russian Federation.
The First Deputy Minister also talked about the upcoming visit of Swiss National Council President to Georgia, and called it “yet another proof of the Swiss Government’s support of Georgia,” and noted that it can further contribute to the development of bilateral relations between the two countries.
The Swiss National Day is a national holiday in Switzerland, set on August 1. It was first celebrated in 1891, but it has only been an official holiday since 1994.
