Reception on the occasion of Independence Day of Georgia was held in Brussels

On June 4, 2026 at the BELvue Museum in Brussels, a reception dedicated to Georgia’s Independence Day was held, organized jointly by the Embassy of Georgia to the Kingdom of Belgium and Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Mission of Georgia to the European Union, and the Mission of Georgia to NATO.

The audience was addressed by the Ambassador of Georgia to the Kingdom of Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Head of the Mission of Georgia to the European Union, H.E. Vakhtang Makharoblishvili and the Head of the Mission of Georgia to NATO, H.E. Irakli Beraia.

In his address, Ambassador Vakhtang Makharoblishvili focused on the historical significance of Independence Day, Georgia’s centuries-long struggle for freedom, and the fundamental values that constitute the mainstay of the country. The Ambassador underscored the continued illegal occupation of Georgia's indivisible regions - Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region by Russia, emphasizing the critical importance of maintaining the issue of Georgia's occupied territories high on the international agenda. The Ambassador stressed that for Georgia, as a candidate country for EU membership, accession to the European Union remains the key foreign policy priority. He spoke about the relations between Georgia and the European Union, the common values and interests, and underlined the importance of cooperation based on mutual respect and trust in an international environment filled with complex challenges. During his speech, H.E. Vakhtang Makharoblishvili also noted Georgia’s key role in ensuring regional and global connectivity and spoke about the country’s involvement in infrastructure and transport projects connecting Europe and Asia.

Head of the Mission of Georgia to NATO, Irakli Beraia focused on NATO-Georgia cooperation, Georgia’s invaluable contribution to international security, as well as the strengthening of Georgia’s defense and resilience. He particularly highlighted the importance of the pragmatic policy pursued by Georgia in protecting national interests and ensuring regional stability. Irakli Beraia emphasized the de-occupation of Georgia’s regions and thanked the guests for their unwavering support of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The reception dedicated to Georgia’s Independence Day featured a live performance by a string quartet led by Belgium-based Georgian musician Mr. Levan Paghava.

The event was attended by representatives of the executive and legislative branches of the Kingdom of Belgium, institutions of the European Union and its Member States, NATO and allied countries, as well as members of the diplomatic corps accredited in Brussels. Also in attendance were the Bishop of the Eparchy of Belgium and the Netherlands, clergy and representatives of the Georgian diaspora organizations.