格鲁吉亚新当选总统萨罗姆·祖拉比什维利(Salome Zurabishvili)于2018年12月16日在格鲁吉亚特拉维举行的就职典礼上讲话。[照片/机构]第比利斯-萨罗姆·祖拉比什维利周日宣誓就任格鲁吉亚第五任总统,也是该国第一位女总统。在西部城市特拉维举行的盛大就职典礼上,祖拉比什维利向观众致辞时,他誓言要保护所有格鲁吉亚公民的权利和自由,并在宣誓后保证国家的法治。”今天,当我成为格鲁吉亚第五任总统时,我为我们能够以和平文明的方式移交总统权力而感到骄傲。“这是民主的又一步,”祖拉比什维利说。我的目标是尽最大努力发展我们的国家,使我们的欧洲未来不可逆转,并防止这一进程中的任何障碍,”祖拉比什维利说,他承诺将欧洲一体化进程作为优先事项。约有1800人参加了仪式,其中包括来自55个国家和国际组织的150名代表。祖拉比什维利1952年生于法国,2004年至2005年任格鲁吉亚外交部长。格鲁吉亚于10月28日举行了第五次总统选举。由政党提名的19名候选人和6名独立候选人竞选总统。祖拉比什维利在决选后赢得了总统职位。这次选举标志着格鲁吉亚最后一次直接选举国家元首。在定于2024年举行的下一次总统选举中,由300名议员和地区官员组成的选举委员会将投票选出获胜者。
Georgia's newly elected President Salome Zurabishvili speaks during an inauguration ceremony in Telavi, Georgia, December 16, 2018. [Photo/Agencies]

TBILISI - Salome Zurabishvili was sworn in on Sunday as Georgia's fifth president, also the country's first female president.

Addressing the audience at the grand inauguration ceremony in the western city of Telavi, Zurabishvili vowed to protect the rights and freedoms of all Georgian citizens and guarantee the country's rule of law after taking a presidential oath.

"Today, when I became the fifth president of Georgia, I am proud that we were able to transfer the presidential power in a peaceful and civilized manner. This is another democratic step forward," Zurabishvili said.

"My goal is to do my best to develop our state, to make our European future irreversible and to prevent any obstacle in this process," said Zurabishvili, who promised to make the integration process with Europe a priority.

Around 1,800 people took part in the ceremony, including 150 representatives from around 55 countries and international organizations.

Zurabishvili, born in France in 1952, served as foreign minister of Georgia from 2004 to 2005.

Georgia held its fifth presidential election on Oct. 28. As many as 19 candidates nominated by political parties and six independent candidates ran for the presidency. Zurabishvili won the presidency after a runoff.

The election marked the last direct election to choose a head of state in Georgia. In the country's next presidential election, set for 2024, an electoral board of 300 lawmakers and regional officials will cast their votes to find a winner.