Georgian-German Year Opens at Tbilisi City Assembly
On April 21, the Tbilisi City Assembly hosted the official opening ceremony of the Georgian-German year. The historic building, which dates back 200 years, symbolized the bilateral relations that also count two centuries.
With the slogan ‘Future Heritage: Georgian-German Year 2017,’ under the patronage of the foreign affairs ministries of the two countries, together with the date of 200 years since the arrival of the first German colonists in Georgia, the two countries are marking the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Notably, 2018 will be a centennial since Germany recognized Georgia’s first independence back in 1918 and will also see Georgia presented at the Frankfurt International Book Fair with the status of Guest of Honor.
Many organizations are involved in marking this anniversary year, which highlights the diversity that exists in the bilateral relations. Cultural events, theatrical performances, concerts, exhibitions and literary soirees will be held, as well as business-forums and projects of development, economy, education and sports. The year of celebration spotlights the strong relations between Germany and Georgia, especially between their civil societies.
The opening ceremony at Tbilisi City Assembly was accompanied by the exhibition ‘Future Heritage – 200 Years: Georgian-German Stories’ which showcased material from a web-archive created by the Georgian organization Sovlab (Soviet Laboratory), with the financial support of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Georgian Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection. The aim of the web-archive is to protect and popularize documentaries and historic sources depicting the history of Georgian-German relations.
“This jubilee celebration denotes a very high level in our relations, as well as in cooperation in political, economic, cultural and other spheres,” said H.E. Heike Peitsch, Ambassador of Germany to Georgia. “I am sure those numerous events that take place this year will boost our relations even further”.
“2017 is the year of friendship between Germany and Georgia,” said Mikheil Janelidze, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. “Following the restoration of independence, large-scale investments were realized as an aid in the process of Georgia’s becoming a democratic state and approximating the European family. German aid towards Georgia surpasses EUR 800 million. Our cooperation in the fields of security, economy, trade and business is ongoing and German investments are increasing. We already have 350 German companies on the Georgian market successfully fulfilling their business goals. More importantly, these companies employ Georgians. Together with investments, they bring know-how and technologies that are so vital for the development of our economy. Our relations are also deepening in the fields of culture and education: Goethe Institute, namely, Daad, has given out 1100 scholarships for Georgian students and scholars, presenting a unique opportunity to strengthen our educational system”.
“Georgian-German Year is very important for the bilateral relations between the two countries,” said Professor Klaus-Dieter Lehmann, President of Goethe Institute. “We cooperate in many spheres, yet the collaboration between civil societies is of utmost importance, as well as between artists, journalists and representatives of other spheres, who can learn a lot from each other and cooperate successfully”.
Maka Lomadze