An online solemn session dedicated to the 200th Anniversary of Greek Independence was held at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU) on March 26. The event was organized by the TSU Institute of Classical, Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies. Rector of TSU George Sharvashidze, Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani, Greek Ambassador to Georgia, Dimitrios Karabalis, Georgian Ambassador to Greece, David Dondua, Director of the Institute of Classical, Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, Tina Dolidze, Academician and TSU Emeritus Professor, Rismag Gordeziani, invited guests and representatives of academic community attended the event.

“Our country has joined the countries, where the 200th Anniversary of Greek Independence is celebrated. The Greek flag is flying at TSU Building 1. We, and especially our university, have much in common with Greece. It is 103 years since the Department of Classical Philology was established at TSU. Much attention is paid to the field of Hellinology at TSU. I would like to focus on the year1997, when the Institute of Classical, Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies was established under the guidance of Rismag Gordeziani and with the support of the Greek side,” Rector George Sharvashidze said.

Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani welcomed the participants and wished Greek people success and welfare. “Strong aspirations to freedom led to the establishment of modern Greek state. It is praiseworthy that Greece and Georgia are interlinked by civilized unity and solidarity for millennia. Education and science are those successful spheres that play an important role in the relations of the two countries,” FM Zalkaliani said.

“The Greek world has always had a huge influence on our country. Greece is one of the first European countries, which recognized Georgia’s independence and opened its embassy in Tbilisi. Our first diplomatic mission was established in Athens. We, the embassy representatives, are trying to further deepen and develop our cooperation, to boost our relations in various spheres,” Georgian Ambassador to Greece, David Dondua said and thanked the Institute of Classical, Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies for organizing the event.

Greek Ambassador to Georgia, Dimitrios Karabalis hailed the Tbilisi State University and namely, the Institute of Classical, Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies for organizing the event, saying the relations between the two countries are very firm. He added that the event was a huge gift for Greek people as well as a pledge for continuation of future cooperation.

A report related to the establishment of Greek state was presented during the event. In addition, TSU students presented a letter sent by Georgian youth to Greek insurgents about two centuries ago. The event ended with an awards ceremony for winners of the essay competition “Write in Georgian Using Greek Words.”

In connection with this anniversary date, several interesting and important events will be held at TSU throughout the year. The events will be organized by the Institute of Classical, Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies.

As part of the event, the Tbilisi TV Tower was lit up in colors of the Greek flag. Flags dedicated to the anniversary are flying at the central entrance of TSU Building 1. A scientific film “4000”created with the support of TSU will be aired on several Georgian TV channels. The film is dedicated to the millennium-old relations between Greece and Georgia.