On April 28, the closing event of Georgian Language Days was held at Vilnius University. The project “I Love Georgian – My State Language!”, authored by Professor Mariam Manjgaladze, is a joint initiative of Caucasus University and Vilnius University, implemented with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Georgia, the Lithuanian Writers’ Union, the Georgian Calligraphy Association, and Intelekti Publishing.
The event was opened by Rimvydas Petrauskas, Rector of Vilnius University, and Kakha Shengelia, President of Caucasus University, who delivered welcome addresses.
The guests were also addressed by Andrius Kalindra, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Lithuania to Georgia in 2020–2024; Vilia Targamadzė, Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania, Doctor and Professor; and Mindaugas Kvietkauskas, Dean of the Faculty of Philology at Vilnius University.
The programme featured the following presentations:
- Roma Kriaučiūnienė, Vilnius University, Lithuania - “Opening the Gateway to the Georgian Language: Teaching and Learning at Vilnius University”;
- Mariam Manjgaladze, Caucasus University, Georgia - The project “I Love Georgian – My State Language!”;
- Birutė Jonuškaitė, Lithuanian Writers’ Union, Lithuania - “Georgian-Lithuanian Literary Relations”;
- Violeta Meiliūnaitė, State Commission of the Lithuanian Language, Lithuania - “The Unity of the Lithuanian Language: Between Values and Practicality”;
- Jolanta Zabarskaitė, Kazimieras Simonavičius University, Lithuania - “Why Handwriting Matters in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”;
- Nestan Bagauri, Georgian Calligraphy Association, Georgia - “The Legacy of Calligraphy: History and Modernity”;
- Laima Niciene, Vilnius University, Lithuania, alumna - “My Experience of Studying the Georgian Language and Culture.”
In recognition of their contribution, the President of Caucasus University presented special awards to Vilnius University and Vilia Targamadzė for their exceptional support of the project “I Love Georgian – My State Language!”, and to Birutė Jonuškaitė for her outstanding contribution to the promotion of the Georgian language and literature.
Certificates and gifts were presented to the winners of the Georgian dictation competition. The guests also had the opportunity to view the remarkable works created during the Georgian calligraphy masterclass, while members of the audience took part in an interactive calligraphy activity.
The event concluded with a reception hosted by Caucasus University, featuring Georgian sweets and wine.
