On April 12, the closing event of the project “I Love Georgian - My State Language” was held at Caucasus University.

Caucasus University President Kakha Shengelia congratulated the audience on Georgian Language Day through a video message where he spoke about the importance of the day.

The guests who addressed the audience were Renatas Delis, Second Secretary and Head of the Consular Section at the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania; Artur Gebal, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland to Georgia; Professor Tinatin Margalitadze of Ilia State University; and Zviad Kvaratskhelia, Editor-in-Chief of the Publishing House "Intelekti”. They spoke about the importance of Georgian Language Day.

The author of the project, Prof. Mariam Manjgaladze discussed the strategic vision of Caucasus University, which includes the popularization of the Georgian language and culture; holding scientific and educational events; literary and calligraphic salon meetings, quizzes, etc.

The “Supporter of the Georgian Language” award, established by Caucasus University, was presented to Besik Kharanauli, a Georgian writer, poet known for his distinctive style, and philologist, for the popularization of the Georgian language and culture.

As part of the event, the audience was presented with Besik Kharanauli’s handmade book, published in Poland in collaboration with the Pogranicze Fund as well as the Lithuanian translations of Besik Kharanauli’s poems (published in Lithuania in collaboration with Caucasus University and the Lithuanian Writers’ Union).

The student authors of the best works presented at the literary-calligraphic salon were awarded during the event. The winners received gifts from Renatas Delis, Second Secretary and Head of the Consular Section at the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania, and Artur Gebal, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland to Georgia.

The Georgian Calligraphers Association is one of the supporters of the project "I Love Georgian - My State Language".

The winning works from the calligraphy and literary workshop were exhibited at the closing event. The host of the masterclass, calligrapher Nini Ikashvili, rendered Besik Kharanauli’s words “არც სახელი ვართ ჩვენ, არც გვარი, ჩვენ ვართ საქართველო” in calligraphy and presented the piece to the author.

Nestan Bagauri, Director of the Georgian Calligraphers Association, announced the authors of the best works from the calligraphy masterclass, revealed her favorite piece and presented the winners with gifts. The Lithuanian translations of Besik Kharanauli's poems were bound into a book at the Calligraphers Association.

Attendees also had the opportunity to view the exhibition featuring the students' calligraphic and literary creations.

At the end of the event, the folklore and choreographic ensembles of Caucasus University performed various numbers.

The supporters of the project “I Love Georgian - My State Language” were:

• Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Georgia
• Vilija Targamadzė - Advisor to the Chairman of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania
• Lithuanian Writers’ Union
• Foundation “Pogranicze - sztuk, kultur, narodów” (Poland)
• Georgian Calligraphers Association
• The National Library of Georgia