Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to Armenia delivers lecture at YSU

Mkhitar Gabrielyan, Dean of YSU Faculty of History, highlighting the importance of the ambassador’s visit to YSU, reminded that recently the Center of Georgian Studies was opened at the faculty, which heralds the establishment of new scientific and educational ties between the two states. 

"Both Armenian and Georgian sides are assured of expanding the horizons of Georgian studies in Armenia and Armenian studies in Georgia. We are sure that in the near future, many of our students will be involved in processes such as summer camps and exchange programs organized for students from both countries," said M. Gabrielyan.  

Since 1990, April 14 has been celebrated as Mother Language Day in Georgia. Underscoring the importance of the meeting initiated by Giorgi Sharvashidze, the dean of the History Faculty noted: "The ambassador offered to meet with YSU students and deliver a lecture devoted to Mother Language Day, as well as to hold discussions on opportunities of advancing the partnership ties between the two states. And we gladly accepted the ambassador’s proposal." 

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to Armenia Giorgi Sharvashidze had been the rector of Tbilisi State University for a long time. He noted that last year, after assuming the position of ambassador, he managed to have a meeting with YSU students and this is his regular meeting, during which he presents himself as a professor.

"I had been the rector of Tbilisi State University for around 7 years, and during that period I closely cooperated with my colleagues from Yerevan State University. Today, I am here as a professor since I am currently lecturing at Tbilisi State University," said the ambassador pointing out that today’s lecture is on the role of the mother tongue in language policy, crucial to the development of statehood and the region. 

The ambassador started his lecture by talking about the events that took place in Tbilisi on April 14, 1978, which were aimed at preserving the Georgian language as the state language in the Constitution.

"In a number of Soviet Union countries, the mother tongue of the given country was considered the state language. Among those countries were Armenia and Georgia. However, in the 1970s, by the decision of Leonid Brezhnev, the general secretary of the CPSU Central Committee, the Constitution was to be changed, according to which the provision related to the mother tongue was to be removed from the Constitution and Russian was to be adopted as the state language," the ambassador emphasized.

He stated that the scientists did not accept that problematic clause, after which mass protests were held in Georgia. Subsequently, after discussions among the leaders, that change was canceled.

"Protests in Armenia, Georgia, and Lithuania were held with the support of those institutions that preserved the national values. In our case, those institutions were the Tbilisi State University, the Writers' Union and the church," remarked the ambassador. 

Referring to the language proficiency among young people in Georgia, Giorgi Sharvashidze highlighted a notable interest in European languages since mastering these languages opens doors to free education opportunities across various programs in Europe. 

It’s noteworthy that the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to Armenia handed over the gifts sent by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Georgia: the painting "Golovin Avenue" by Tengiz Mikoyants and professional books in Georgian, which were contributed to the Center of Georgian Studies.