The Rector of Tbilisi State University, Academician Jaba Samushia opened the international scientific conference dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the birth of Akaki Chkhenkeli, the first Foreign Minister of Georgia and prominent politician.

Georgian and foreign scientists from Canada, Poland, Latvia, Armenia and Turkey are participating in the two-day conference, which is being hosted by Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. The reports presented at the conference will focus on different stages of Akaki Chkhenkeli’s work, the history of the World War I, the interwar period in Europe, Georgian emigration and the Democratic Republic of Georgia.

During the opening ceremony, Rector Jaba Samushia spoke about Akaki Chkhenkeli’s activities and his contribution to the country. “Akaki Chkhenkeli was one of the prominent political figures of the first Democratic Republic of Georgia. He chaired the meeting that decided to open the university. We would like to emphasize his merits for the university and the country, therefore, the university decided to name one of the auditoriums after Akaki Chkhenkeli. In addition, Tbilisi State University is preparing a two-volume publication of his works,” said Jaba Samushia. He thanked the foreign guests participating in the scientific forum. “This will further promote the research of the great public figure Akaki Chkhenkeli at the international level,” he added.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Khatuna Totladze, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Youth Nodar Papukashvili, Georgian  and foreign scientists, students and invited guests attended the conference opening.

“Akaki Chkhenkeli, as an outstanding politician, diplomat, and public figure of the 20th century, he is a very important person for today’s Georgia, as the formation of the First Democratic Republic is associated with his name. As the first Foreign Minister, he made a special contribution to the creation of the European agenda. His legacy should be preserved and cherished. It is precisely for this reasons that a number of important events have been planned throughout the year through the joint efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Tbilisi State University and the National Archives,” said Khatuna Totladze, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia.

Nodar Papukashvili, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia, noted that many important state issues in the history of Georgia are connected with the name of Akaki Chkhenkeli. “Akaki Chkhenkeli made a significant contribution to the restoration of Georgia’s autocephaly, as well as to the establishment of the University. His contribution to the first steps of Georgia’s European integration is important,” said Nodar Papukashvili.

On the sidelines of the conference, an exhibition was held in the 1st building of Tbilisi State University, where important documents from the archives of Akaki Chkhenkeli, related to his life and work and kept in the TSU Library were displayed. According to Zurab Gaiparashvili, the head of the TSU Library, within the framework of the events dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the birth of Akaki Chkhenkeli, the TSU Library is preparing for publication two volumes of Akaki Chkhenkeli’s epistolary legacy. It will contain important information about Akaki Chkhenkeli as a diplomat and public-political figure. In addition, selected works of Akaki Chkhenkeli will be published at Tbilisi State University.

One of the auditoriums in the 1st building of Tbilisi State University was named after Akaki Chkhenkeli.

One of the squares of Tbilisi, located in Saburtalo district, will be named after the famous diplomat. His bust will be placed in the same square, and a memorial plaque will be placed on the wall of the house where Akaki Chkhenkeli lived in Griboyedov Street, Mtatsminda district.

A scholarship named after Akaki Chkhenkeli has been established and will be awarded to a student with outstanding academic performance at Tbilisi State University. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide the student with a one-time bonus.

A postage stamp featuring the famous diplomat has been issued by the Georgian Post.