The Rector of Tbilisi State University, Academician Jaba Samushia, opened the international scientific conference dedicated to the 530th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Georgia, Poland and Lithuania.

Representatives of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Pomeranian University in Słupsk and Vilnius University are participating in the conference. Over the course of two days, Georgian, Polish and Lithuanian scientists, historians and legal experts will present reports on interstate relations.

Rector Jaba Samushia stated that this year marks two anniversaries - the 530th anniversary since the beginning of diplomatic relations between Georgia, Poland and Lithuania and the 30th anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between the states. “These states have always stood on the main road, which was called the struggle with the Great Empire. The Baltic states laid the foundation for the great movement that ultimately led to the collapse of the Soviet empire. At that time, the relationship between Georgian, Polish and Lithuanian patriots became more profound,” Rector Samushia stated.

Rimvydas Petrauskas, Rector of Vilnius University, said that universities play a pivotal role in the process of European integration. He noted that despite their geographical distance, they are historically and culturally European states. Furthermore, Rector Petrauskas underscored that Georgia is geographically proximate to them and that in the 1990s, they engaged in a struggle for democracy. He also stated that the conference will address these historical and contemporary relations.

The opening of the conference was attended by the Dean of the TSU Faculty of Law, Tamar Zarandia; the Rector of Pomeranian University in Słupsk, Professor Zbigniew Osadowski; the Rector of Vilnius University, Georgian and foreign professors, and students.

At the conference, TSU Professor Nikoloz Javakhishvili and Associate Professor Marina Garishvili were presented with the honorary award of Pomeranian University in Słupsk – the University Medal.

As part of the conference, TSU Rector Jaba Samushia convened a meeting with representatives of Pomeranian University in Słupsk and Vilnius University. The participants engaged in a discourse on the potential for furthering scientific collaboration between the universities. Additionally, the parties discussed the potential establishment of a conflict resolution - mediation center by the Faculty of Law of TSU at Pomeranian University in Słupsk. As was observed at the meeting, this represents a novel development in the history of Georgia, in that the Faculty of Law is establishing a center in a partner university abroad.