Independence Day of the Hellenic Republic
By Mariam Chanishvili
Wednesday, March 27
On the occasion of 198th Anniversary of the Independence Day of the Hellenic Republic, the Embassy of Greece in Tbilisi hosted a reception along with the exhibition at Tbilisi City Municipal Assembly.
The Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic in Georgia H.E. Dimitrios Karabalis noted delivered a speech and welcomed the guests.
He highlighted the importance of the day and the relations between Greeks and Georgians. He thanked the Shota Rustavei State University and the Adjara Museum, without whose assistance this exhibition would have been impossible.
“Greeks and Georgians have walked together through the path of history, talking to each other, carrying with them the knowledge that they have existed through centuries,” said Dimitrios Karabalis.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Vakhtang Makharoblishvili also delivered a speech and talked about the importance of the history of Greek-Georgian relations.
Photographic exhibition “Pontic Greeks in Adjara, Past and Present” consisted of 50 photographs, dating from the late 19th century till today, artifacts witnessing Greek presence in the region since early antiquity, as well as Benyatoglu Tobacco Company Etiquettes.
All the photos and artifacts testify of an uninterrupted presence and interaction between Greek and Kolchic-Iberian-Georgian people in Adjara region, spanning an era of more than 3000 years. The exhibition was based on the material gathered, studied and catalogued by a team from the Batumi Shota Rustavei State University comprising of Professor Nugzar Mgeladze, Dr, Temur Tunadze, Dr, Nino Dzneladze etc.
Gathered materials can be found in its entirety in the book “Pontic Greeks in Ajara – Past and Present”, which was created under a grant from Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia.
The history of Greek-Georgian relations takes roots from ancient time and is linked with the period of forming the Aegean culture. The Myth of the Argonauts and the Golden Fleece, one of the widespread and popular narratives, as well as historic sources as well indicate that trade interests conditioned the tight attachment between Greek Antiquity and Kolchic-Iberian world since early times.
It is worth mentioning that Greek Diaspora has played an important part in the public life of the region during centuries; it was actively involved in the commercial and economic life, as well as political and cultural processes for the creation of the 1st Republic of Georgian and it greatly contributed to the development and prosperity of the region.
Greek Independence Day, national holiday celebrated annually in Greece on March 25, commemorating the start of the War of Greek Independence in 1821.
It was noted during the event that Georgia and Greece have enjoyed long-lasting relations and cooperation embedded in our shared democratic values and common interests.
In celebration of Greek Independence Day, towns and villages throughout Greece hold a school flag parade, during which schoolchildren march in traditional Greek costume and carry Greek flags.
Greece and Georgia established Embassy-level diplomatic relations in 1992. The Greek Embassy in Tbilisi has been in operation since July 1995. Georgia has an Embassy and a General Consulate in Athens and a General Consulate in Thessaloniki.
Greek presence in Georgia dates back to ancient times. Apart from the traditional ties between the two peoples, bilateral political relations between the two countries are based on the countries’ interest in maintaining strong ties with the strategic area of the South Caucasus and the Black Sea.
