Events

***
Prime Time newspaper presented a book called The Hero dedicated to the soldiers fallen during the Georgian-Russian War (in 2008) at the Music and Drama Theatre on August 6. This is the first part of a book with 169 stories about heroes – members of the Ministry of Defense of Georgia. The second part – about the Ministry of Internal Affairs' staff will be introduced to the public later. It is important to stress that both parts of The Hero have also been printed in Braille so that they are accessible to everyone.
The names of the fallen soldiers – the heroes of the book were announced to famous political and public figures and the family members of the soldiers received the books as gifts. The Symphonic Orchestra conducted by Nika Memanishvili accompanied the presentation, which ended with composer Gia Kancheli’s “Little Imberi” – a composition inspired by the Second World War, which had never been previously played in Georgia. Musician Mamuka Gaganidze came from Germany especially to perform this piece.

***
On August 6, the House of Marriages on Batumi Boulevard celebrated the 120th registration of a couple among which not only Georgian but foreign marriages have also been included. The House of Marriages which was opened on April 7, 2010 has been equipped with international standard facilities.
Today there are several similar places in Georgia where happy couples can get married at any time of the day or night. Tbilisi, Rustavi, Signagi, Kutaisi houses of marriage, decorated in modern patterns, are ready to serve any visitor with great pleasure.
Registration of a marriage at a house of marriage, with its relevant confirmation document is free of charge although if the couple wishes to have a more impressive ceremony they will be offered wonderful services for GEL 150 at weekends and GEL 90 during the week; GEL 50 at the territorial offices of agencies and GEL 170 – outside the territorial offices of the agencies.

***
The First Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Akaki Seperteladze met Armenian pupils in classes of the Intensified English Teaching project at the Buckswood summer school on August 6. Spending 21 days with their Georgian counterparts, 20 Armenian guests will have an opportunity to spend their summer vacation at the Tskneti school of languages, improving not only the language abilities of the pupils but enjoying a wide range of sport and cultural activities for healthy and intelligent development. Sharing the history of Georgia and Armenia the pupils will become more familiar with the traditions of the two neighbouring countries.

***
5000 candles in the colours of the Georgian national flag depicting the Georgian map lit up the centre of Gori square in Shida Kartli Region on August 7. Dedicated to the second anniversary of the Georgian-Russian War in August 2008, the map was a symbol of united Georgia for which hundreds of Georgian soldiers lost their lives in the name of their homeland.
Events devoted to the second anniversary of the Russia-Georgia war in August 2008 continue in the town of Gori in Shida Kartli Region on August 8. Young people formed a human chain around Gori Fortress. Georgian Minister for Refugees and Accommodation and the Governor of Shida Kartli also stood with them in the chain. Later white doves, as a symbol of peace, were released from the fortress' walls.
Internally displaced people signed a Message to the Civilized World. In the symbolical document they demanded to be able to return to their homes.
Local and foreign participants of The Sea of Art International Festival painted a 10-metre length of fabric in the centre of Poti with the slogan I Love Georgia – We Want Peace dedicated to the 2nd anniversary of the Georgian-Russian War.

***
The Lagamus book store, based at the Ilia State University presented the Georgian translated The Little War that Shook the World by American author Ronald Asmus on August 7. The book depicting the Russia-Georgia war of 2008 and the relationships that developed before the war contains a lot of interesting facts of relationships between Georgian and Russian politicians, including Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. It recounts not just facts, but depicts dialogues of world leaders, which demonstrate the views and the advice Europe and US were giving to Georgia during those days.
The author of the book assesses the August war of 2008 not as Russia's fight against Georgia, but as a fight against the West and Western structures. The book has been translated into Georgian by Gia Tchumburidze and the editor of the translation is the Chair of the European Integration Committee of Georgian Parliament Davit Darchiashvili.
The American author and Head of the Marshall Foundation in Brussels, Ronald Asmus wrote the book according to interviews of foreign experts and various documentations on the war.

***
The President of Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Michel Platini summarised the details of his two-day working visit to Georgian on August 10. After visiting the Tbilisi stadiums [among which the technical centre of Basa was financed by UEFA] and meeting the relevant authorities, Michel Platini welcomed the development of sport infrastructure in Georgia.
On Georgia’s chances for hosting the 2012-2013 European League Final in Tbilisi, Platini answered UEFA still has a lot of time to think over the issue and inform the Georgian Football Federation about the decision.

***
The Young European Parliament-Georgia celebrated the international day of youth on August 12. Leaders of 60 different organisations participated in the Young Leaders Forum at the Sheraton Batumi as part of the international day. The delegates discussed various problems young people generally face nowadays and signed the resolutions to work out wise solutions to the cases. With the slogan 'I am an Active Youth', the young leaders encouraged the Batumi visitors to follow an active lifestyle.

***
Georgian Cultural Fund presented the world famous Georgian baritone Paata Burchuladze with the Ekvtime Takaishvili award for his great merit in art, culture and charity on August 13. Takaishvili was an author of numerous scholarly works on the history and archaeology of Georgia and the Caucasus which are of special value even today. Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia the Second was also given the Takaishvili award, which is a symbol of great respect for the recipient.

***
First Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Akaki Seperteladze presented 15 winners of an international competition Aliante 2010 organized by the NGO “New Generation – New Initiative” with portable computers at MES. For the first time in the history of the competition, in 2010 the final round was held in Georgia – a country that is not a member of NATO where youth from different countries revealed their knowledge about NATO, safety and international relations. 40 youngsters from Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Montenegro, Georgia, Czech Republic and Slovakia participated. Teams who won the national competition competed in an international final round.
Participants had to deal with various intellectual tests as well as prove their physical resistance at Sachkhere mountain-training school from June 28 - July 1. The 7 teams with the best results were identified as the winners. 5 were Georgian teams and therefore Georgia took first place among the winners and spent 10 days in Poland together with their foreign peers. In Poland from July 26 till August 4, they visited Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Poland as well as the Joint Staff of Poland in Warsaw. Guests also visited NATO Joint Force Training Centre in Bydgoszcz as well as air force bases.

***
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili met volunteer English teachers, who have arrived in Georgia within the framework of Teach and Learn for Georgia project on August 15. The teachers from the U.S., Canada and different European countries will be living in different regions of Georgia. Together with local teachers, they will be teaching the English Language to Georgian schoolchildren.
The teachers are undergoing special training to become familiar with Georgian culture and traditions. Mikheil Saakashvili received them in the Bamba Rooms Restaurant on the shores of the seaside town of Batumi, Adjara Region.

***
The first lady of Georgia Sandra Roelofs created a dress for Ivo Nikkolo with her personal design. The Happy Dress introduced by Roelofs will be offered to the public in Autumn 2010 and profits from the sale will be used for Georgian children.

***
The Adjara Tourism Department awarded the 500 000th tourist with a 10-day pass for the Sheraton Batumi. The winner's name was selected using a special loto drum containing the names of all Batumi’s visitors. Gulnaz Guleimanov was the luckiest of all in becoming the special tourist of the season.
Japan, interested in Georgian tourism introduced Georgians to the project Development of Tourism in Georgia along the East-West Transport Corridor aimed at increasing the number of Japanese tourists visiting Georgia.

***
Georgian Businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili was named third richest person in the Former Soviet Union with USD 4.8 billion according to the latest Forbes' rich list. According to Forbes, the richest man in the FSU is Russian businessman, Vladimir Lissin with USD 15.8 billion followed by Ukrainian Ritan Akhmetov – worth USD 5.2 billion.

***
A unique discovery has been made in the Church of St. Maxim the Confessor (580 – 662) a Christian monk, theologian, and scholar in the town of Tsageri in a mountainous region of Georgia. During reconstruction work, holy remnants were discovered in the church altar which is supposed to belong to Maxim the Confessor himself. Eyewitnesses say a cross is depicted on the skull of the remnants. Excavations on the monastery's territory will continue – archaeologists from Sukhumi and Tbilisi Universities are involved in the process. World level anthropologists will also be invited to examine the unique discovery. They will make a conclusion, which will ascertain which centuries the remnants date back to.