Events

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As part of the joint project of magazines Bomondi and Mediapalitra, the group Shin performed a concert at the Batumi Music Hall on August 20. The group performed their Georgian repertoire including one new composition. As part of the project, for one year, readers of Bomondi will also receive a CD of famous Georgian musicians with the magazine; the first will be a Shin CD.

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The functions of the newly founded Centre of Education Degree Development were presented to society by the Minister of Education and Science, Dimitri Shashkin, on August 21. Adopting recommendations for improvements in the country's education level; common authorisation and accreditation of professional and higher education institutions; confirmation of the legitimacy of diplomas given by different educational institutions; recognition of education given on the territories of the occupied regions and the recognition of education received in foreign countries were the points outlined by the Minister as the main priorities of the centre. The Minister pointed out the centre will not be a controlling body, but an institution encouraging the improvement of education in Georgia.

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The hunting season for migrant birds began in Georgia on August 21. Environmental Minister Goga Khachidze personally announced the opening of the season at a special briefing. The Minister said the season had started, but the hot summer presented a serious threat of forest fires. Giorgi Khachidze called upon hunters to take care and be attentive while hunting to avoid starting fires. Those who are going to hunt should have the receipt confirming they have paid the tax and a license for keeping and carrying guns issued by the Ministry of Interior Affairs.

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The director of the National Agency for the Protection of National Heritage, Nika Vacheishvili visited Alaverdi Monastery Complex to view the discovery made by architects working on the restoration of the monument on August 21. The scientists found an ancient fresco on the northern wall of the monastery, above the grave of St. Joseph Alaverdeli. The scientists assume that the fresco dates back to the initial painting of the monastery walls.

Experts say the fresco is hard to decipher, particularly the lower part. The contours of the clothes and ornamental sword blade lead scientists to believe it is a painting of the churchwarden. The painting should belong to the builder of the church Kvirike I. The scientists do not rule out that it might be a fresco of Davit Aghmashenebeli (Davit IV). The layer of the painting is seriously damaged and the scientists will begin conservation works on the wall next week before they begin to explore it. The long-term project of reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Alaverdi Monastery Complex began in 2006.

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Svaneti Region of Georgia hosted a World Music Festival. The 5-day event opened on August 22 in Mestia. Various artists (musicians and photographers) from different countries, such as, Armenia (Artak Nersisyan Group), Turkey (Bayar Shahin), Estonia (Musicians from Estonia), Lithuania (Inculto), Georgia (Zumbaland, Chveneburebi, Region) participated. Mestia is in one of the most picturesque and original alpine regions of Georgia; Svaneti is famous for its beautiful nature and fascinating ancient towers.

A local Svan singer opened the festival with a solo show. The most interesting item promised by the festival organisers was Svanetian folk songs performed in reggae style.

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For the first time in the history of Georgian folk songs, music by Bach and Georgian hymns were sung in harmony. The Georgian Patriarchate's ensemble, 'Basiani' performed an impressive show at the Mostly Mozart Festival on August 22. The Mostly Mozart Festival is a summer series of concerts held at Lincoln Centre in New York City.

The ensemble, who gave two concerts at the Lincoln Centre has already returned from the United States.

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An American member of the Union of Chokhosnebi (men wearing the Chokha national dress) Victor Sirelson visited Georgia on August 24. The professor and doctor of Columbia University met with the members of the union in the Muza Art Centre.

The union has nominated Mr. Sirelson for the Honour Prize for his popularisation of Georgian culture and his assistance to immigrant Georgians in the United States.

For the past few years, the American member of the organisation has been the choreographer of the Georgian folk-dance ensemble 'Dancing Cranes' and has plans to start some new ensembles in the future.

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The Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources organised a seminar about radioactive sources for doctors on August 26. Lectures were delivered by Sweden’s Nuclear Regulatory Agency to doctors from oncology centres in Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Batumi.

The Georgian and Swedish governments agreed to continue cooperation to improve the competence of Georgian doctors in activities aimed at providing radiation security.

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The aqua-parks network has been expanded with the opening of a new aqua park in Telavi, Kakheti Region on August 28. The governor of Kakheti Region, Giorgi Ghviniashvili opened the ceremony last Friday with a magnificent show.

The aqua park covers an area of 1.5 hectares, but so far only part of it is being used. The administration plans to construct a 40-room hotel on the territory where tourists will be offered a high-level service.

Despite the low temperature, visitors to the aqua-park swam in the pool. Admission to the aqua-park was free for two days

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The Georgian Orthodox Church marked the Assumption of Virgin Mary on August 28. Catholicos Patriarch Ilia II served a holy liturgy in Sioni Cathedral. Following the liturgy, his Holiness preached, calling upon immigrant Georgians to return to the homeland; the Patriarch reminded Georgia's neighbours that the Virgin Mary was the Saviour of Georgia.

The Georgian Orthodox Church will give several hectares of land will be given to construct a special, 21st century camp for youth in Georgia - Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II announced in his Sunday sermon on August 29. The Patriarch believes a settlement should be constructed in which Georgian youth will live, work and learn the various agricultural skills. The project has been approved by the president and it is quite real - his Holiness visited a similar settlement in Israel where he and saw how successfully the youth operate the Kibbutz.

Ilia II voiced another initiative - the Patriarch`s administration plans to open 3-year lyceums, where thousands of young people, who failed to gain university entry, will study. In the lyceum, the youth will study handicrafts and deepen their knowledge. The Patriarch plans to present this initiative to the Minister of Education, Dimitri Shashkin.

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30 year-old Giorgi Zedginidze has become a millionaire. He had just 1 GEL when he began to play at the gambling club Vegas on August 29. The Tbilisi resident won the jackpot on the slot machine and called for patrol police to convince them that the money was won legally. Zedginidze is currently waiting for the cash from the Vegas manager, who asserts that the machine was out of order and needs to be sent for examination.

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Georgia beat Bulgaria on the final day of the EuroBasket qualiflying round 94: 83 on August 29. The victory however had a bitter aftertaste, as it was not enough for Georgia to qualify automatically for the final. Georgia played a total of 7 games in Group C, gaining 14 points and finishing in 2nd place in the group.

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The ancient festival on the Day of Kolkhoba was held in Sarpi, Adjara on August 29. The tradition, which was reinstated a few years ago, becomes more and more impressive every year. A special stage was arranged near the border with Turkey, where old Laz songs were sang. The chairperson of the Adjara government offered his congratulations on the Day of Kolkhoba. The organisers of the event arranged a special open market around the stage. Villagers from the Khelvachauri district offered Laz dishes to the visitors.

The Laz are ethnic groups native to the Black Sea coastal regions of Turkey and Georgia. One of the chief tribes of ancient kingdom of Colchis, the Laz were one of the first ancient peoples to adopt Christianity. Most of them subsequently converted to Sunni Islam during the 16th century Ottoman rule of Caucasus.

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A modern music festival, organized by the Davitiani youth movement was held in Batumi on August 30-31. The festival slogan was 'Healthy World' and its aim was to promote healthy lifestyles among the young. The special guest of the festival - Edo Mela was invited from Italy and 6 Georgian musicians participated in the event. The festival was supported by the Batumi Mayor's Office, the Tourism department of Adjara. Borjomi Mineral Water sponsored the event. Davitiani plans to organise similar events at least twice a year.

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Two Georgian films will be presented at the 2010 Montreal World Film Festival. Rene Goes to Hollywood by Aleko Tsabadze and Street Days produced by Levan Koghuashvili will be shown in the World Cinema section of the festival. Both were shot with the financial support of Georgia's National Film Centre.

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Georgian citizens who reside abroad will be able to obtain new biometric passports online. This initiative was announced by the public register agency. Citizens will register online on the web site (www.cra.gov.ge, passport.gov.ge), complete the relevant application form and obtain the passport with the help of a trusted person.

The trusted person will be allowed to collect the biometric passport at any regional office of the public register in Georgia; the applicant and his trusted person can choose which regional office.

The new biometric passport costs 155 GEL and it will be issued within 5 days.

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A museum opened in the Gonio fortress on August 24. Director of the State Agency of Georgian Cultural Heritage Protection, Nika Vacheishvili attended the opening of the museum. Visitors will be able to view the exhibits, which date from the BC period to the 1880s and include Roman baths, ancient plumbing system and tools from Byzantium times.

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The White Hall and the Courtyard of the Student Youth Palace of Tbilisi will be named after the First Republic as part of an agreement between the Tbilisi City Assembly and the State Minister for Diaspora Issues, Papuna Davitaia. To begin with, the initiative was first voiced by the Georgian Diaspora in France.

The Student Youth Palace was the residence of the government of the Georgian Democratic Republic in 1917-1921. The declaration of Independence of Georgia was held in the White Hall then.