17
Jan
On 17 January 2019, it was the 100th anniversary of the newspaper Sakartvelos Respublika (Georgian for: “Republic of Georgia”). The current staff of the newspaper celebrated it in the Council Chamber at the Georgian National Academy of Sciences.
The Vice-president of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences, Academician Roin Metreveli, chaired the event. The current editor of the Sakartvelos Respublika, Spartak Kobulia, presented a thorough account of the challenges the print media faced during the modern boost of Information Technology and underlined the importance of the preservation and development of the Georgian newspaper with a 100-year legacy.
Mr Tamaz Shilakadze suggested appointing a board of trustees responsible for strategic planning and management of the newspaper.
Academician Avtandil Arabuli, the President of the Association Dialogue of Cultures XXI, Professor Valeri Asatiani, Merited Journalist of Georgia and public figure, Professor Nugzar Popkhadze, Professor Diana Tkebuchava, Professor Giorgi Gogolashvili, journalist and educator, Nugzar Rukhadze, the Chairman of the Shota Rustaveli Society chairman and poet David Shemokmedeli, authors and readers of the centenarian newspaper who attended the event, eagerly welcomed and accepted his offer.
The President of the Georgian Women for Peace and Life Association, Professor Maia Kvezereli-Kopadze, expressed her readiness to join the board of trustees. On behalf of the Association, she awarded the Editorial Board of Sakartvelos Respublika a special certificate and a gold medal.
The Chair of the Creative Union of Georgian Journalists, Marina Tektumanidze, stated that she would do anything required to gain "the status of an item of the tangible cultural heritage of Georgia" for the only centennial newspaper in the country. On behalf of the Union, Ms Tektumanidze handed an honorary certificate and a gold-plated icon of St George to the Editorial Board of Sakartvelos Respublika.
The vice-president of the Georgian Writers Creative Union, poet and TV presenter Makvala Gonashvili decorated the sub-editor of Sakartvelos Respublika, prominent translator and author Guram Gogiashvili with the Ilia Chavchavadze Award.
The noted journalists Spartak Kobulia, Aleko Aslanishvili, Mamuka Vashakidze and Otar Turabelidze received the honorary title of Georgian Heritage Trustees.