Expand People-to-People Links Between Georgia And Malaysia Via Cultural Activities - Envoy

By Samantha Tan KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 12 (Bernama) -- The Georgian Embassy in Malaysia is committed to expand people-to-people links between the two countries through various cultural activities, says ambassador, Nikoloz Apkhazava. He said the inaugural photo exhibition launched here recently to mark the 100 years anniversary of Georgia's first democratic republic would be a great platform to better promote the country to Malaysians. He added that an exhibition on Georgian language and script would be organised in the first half of next year. The photo exhibition featuring several unique Georgian electoral artefacts from 1918, was aimed at providing vital background and understanding to continue guiding the democratic election development in Georgia, said Apkhazava. “This exhibition is also to better promote Georgia to Malaysians, thus enhancing people-to-people contacts. We hope more people will know about Georgian tradition, culture and history,” he told Bernama at the centennial celebration of Georgia’s first democratic republic at a hotel here Monday night. The former Soviet republic, situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, is sandwiched between the Black Sea and Caucasus Mountains. This small country with a population of 3.7 million is bordered by Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey. Apkhazava said the 100 years anniversary was the declaration of the Act of Independence of 1918, a document that outlined the main principles of the nation’s democracy and the formation of its first democratic republic. “There is no ideal model of democracy. Each country draws upon its own culture and history in the quest to uphold universal principles for democratic elections. Georgia is no exception in this regard, as the people have repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to learn from its past and embrace a future, in which all its citizens have equal ability to exercise their right to choose the country’s destiny,” he said. The ambassador said the exhibition was dedicated to one of the most significant events in Georgian history, the first free democratic elections that unequivocally demonstrated the high level of political culture in Georgian society at the beginning of the 20th century. “Unfortunately, the first democratic republic was short lived…in February 1921, the Soviet Army invaded Georgia. The newly elected government was forced to flee. Georgia was forcefully proclaimed a Soviet republic and regained its independence only 70 years later after the Soviet Union's collapse,” he added. -- BERNAMA