With the organization of the Office of the State Minister for reconciliation and civic Equality, the Presidential Administration, Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport and Zurab Zhvania School of Public Administration started a conference “State language for civic integration and human capital development in Georgia”, which was opened by the President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili.

After the President, the State Minister Ketevan Tsikhelashvili, Chairperson of Education, Science and Culture Committee of the Parliament Mariam Jashi, Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Irine Abuladze and the Head of the State Agency for Religious Issues Zaza Vashakmadze welcomed the public.

"According to the Constitution, the protection of the state language is one of the first obligations for the President of Georgia. Its popularization and strengthening is also included in my duties. This is a great responsibility and greatly appreciated, because language is one of the main components of the State. The State can’t be united without language.

"We have the second state language that is in very difficult situation in the occupied territories of Abkhazia... We also should protect Abkhazian language and it is very important that today there is more places in Georgia where Abkhazian language is taught than in the occupied Abkhazia. This is not pleasant. It is necessary, but not pleasant. In this respect we have a lot to do", - said Salome Zourabichvili said.

During the conference, the Zurab Zhvania School of Public Administration, Office of the State Minister, Department of State language and the National Library signed a mutual understanding memorandum. Its aim is the realization of educational and informational projects for the State language promotion among the national minorities.

"Owning the state language for each citizen is a key to self-realization and success. Today we will discuss with the President of Georgia and various government agencies what steps should be taken in order to increase the level of knowledge of the state language in all regions of Georgia. Especially in regions with densely populated areas of ethnic minorities. Today we have some challenges in this regard, but it is impossible not to mention the progress that we have in Samtskhe Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli in the recent years. Especially in the younger generation.

"The Memorandum which we have signed is like a symbol of strengthening cooperation with very specific programs and projects to ensure that all citizens of Georgia, regardless of their age, have more opportunities to learn state language. We have very strong traditions of tolerance, multiculturalism, diversity. This is our wealth and of course the state will protect this diversity and, on the other hand, will take care of successful civil integration, which means the involvement of each citizen and here the basis is the state language", - said Ketevan Tsikhelashvili.