Georgia: The Georgian Minister of Culture and Sports, Thea Tsulukiani, paid a working visit to Turkey, where she met with the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey, Mehmet Nuri Ersoi.
The parties signed a “Cooperation Program between the Government of Georgia and the Government of the Republic of Turkey for 2024-2028 in the field of culture”.
This is a continuation of a similar program, which has been operating since 2017 and will expire in 2021. The program sees cooperation between relevant organizations and agencies in culture and arts – literature, theatre, cinema, music, fine arts, museums, publishing and cultural heritage protection.
The meeting was also attended by Georgian Deputy Minister of Culture and Sports Nikoloz Aznaurashvili, Ambassador of Georgia to the Republic of Turkey Giorgi Janjgava, Consulate General of Georgia. Alexander Jishkariani in Istanbul, Ambassador of the Embassy of Georgia in the Republic of Turkey Diana Malazonia, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Turkey Tamara Tevdoradze and Head of National Agency for Protection of Cultural Heritage of Georgia UNESCO and International Relations Service Tamar Ketiladze.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Giokhan Yazgi, Chief of Cabinet Fatih Gurqani, Adviser to the Minister Ali Erjan, Head of the Department of Foreign Relations of the European Union Giozde Shahin and Birol Injejikozi, General Director of Cultural Heritage and Museums.
Within the framework of the 2017-2021 cooperation program between the two governments, the Turkish side allocated more than $ 4 million in budget funds as a result of their reconstruction of Ishkhan, renewed using modern and latest technologies and, in keeping with the principle of authenticity of the monument, strengthened Oshki, and rehabilitated Parkhali. Procedures have been started to maintain and preserve the lake.
At the meeting, the Georgian side expressed gratitude for the vital work done by the Turkish side within the framework of the previous program.
The program’s renewal is a great success, as the previous 2017-2021 program has expired, and the renewal negotiations between the parties have been ongoing since 2021.
