Ambassador Andrius Kalindra Discussed Possibilities of Strengthening Cooperation in Telavi
On 19 November 2020, Ambassador Andrius Kalindra visited the city of Telavi, where he held an introductory meeting with the Mayor of Telavi Municipality, Mr. Shota Nareklishvili and his Deputy, Ms. Pikria Kushitashvili.
During the meeting, Ambassador emphasized the importance of bilateral relations between Lithuania and Georgia, as well as a strong friendship enjoyed by a number of Lithuanian municipalities and Telavi specifically.
Ambassador Kalindra delivered letters of congratulations from the Mayor of Anykščiai Municipality, Mr Sigutis Obelevičius and Mayor of Kėdainiai Municipality, Mr. Valentinas Tamulis on the occasion of Telavi City Festival and the 300th birthday of King Erekle II, a famous Georgian King who ruled from Telavi and whose castle graces Telavi city center to this day.
Cooperation between Anykščiai and Telavi municipalities started in 2011 while Kėdainiai and Telavi became sister cities in 2018. Partnership has since covered the areas of culture and arts, healthcare, tourism and sports, industry, agriculture, trade and transportation as well as ecology and responsible use of natural resources. A monument attesting to friendship between the city of Telavi, Anykščiai and Kėdainiai municipalities stands in one of the squares in Telavi city center.
Discussion at the meeting also touched upon the issue of continued cooperation between the Lithuanian municipalities and Telavi, with the eager involvement of the Embassy, where possible. Ambassador Kalindra underlined the importance of working towards sustainable regional development of Georgia and thanked the Mayor for his municipality’s active participation in one of Embassy’s projects focused specifically on that issue organized in 2019.
Ambassador also expressed his wish to further develop partnership in the field of culture, touching upon a highly successful joint exhibition of Lithuanian and Georgian illustrators held in Ketevan Iashvili Gallery in Telavi in autumn 2019, putting forward an initiative of also bringing the works of Lithuanian photographers for the viewing pleasure of Telavi audiences in near future.
