I would like to congratulate with great pleasure Tbilisi State University and its all representatives of the 100th anniversary.

This university was established as the first national university in Georgia and the first educational institution in Transcaucasia on February 8, 1918 by historian and linguist Ivane Javakhishvili,. Despite its one-century history, the university inherited the traditions of early centuries' educational centers.

For decades the Tbilisi State University has made a significant contribution to the social, economic and cultural activities of the region, which in some sense is conditioned by a multicultural staff of its students and teachers. It represents regional the education hub and the region have a significant impact on the development of its higher education.

Today students from different countries, such as Turkey, Syria, China, India, Bangladesh and Iraq  have the opportunity to study in Tbilisi State University. In terms of exchange programs, the largest number of students arriving from the EU countries: Poland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands, including the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Intercultural dialogue is put in the gene of the university.

The world today needs such a commitment to raise a new generation of world citizens.

UNESCO joins the jubilee as a participant of the official ceremonial events supported by our General Conference. Congratulations on your birthday and wish you a successful and higher education for at least another 100 years, how you will promote gender equality, collective minds and the ideals of human dignity.