On July 18-19, 2025, Sokhumi State University
held the Ambassadors for Peace Training Seminar dedicated to Nelson
Mandela International Day, under the theme: “The Role of Youth in
Peacebuilding in the South Caucasus.”
The event was organized by Sokhumi State
University in partnership with leading NGOs in consultative status with the
United Nations ECOSOC: The Universal Peace Federation (UPF), CIRID,
and RECOVI.
The two-day seminar was led by prominent
diplomats, scholars, and public figures from Georgia, Europe, and Africa, all
united around the legacy of Nelson Mandela and a shared commitment to peace and
cooperation.
The event was held with the support and
engagement of Professor Zurab Khonelidze, Rector of Sokhumi
State University. His keynote speech on “The Georgian Paradigm of Peace”
once again demonstrated his important contribution to the development of
university diplomacy and to strengthening the university's international
standing. On behalf of the university, we express our sincere gratitude to him
for his support of this initiative.
The main organizers of the event were graduate
students of Sokhumi State University, Lika Chimchiuri and Mariam
Bregvadze, who coordinated the entire seminar. Both are representatives
of ECOSOC-accredited organizations at the United Nations. Thanks to their
dedication and determination, this international program was successfully
implemented both locally and globally.
Distinguished speakers at the seminar included:
· George Nickolaishvili - Former
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Cuba, Founder
and First Resident Ambassador of the Embassy of Georgia in Havana, who provided
an overview of conflict dynamics in the South Caucasus.
· Paata Zakareishvili - Georgian
politician, political analyst, and conflictologist; former State Minister for
Reconciliation and Civic Equality (2012–2016), who addressed new opportunities
for conflict resolution in the region.
· Malkhaz Kakabadze - Former
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to Russia, Sweden, and
Finland, who examined the international community’s role in resolving the
conflict in Abkhazia.
· Prof. Nugzar Ruhadze -
Journalist, former Head of State Protocol, and professor at Sokhumi State
University, who spoke on the peace processes in today’s complex world.
The seminar was significantly enriched by the
participation of several international speakers, including:
· Joel M. Hakizimana - Chief
Administrative Officer of CIRID and Coordinator of the Pan-African Citizenship
Campaign, who presented the global relevance of Mandela’s legacy.
· Rubin Zemon - ethnologist and
former member of the North Macedonian Parliament, who spoke about
multiculturalism and collective memory in the Balkans.
· Carl
Gustav Bjertnes - the President of SEEDS-AFRICA, an organization dedicated
to promoting social entrepreneurship and sustainable economic development in
Africa. His speech emphasized the power of
conscience, courageous love, and youth-led peacebuilding to transform conflict
into unity and inspire positive change for Africa and the world.
·
Prof. Ferenc Miszlivetz and Dr.
Jody Jensen - from the Institute of Advanced Studies Kőszeg (iASK,
Hungary), who analyzed the role of intellectuals in peace processes and
strategies for responding to contemporary challenges.
·
Prof. Veronika Wittmann - from
Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria, who emphasized the role of science
diplomacy and youth engagement in peacebuilding.
· Chantal Chételat Komagata -
Secretary General of the Swiss Chapter of the Universal Peace Federation, who
conducted intensive training sessions on universal principles for peace.
At the conclusion of the event, certificates were
awarded to all participants.
This initiative not only paid tribute to the
legacy of Nelson Mandela but also laid the foundation for new pathways to peace
in the future.
A particularly important step was the signing
of a Memorandum of Understanding between Sokhumi State University and the
Institute of Advanced Studies Kőszeg (iASK, Hungary).
The memorandum envisions joint participation in
research projects and academic exchange programs. The parties agreed to deepen
cooperation in key areas such as peace education, European integration, social
innovation, and sustainable development.
This partnership will serve as a strong
foundation for future successful initiatives and will open broad international
opportunities for our students, professors, and academic partners.
