On
September 17, Sokhumi State University marked the beginning of a new academic
year with a ceremonial welcome for first-year students, a tradition upheld by
the academic and administrative staff, along with senior students.
The
event, inaugurated by the Rector, Professor Zurab Khonelidze, commenced with
the Georgian national anthem. Professor Khonelidze extended his congratulations
to the incoming students, providing insights into the university's mission and
future plans. He emphasized, "The development strategy of Sokhumi State
University, rooted in its unique mission, envisions not only delivering quality
education but also reconnecting with its origins, returning to Sokhumi."
Notably,
the ceremony was graced by the presence of Doctor of History and Professor
Giorgi Anchabadze, the son of the first Rector of Sokhumi State University. In
his speech, Professor Anchabadze highlighted the positive transformations
within the university, stressed the importance of passing down values between
generations, and expressed his earnest desire for this process to endure into
the future.
Dignitaries
of the highest diplomatic rank also attended the solemn ceremony, including His
Excellency Pascal Meunier, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
France. Representatives from the Embassy of the United States of America,
Christopher Davenport - Press and Information Attaché, and Kate Nath - Head of
Foreign Affairs and Separatist Conflicts Political Unit, warmly welcomed the
students to the commencement of their studies.
