On Saturday 15 November, the University, in association with the Bristol-Tbilisi Association, supported by Bristol City Council and the National Lottery Awards for All, will host Georgian Studies Day, an annual conference about the Republic of Georgia.

The conference is part of celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of Bristol’s twinning with Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, and will address a range of issues, including the recent political unrest. It will take place in the Wills Memorial Building from 9.30 am to 5pm. The conference is free and open to the public. For more information, email Alix Hughes.

Speaking ahead of the conference, Dr Ruth Coates from the University’s Department of Russian said:

‘Relations between Russia and Georgia are at a crucial stage and we are delighted to host this event in a spirit of reconciliation. It is a great opportunity for staff, students and the general public to find out more about Georgia at an important point in its history.’

Tessa Tysome, a Bristol University student, who has just returned from a media event hosted and paid for by the University of Tbilisi, added:

‘Georgia is a country in which every one is welcome and treated to the best of the host’s ability. I am planning a return visit to Georgia next year and I would urge all students to take any chance they are offered to go.’

Bristol and Tbilisi were twinned after the Cold War to encourage East-West cooperation and the partnership continues to foster educational, cultural, social and business links between individuals, organizations and businesses. Some 100 people in Bristol are actively involved in the Bristol-Tbilisi Association.

This year, the conference will be addressed by the Georgian Ambassador to the UK, His Excellency Mr Gela Charkviani, the Executive Mayor of Tbilisi, Mr Giorgi Ugulava, and Dr Elina Steinerte from the Faculty of Law at the University.

Mzetamze, an all-women traditional choir from Tbilisi will perform during lunch, when delegates will sample Georgian dishes made by Ms Nino Bendukidze, a doctor from Tbilisi currently working for the NHS in Bristol, and Ms Esther Pickup-Keller, a member of the Bristol-Tbilisi Association.

Over the last 20 years, Bristol and Tbilisi have co-operated on projects ranging from waste-management training to setting up the first Rotary Club in Tbilisi, and from youth-work training to fundraising for the Tbilisi Deaf School.

Bristol engineering company Emerson-Moore Geoscience Ltd have recently opened up an office in Tbilisi and Councillor Derek Pickup, who has a small vineyard in Georgia, has just returned from delivering building materials to people in Gori whose houses were looted and destroyed by the Russian army.