New friendly and extremely productive meetings have enriched the 25-year history of Kutaisi Newport twinning.
On the initiative of Alexandra Hall Hall, the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Georgia, friendship between Kutaisi and Newport has developed into partnership between Georgia and Wales. It was on the Ambassador’s invitation that Dame Rosemary Butler, Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales, officialy visited Georgia once again.

On June 4, the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, David Usupashvili hosted the Presiding Officer of the Welsh Assembly, Dame Rosemary Butler whilst her visit in Georgia.

During the meeting, the two sides talked about inter-parliamentary relations, including the issue of cooperation between the two parliaments and sharing experience of parliamentary activity.

David Usupashvili and Dame Rosemary Butler discussed the issues connected with the possible visit of the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia and the parliament delegation to Wales.

The Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia thanked the Presiding Officer of the Welsh Assembly for her visit and remarked that he would be glad to see Dame Rosemary Butler in Georgia again and host her in legislature.

The meeting between David Usupashvili and Dame Rosemary Butler was attended by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Georgia, Her Excellency Alexandra Hall Hall.

The first meeting with the 25-year-old friends was held in Tbilisi. It was Dame Rosemary Butler’s another official visit in Georgia. Among various events, one of the most important was a friendly match between Welsh and Georgian rugby teams and, of course, a warm meeting with the KNIA members. On this day, about 50 members of the Association arrived in Tbilisi. They first met Dame Rosemary Butler and then attended the rugby match.

On June 4, the second day of Dame Rosemary Butler’s visit, British Embassy hosted a Birthday Party in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Alongside with the delegation from Newport, the celebration was attended by Prof. Madonna Megrelishvili, Chair of Kutaisi-Newport International Association, Shota Murghulia, President of KNIA and Mayor of Kutaisi and some active members of the association.

On 7 June, Dame Rosemary Butler completed her visit to Georgia and returned to London. The Honorary citizen of Kutaisi and Honorary Professor of ATSU Derek Butler and Caroline McLachlan, Honorary Professor of ATSU travelled to Kutaisi.

The long-standing members of NKTA were received by the Mayor of Kutaisi, Shota Murghulia. The guests thanked the Mayor for his contribution to the Association’s activities. The main aim of the meeting was to discuss the plans for celebrating the 26th anniversary of the twinning next year.

Director of ICCT, Marina Metreveli made a presentation on the development of tourism in the KNIA office. Besides British and Georgian members of the Association, the presentation was attended by the highly qualified professors of Agrarian Faculty of ATSU and the Head of Tourism Development in Imereti, Kote Charkhalashvili. For years, they have successfully and modestly been working on problems connected with tourism at our university and region.

On June 9, Newport guests had a meeting with the Rector of Akaki Tsereteli State University, Professor Giorgi Ghavtadze to discuss plans for future joint projects. The discussion mainly focused on the possibility for MA students from the University of South Wales to carry out research within ATSU aiming at introducing innovative methods of working with young people with special needs.

ATSU Quality Assurance Office hosted Prof. Caroline McLachlan. The issues discussed during the meeting included the challenges that the Office faces and the prospects opened due to the process of internationalization and partnership between ATSU and the University of South Wales.

The English Philology Department starts a new project – translation of a Welsh medieval collection of narratives, one of the oldest pieces of British prose Mabinogi into Georgian. The translation will be done based on the English version of Mabinogi by Charolotte Guest. This English version includes four main branches of the Mabinogi, chivalric legends of the Arthurian cycle and several works of Dream Vision (Dream Allegory). Academic staff of the English Philology Department and successful BA, MA and PhD students will be working on the translation. The Newport Kutaisi International Association has a great interest in the project. The British guests, Derek Butler and Caroline Maclachlan showed a great enthusiasm for the translation of Mabinogi during their recent visit. They presented the department with several versions of this medieval literary work. The British guests expressed their willingness to support this highly important project and provide English Philology Department with any help and advice.

Derek Butler and Caroline McLachlan held sessions for ATSU students to discuss art design and education issues. The new approach to art and education appeared to be very interesting for the students.

On June 10 Derek Butler and Caroline McLachlan together with the members of Kutaisi Newport International Association visited Kutaisi Botanical Garden. The guests walked around the garden and saw the museum after Niko Mari. Later all enjoyed a very touching concert which was held with the participation of beneficiaries of the house of Thanksgiving. A very special thank to them!

On June 11 Kutaisi public school N 9 hosted the delegation from Newport. Derek Butler and Caroline McLachlan met the English teachers of the school and discussed the future plans of their co-operation – the school N 9 will be twinned with one of the best schools in Newport.

OFarewell ...

Members of the Kutaisi Newport International Association gathered in the hotel “Bagrati” to say good-bye to their honorable and favourite guests. Derek Butler and Caroline McLachlan expressed their great gratitude to the hosts for their very warm hospitality.