ArmInfo. Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili visited the city of Akhalkalaki in the south of the country, mostly inhabited by Armenians, on Day of Mother Language.
Zourabichvili took part in the opening of a panel depicting the letters of the Georgian alphabet on the facade of the city's House of Culture and met with local residents.
According to Novosti-Georgia, addressing them, the president spoke about the importance of full command of the state language. Zourabichvili noted that knowledge of Georgian will allow them to actively participate in public life and government decisions.
"I want to express my gratitude to everyone who came here. I know that not everyone understands Georgian or, perhaps, understands it partly. It is important that you came after all and thank you very much for that. I know that in order Georgian to become a truly state language in this country I am responsible for the popularization, dissemination and study of the language according to the Constitution, "Zourabichvili said.
She expressed the hope that every Akhalkalaki resident would learn the state language at least at such a level as to pass the citizenship exam. "I really want you and your children to become full citizens of Georgia, that this why I did so much to make dual citizenship available to everyone. This change was included in the Constitution, and today everyone has the right to return to Georgia's citizenship, but for this it is necessary that you take one step and learn the state language. Learn the language, at least at a level to pass a small exam that accompanies the process of restoration of citizenship. It is symbolic, but at the same time- very important ", - said Salome Zourabichvili .
The president promised that "she would spare no effort to make the Georgian language more accessible." She believes that in Akhalkalaki for this it is necessary to open a kindergarten, the educational process in which will be carried out in the state language. "The kindergarten begins learning the language to the level when all prospects and careers are opened. Therefore, today from Akhalkalaki I have to loudly declare that in the near future I need to open a Georgian-language kindergarten in Akhalkalaki. I know that this is what you want, and we too. I hope that next year, when I come here, this wish will already be realized, "said the head of state. During the two-day visit to Samtskhe-Javakheti, Salome Zourabichvili also visited a fish farm; attended a class at an art school; and took part in a prayer in the church of Surb Khach, visited a convent. This was her first visit to the region after being elected president of the country.