On December 9, 2015, on the initiative of the “Armenian Center for Scientific Research in Georgia” NGO, the Calouste Gulbenkian Hall of the “Hayartun” Center of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia hosted a meeting of Tbilisi Armenian intellectuals and readership with the “Vrastan” (“Georgia”) Newspaper’s staff.

In her opening speech, Emma Akhtyan, the Head of the “Armenian Center for Scientific Research in Georgia” NGO presented a chronicle of the periodical, spanning 95 years, and highly appreciated the role of the newspaper in preservation of Armenian identity. The speaker also underlined the work of Van Bayburtyan in the life of Armenian community, who tries to preserve and promote national identity.

For nearly a century, despite many difficulties and obstacles, the newspaper has served the Armenians of Georgia with honor, has covered achievements and helped in solving the emerging problems, has written about Armenian-Georgian relations, centuries-old and multilateral friendship.

Members of Armenian community in Georgia, namely Norayr Baghdasaryan, Aghasi Gevorkyan, Levon Chidilyan, Irina Zhamkochyan, Henrikh Muradyan, Armen Bayanduryan, Yuri Safarov et al., mentioned many respectable workers, who in different periods occupied various editorial positions in publishing, and highlighted the work of the newspaper. Other active readers of the “Vrastan” (“Georgia”) Newspaper gave speeches and expressed their desire to see the newspaper more dynamic and modern, stressed the importance to deliver news about prominent ancestors and national centers.

Editor Van Bayburtyan emphasized the significant role of this Armenian print media in Georgia, which, albeit belatedly, nevertheless brings country’s official, political news to the residents of remote Armenian-inhabited areas, informs them about community life and Armenia. Newspaper’s employees Anahit Bostanjyan, Julieta Badalyan and others made remarks about the difficulties in publication of the newspaper, working conditions at the newspaper office, lack of material means.

The Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, in his closing remarks blessed the people present and conveyed congratulations to the staff of the newspaper “Vrastan” (“Georgia”) and its Head Van Bayburtyan on receiving the 2015 “Guardians of Tolerance” Award. The Bishop highly appreciated the publishing of the Armenian newspaper in the information field that is filled with technologies, which the newspaper’s staff performs with devotion and full responsibility. The Primate of the Diocese also promised to equip the newspaper office with computers and a printer.

Armen Bayanduryan, artistic director of Tbilisi State Drama Theatre after Petros Adamyan, and businessman Samvel Elbakyan offered their help. The newspaper’s employees gladly answered the questions of the audience. All the speakers unanimously underlined the importance of the “Vrastan” Newspaper in the life of Armenian community in Georgia, and the need to support the publishing of the newspaper.