On May 29, 2017, the Calouste Gulbenkian Hall of the “Hayartun” Center at the Armenian Diocese in Georgia hosted the presentation of the Armenian version of An Anthology of Georgian Poetry. In attendance was co-author, member of the Writer’s Union if Armenia, poet and translator Gagik Davtyan.

Contemporary Georgian writers, poets, readers, the representatives of the Tbilisi-Armenian literary society were gathered in the hall.
The occasion was honored with the presence of the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan.
The President of the Georgian Writers’ Union, Makvala Gonashvili; referring to the Armenian-Georgian literary ties, emphasized the importance of the presentation of the Georgia version of the book “The Man and the Circus” by the Chairman of the Writers’ Union Of Armenia, Edward Militonyan, held a couple of days earlier in Tbilisi, which was attended by the author and the translators. Similar meetings, summarizing work undertaken, are also a testimony to the development of the Armenian-Georgian literary ties.
The publication of the Armenian version of An Anthology of Georgian Poetry is dedicated to the 70th anniversary of Gagik Davtayn and the 50th anniversary of his literary activity. Congratulating her Armenian colleague on his anniversary and compiling An Anthology of Georgian Poetry, the President of the Georgian Writers’ Union read a decree awarding Galaktion Tabidze Award to Gagik Davtyan.
The author considers that in addition to writing it is important to make accessible to each other the fruits of the work. On his first visit to Georgia he was introduced to the leading representatives of Georgian poetry and it became his goal to create the Armenian version of Georgian poetry. The publication of an Anthology of Georgian Poetry that includes poems by 34 contemporary Georgian writers is a result of 30 years of translation work by Gagik Davtyan, the honorary member of the Georgian Writer’s Union. An Anthology of Georgian Poetry features the works of the most talented representatives of the new generation of Georgian poets.
The meeting was held in a pleasant and meditative atmosphere, as the attending Georgian poets, David Mchedluri, Vakhtang Kharchilava, Dalila Bediashavili, David Shemokmedeli, Badri Kutateladze and others listened to the brilliant translation of the pieces of their own poetry, which are presented to Armenian readers in mother language. The translator has perfectly preserved the features of Georgian poetry.
Vladimir Sarishvili, Guram Odisharia, Givi Shakhnazari, Van Bayburtyan, Robert Hovhannisyan, Baghatur Arabuli, Gari Kalamkarov and others made congratulatory remarks and expressed their appreciation.
The event ended with a speech of the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia. Highly appreciating the productive activities of the Writers’ Unions in the two countries, the Diocesan Primate praised the Writers’ Union of Armenia, led by Edvard Militonyan, and the Georgian Writers’ Union, led by Makvala Gonashvili, for their fruitful work. The Bishop also spoke about the Vernatun Center for Literature and Culture in the House Museum of Hovhannes Tumanyan, the mission of which is the development of the Armenian-Georgian literary and cultural ties, joint initiatives and events, training activities in the field of youth and publishing activities.
At the conclusion of the event, Gagik Davtyan, in his speech, expressed his gratitude to the attendees for the award and greetings. He mentioned that he had always dreamed of creating An Anthology of Georgian poetry, and had worked on it with great pleasure and dedication.
All participants unanimously stressed the need to organize the Festival of Literature in Transcaucasia.  The event was an eloquent testimony to the strengthening of the Armenian-Georgian literary ties.