Mirza Davitaya in Israel

Pyotr Lyukimson, Israel. Exclusively to VK

The Georgian minister on Diaspora affairs, Mirza Davitaya, officially visited Israel. During the visit Davitaya conducted a meeting with his Israeli colleague Yuli Edelstein, learnt about work of the Jewish Agency and other organizations encouraging ties between Israel and Jewish communities in various countries of the world and met Georgians living in Israel, including artists of the folklore Georgian ensemble.

“According to Mr. Davitaya, as a result of migration flows of recent decades, a huge Georgian Diaspora appeared involving several hundred thousand people. Moreover, a significant Georgian community formed in several cities of Turkey, and Georgia’s desire to maintain connection with its natives and to help them to preserve their national identity is reasonable,” Yuli Edelstein told VK. “Of course, Israel has deep experience in this sphere, which is interesting to our Georgian friends. But it turned out that not only Georgia can learn from Israel, but Israel from Georgia too. For example, I find the idea by Mr. Davitaya to give a card of the Georgian Diaspora member interesting. This card should be given to all natives of Georgia and their children, living abroad. This card is not a passport of a citizen of Georgia, but enables him to visit Georgia without visa and gives him some other benefits. I find the idea interesting.”

The Israeli minister stated that discussion of topics raised during his recent visit to Georgia continued. First of all, it concerns long-term cultural projects aimed at a more intensive dialogue and approaching of people from these two countries.