Tbilisi has been conferred a one-year World Book Capital Status on the World Book and Copyright Day. The Delegation of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall has transferred the World Book Capital status to Tbilisi.
Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of the capital, who accepted the city's new status, addressed the public and said in his speech that Georgia is expected to be in the spotlight on a global scale for a year. In the Mayor's words, various events will be held in Tbilisi considering its new status.
''I congratulate you all on this day and wish you that this year brings about positive changes in our country, broadens our public's horizons, and puts our country and the capital in a new light,'' Mr. Kaladze declared.
Ian Denison, Chief of the UNESCO Publications Unit, Vera Michalski-Hoffmann, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan, Minister of Education and Science Mikheil Chkhenkeli, Deputy Foreign Minister, José Borghino, Secretary-General of the International Publishers Association, President of the same association Bodour Al Qasimi, and others attended the event.
After the opening ceremony, a performance called Ten Live Pictures from Georgian Literature was held.
World Book Capital is a large-scale project founded in 2001 by the decision of the UNESCO General Conference. It aims to promote books and reading, support the development of the book industry and all related fields, and benefit modern authors, translators, librarians, publishers, etc.
The UNESCO Project called Tbilisi _ World Book Capital has been implemented at the initiative of the Tbilisi City Hall and with the support of the Bank of Georgia.
