A number of events dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence were held in Batumi on September 24-26. On the initiative of Armenian Ministry of Diaspora and the Union of Armenians in Adzharia, a concert dedicated to the anniversary was given in Batumi on September 24 by young artists – winners of television contests, who had arrived from Armenia. Those present also had an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the history of Armenian national musical instruments. The liturgy celebrated in Batumi’s Surb Prkich Church on September 25 was followed by a literary-artistic event organized by the youth organization “Our Future”. Pupils of Batumi’s Sunday school also participated in that event dedicated to the 20th anniversary of independence of the Republic of Armenia and Artsakh. The MFA Press, Information and PR Department reported that on September 26 the House of Friendship in Batumi hosted the major event celebrating the anniversary. Representatives of authorities, heads of organizations representing local ethnic minorities, and numerous Armenians of Adzharia took part in the event. Performances alternated with congratulations and speeches of welcome made by Armenia’s Consul General in Batumi Garik Israelian, the heads of the Union of Armenians in Adzharia and the newly-established Armenian organization “Georgia is Your Home”, as well as by heads of the local Russian, Jewish, and Greek communities.

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