An injection of temperament

Ukraine is preparing to hold its Year in Georgia. The ceremonial conclusion of the Year of Georgia in Ukraine was recently held in Kyiv. The closing soiree at the Taras Shevchenko National Opera starred the world-famous Georgian State Dance Company Sukhishvili-Ramishvili. The 90-minute show proved to be a real triumph, with standing ovations. The group presented the finest Georgian national dances. The enraptured audience watched dynamic dances portraying sword duels and virtuoso stunts involving daggers. A highlight of the show was the Georgian dancers’ performance of the hopak, which was accompanied by a medley of the most popular Ukrainian folk songs, including “Podolianochka” and “Ty zh mene pidmanula.” This evoked stormy applause that lasted throughout the entire number.

President Mikhail Saakashvili of Georgia did not attend the festivities. The Georgian and Ukrainian presidents had agreed that this visit would be more expedient after the new Ukrainian government is formed. However, the Georgian leader “reminded” the audience about himself by the presentation of Georgia’s state awards that were bestowed on Ukrainians who, in Tbilisi’s view, have made the greatest contribution to improving relations between the two countries.

With typical Georgian national generosity President Saakashvili conferred more than 20 awards that were presented by a representative of the state administration and Georgia’s minister of culture. Among the recipients were First Deputy Prime Minister Stanislav Stashevsky, Foreign Minister Borys Tarasiuk, Tetiana Didenko, curator of the David Guramishvili Museum in Myrhorod; Prof. Aleksandr Mushkudiani, and The Day whose award was accepted by chief editor Larysa Ivshyna.

Georgia’s Minister of Culture Georgi Gabashvili was “very pleased” by the way the Year of Georgia was organized in Ukraine and expressed gratitude to all who supported this initiative. “We are concluding this Year, but we are not ending our friendship. Our relations will always be those of real friends,” said the Georgian minister.

The Year of Ukraine will start soon in Georgia. According to Vasyl Filipchuk of the Ukrainian foreign ministry’s press service, the cultural program of the Year of Ukraine in Georgia will include Ukrainian art exhibits, a week of Ukrainian cinema, concerts by various performing groups, and the Second International Youth Forum “Ukraine-Georgia: Realities and Prospects.”

Last year’s experience, however, shows that Ukrainian-Georgian relations are not limited to cultural exchanges. There have been a record number of meetings between officials of both countries. Since the Rose Revolution in Georgia and the Orange Revolution in Ukraine, this cooperation has become especially close. One of the main forms of Ukrainian- Georgian friendship is the Community of Democratic Choice whose first summit took place in Kyiv. Since Ukraine and Georgia support integration with the European Union and NATO, voices have been repeatedly heard urging the two countries to unite their efforts. We may hear about some concrete measures during the next GUAM summit in Kyiv this May.