President announces new ethnic minorities adviser

Georgian woman Sopho Shamanidi has been named as the country’s new ethnic minority issues adviser.

Georgia’s President Giorgi Margvelashvili announced Shamanidi as the new ethnic minority adviser at an event at the Radisson Blu Iveria hotel today.

At the hotel, the President held a meeting with leaders of about 20 non-governmental organisations that work on rights of ethnic minorities in Georgia.

"I consider the term ‘ethnic minority’ inadequate”, Margvelashvili said while he presented Shamanidi to the group.

"It would probably be wrong to say that if a colour is less used in a painting that it is a minority,” he added.

Margvelashvili noted Georgia had developed its unique identity with the help of the children of different nations, who filled Georgia.

In addition, the President said the Government worked hard to create favorable conditions for ethnic minorities.

After the announcement, Shamanidi greeted the event attendees.

"I myself represent ethnic minorities and I will try to be in constant touch with all minorities living in Georgia,” she said.

"As you know, their number is huge. They are doing everything to support the development of our country and I will try to bring all their problems to the President. I will play a role of a mediator and search for solutions together with the President,” Shamanidi said.

Shamanidi is a professor of Modern Greek Philosophy at Tbilisi State University. She is also an author and an editor of numerous scientific papers. Shamanidi is also a member of the editorial board of magazine ‘Phasis.’

She has been a recipient of the Alexander Onassis Foundation scholarship and has received the President’s Fund scholarship twice.