Expert translator Aleksandre Kartozia awarded Order of Merit of Germany

Georgian scholar and expert translator Aleksandre Kartozia has been awarded the Order of Merit of Germany, with the honouring from President Frank-Walter Steinmeier revealed on Wednesday.

Recognised for his contribution to maintaining and enriching the dialogue between the literary circles of the two countries, Kartozia will be presented the prize by German Ambassador to Georgia Hubert Knirsch in Georgia's capital Tbilisi on Thursday, the German Embassy has announced.

It also noted Kartozia, as a politically active scholar and translator, had made a “decisive contribution” to the deepening of German-Georgian cultural relations, pointing out his continued work to benefit the process. 

His extraordinary efforts, also as [a former] Georgian Minister of Education, have made a significant contribution to the fact that the German language continues to hold a special position in the Georgian world of education,” the Embassy said. 

The diplomatic office also noted the importance of Kartozia’s role as an interpreter in high-ranking political talks of political importance to Germany, adding his research activities and lectures had gained the Georgian language, culture and history a higher awareness in the country. 

Heading the German-Georgian Translation Workshop since 2011, Kartozia has also worked as the Chairman of the alumni association of Humboldt Scholarship holders, and organiser of international meetings, since 2017.