Georgian Ambassador to Jordan: Georgians “return to the Holy Land” with land plot for culture centre

Georgians are “returning to the Holy Land” after 300 years, Zaza Kandelaki, the Georgian Ambassador to Jordan, said on Saturday on the occasion of a handover of a plot of land near the Jordan River for opening a Georgian culture centre.

The Government Administration quoted Kandelaki on saying the return of a Georgian presence in the region meant “great prestige” for the country considering the importance of the location.

The Ambassador stressed the importance of representing Georgian interests in the region and called the handover of the land plot a “historic moment”. The diplomat called the spot an “important place” in “different directions''.

The cultural centre will have, first of all, the task of presenting our traditional, great culture here on the Holy Land, which is very important for this environment. At the same time, I am sure that a great deal of scientific work will be done,” the Ambassador said.

Kandelaki noted there would be an official ceremony involving Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili to highlight the “special” role of the PM, Georgian Orthodox Church Patriarch Ilia II, the King of Jordan Abdullah II and Prince Ghazi bin Muhhamad, as well as the Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Archbishop of Jordan, in Georgia’s return to the land.

The 4,000-square metre location near the river was presented by Jordan’s royal family to Georgia in January.