Ladies and Gentlemen,

Esteemed Rector,

Mr. Minister of Education,

Dear colleagues and friends!

It’s my pleasure to participate at the Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University’s 100th Anniversary and a great honour to deliver a speech at this Celebration.

At the moment, for me the world has been divided into three main parts. First, Georgian Republic – my homeland, I am one of the ethnic Azerbaijanis born in Georgia. Here, I was born, spent my childhood and finished secondary school. My mother and brother live here. I often visit this place, our home, come to see my Georgian friends, to implement international projects, as well as projects related to Georgia. I always visit Georgia with great pleasure.

The second part of my world is the Republic of Azerbaijan. I live and work in Azerbaijan. There, I am dedicated to scientific and literature oeuvre. 27 years ago, I established the first private University of Azerbaijan – Khazar University. Last year, Khazar University entered into the list of top 150 best world young universities (QS University Ranking of Young Universities under 50).

Khazar University is in close contact with Georgian universities, works and cooperates with them in a number of international projects.

Finally, he third part of my world is the great world outside of Georgia and Azerbaijan, where we always travel and work together! Here, I greet my colleagues from different regions of the world, welcome and wish success to them.

Like every nation, the Georgian people are proud of their prominent men of art and literature, such as Shota Rustaveli, scientists like Ivane Javakhishvili and Nikoloz Muskhaleshvili. At last, they are proud of their advanced institutions, particularly, of the institutions capable to produce new knowledge, such as Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University!

Happy Birthday, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University!

Dear friends, dear Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, dear Georgia! On behalf of Khazar University, Azerbaijani intellectuals and people of arts, I congratulate You!

Hamlet Isakhanli

Founder

Chairman of Board of Directors and Trustees

Khazar University