On August 3, 2022, Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) has donated necessary honey production supplies and special beekeeping clothing and gear to “Guria Veteran Farmers Association” in Tsvermaghala Park, Ozurgeti Municipality within the framework of the cooperation between the State Service of Veterans Affairs and Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA). Major General Koba Kobaladze, Director of the State Service of Veteran Affairs, addressed the guests with a welcome speech. He thanked the Turkish side for the support provided to the Georgian veterans: “I would like to point out that the Turkish side can provide support to Georgian veterans and our Service in other areas too in addition to the technical support which implies sharing of experience and implementing joint, mutually acceptable and beneficial social and healthcare projects. I hope we will continue moving forward with the reasonable steps. People use to say in Turkey “a wall cannot be built with one stone”, and for Georgians, friendship and appreciation of a friend is the motto of life. Together, with united efforts, we really have a wall to build, which will bring peace and prosperity to our region!” - Koba Kobaladze said.

The audience was addressed by Tuba Ozutok, head of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency of Tbilisi office, Turan Oguzkhan Gionultash, Turkish vice-consul in Batumi, Giorgi Urushadze, the state representative in the region if Guria, Lasha Shalamberidzethe head of the Regional Management Service of Rural Development Agency, Guram Asatiani, a beekeeper, a veteran of the Abkhazia war. They emphasized the importance of cooperation and cooperation between our countries to overcome the challenges faced by veterans and their families in the region and to empower veteran farmers. In the territory of the park, ecologically clean products grown and produced by the member farmers of the association were placed, which the invited guests tasted.

The event was supported and hosted by the regional administration of Guria and Ozurgeti municipality's city hall.

The ceremony was attended by Nikoloz Kvezereli, First Deputy Director of the State Service of Veterans Affairs, responsible officials of the Service, representatives of Ozurgeti Municipality City Hall, members of the “Guria Veteran Farmers Association”, Konstantine Khutsaidze, Head of the Department of Cooperative Development of the Rural Development Agency, representatives of Georgian Defense Ministry. The event was musically accompanied by Ozurgeti boys vocal ensemble.

As a reminder, “Guria Veteran Farmers Association” was established with the initiative of the veterans of war and defense forces living in Guria and with the support of the State Service of Veterans Affairs in 2022. It unites about 150 war veterans and 2 cooperatives. The foundation of the relationship between the State Service of Veterans Affairs and Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) was laid in 2017, within which, with the support of the Turkish side, several projects have already been implemented. “TIKA” is an organization subordinate to the Turkish government, which, together with other international organizations, has been implementing joint projects in the fields of healthcare, infrastructure, tourism and agriculture in almost all regions of our country for several years.