The President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili attended the funeral of the famous Georgian poet Mukhran Machavariani that was held by his Holiness and Beatitude, the Catholichos Patriarch of all Georgia Ilia II at Sameba Cathedral. As the Presdient pointed out the epoch of the great Georgian poets of the 20^th century has ended today.

"Today the great epoch of the Georgian poetry has come to the end. In the 20^th century after Galaktion, Lado Assatiani and Titsian Tabidze no poet like Mukhran Machavariani was born. He really was the greatest poet. Georgia is the homeland of poets, but after Mukhran Machavariani's deat the epoch of great poets has ended in Georgia. Our poetry has been translated into many foreign languages, by many well-known authors, but it's very difficult to understand this poetry to the end for others. Because we understand it pretty well, it's important for our national perception, for our pride, for our love to the homeland. Mukhran Machavariani was the realization of this all. I have always considered him a great poet. I was raised on his poetry and I have visited him in his family, exceptionally warm, wonderful and loving family. I want to tell you that in his way of thinking, activities and personality there was no snobbism and ambition. This is characteristic for very talented people only. He was a good poet and simply a good man. Today we have lost him as a living being, but he will always remain in the history of Georgia as a great poet", Mikheil Saakashvili noted.

Today the great poet will be buried at Mtatsminda Pantheon.