Issue #1276

Issue no: 1276

• DECEMBER 11 - 17, 2020 • PUBLISHED WEEKLY

FOCUS

ON THE COVID VACCINE

A look at the global reaction to the new vaccine as the first shots are given in the UK

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PRICE: GEL 2.50

In this week’s issue...

Coronavirus: Georgia Reports 4734 New Cases, 3895 Recoveries, 38 Deaths NEWS PAGE 2

Turkey’s Re-Emergence in the Caucasus after 100 years POLITICS PAGE 4

HUAWEI’s 14 Flagships to Receive Updates by the End of March 2021 BUSINESS PAGE 7

Carrefour Introduces SelfCheckout Systems for Safer & More Convenient Shopping BUSINESS PAGE 9

Human Rights Are at the Heart of Any Post-COVID Recovery SOCIETY PAGE 10

Four Rounds of Talks Held between GD, Wizz Air & Turkish Airlines to Resume Int’l Flights Opposition: Results & Expectations SOCIETY PAGE 10

BY ANA DUMBADZE

Georgian Ballerina Maia Makhateli Named Dancer of the Year

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egotiations between the authorities and the opposition continue through the mediation of ambassadors. The meetings are being held with the participation of the US and EU Ambassadors to Georgia, Kelly Degnan and Carl Hartzell.

So far, four rounds of talks between the ruling party Georgian Dream and the opposition parties have taken place; however, the results of the meeting are still unknown to the public, as participants are refraining from commenting to media representatives. Both parties claim that they have “managed to agree on some details, but an agreement on essential topics could not be reached.”

What we do know is that, at time of going to print, despite the talks, the opposition parties that crossed the threshold in the October 31 elections do not intend to enter the Parliament of the 10th Convocation as they believe the results were rigged by the incumbent government.

Continued on page 6

CULTURE PAGE 11 Prepared for Georgia Today Business by

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GT Index (USD)

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NEWS

GEORGIA TODAY

DECEMBER 11 - 17, 2020

The Great Anticipation: COVID Vaccines, Allergies, & the World

BY NINI DAKHUNDARIDZE

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n Tuesday, what was hailed as a V-day, marked a historic moment when 91 year-old British grandmother Margaret Keenan was the first person to be vaccinated with the Pfizer COVID-19 jab, kicking off a mass vaccination program in the United Kingdom. Thousands of vaccinations were given across the UK on Tuesday, according to the BBC, and Mrs Keenan’s shot was the first of 800,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine that will be used in the country in the coming weeks. The expectancy and hope is that by the end of the month, up to four million Britons will have been vaccinated against coronavirus. The first priorities are the elderly, those over 80, and frontline health and care workers.

Tuesday’s sense of relief seemed a bit rushed on Wednesday, when it was revealed that having received a shot the day before, two healthcare workers had experienced an anaphylactoid reaction.

Both had a history of allergic reactions and carried an adrenaline auto injector on them, according to the CNN. The healthcare workers are recovering well, but their allergic reactions have contributed to common scepticism and some uncertainty about the Pfizer vaccine.

Precautionary advice was given shortly after the news went public, with UK health authorities saying said that people with a “significant history of allergic reactions” (either to vaccines, medicines or foods) should not be vaccinated with the Pfizer/BioNTech shot. Allergic reactions to a vaccine are nothing new and should always be anticipated, experts noted. “The fact that we know so soon about these two allergic reactions and that the regulator has acted on this by issuing precautionary advice shows that this monitoring system is working well,” Peter Openshaw, Professor of Experimental Medicine at Imperial College London, told CNN. Vaccine expert Dr. Paul Offit also told media that “Certainly, vaccines can cause

severe allergic reactions. In the United States, roughly one in every 1.4 million doses of vaccines is complicated by a severe allergic reaction.”

He said that rather than a “blanket recommendation” for people with allergies, “the smarter thing to do would be to try and look at these two patients and see what specific component of the vaccine they were allergic to.”

The anticipated allergic reaction does not lower the efficacy of the Pfizer vaccine, according to the experts, especially since both UK healthcare staff members are recovering well.

Still, this “incident” could affect how soon the EU and the US approve the Pfizer vaccine. The UK gave temporary authorization to the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine last week, and within hours, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) published a statement signalling more work was needed to predict the vaccination effects than the UK regulator had allowed for.

It is unsurprising that the UK beating the rest of the West to mass vaccinations would become political. Matt Hancock, the British Health Secretary, claimed the country’s fast approval is a “Brexit triumph.” However, the MHRA’s (Medicines and Healthcare Product Regulatory Agency, the executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care of the UK responsible for ensuring the safety and accessibility of medicines and medical devices) Chief Executive, June Raine, in her letter published on December 8, made it clear that fast-tracking approval in a pandemic was an advantage of a provision that any country in Europe could use.

On Wednesday, the BBC announced the EMA (European Medicines Agency, authorizing the use of medicines across the European Union) had said that it had been hit by a cyber-attack and the documents relating to a COVID-19 vaccine had been accessed.

Expected to conclude within weeks, the EMA is currently working on approval of two COVID-19 vaccines. An investigation has been launched, and the timeline of approval of the vaccines is not expected to be affected by the attack. The hack

Image source: bangkokpost.com

came a day before the agency’s planned update to the European Parliament on the vaccine assessment progress.

The European Union, even with surging COVID cases, now seems to be going the extra mile for the guarantee of safety.

Its approval of Pfizer’s vaccine might come as late as December 29. However, the European countries are getting their plans for vaccine distributions ready already.

The EU on Monday issued new guidelines that requires member states to modify value-added tax rates to zero, or reduce them temporarily. Both Spain and Italy have since announced that it will be free and voluntary for citizens to get vaccinated. Spain will kick off mass vaccination in January, while Italy plans to have at least 40 million people vaccinated by the first quarter of 2021.

Canada has come second in approving the Pfizer vaccine. The country now plans to have everyone who wishes to be vaccinated immunized by the end of 2021.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that there will be 30,000 doses in the first Pfizer shipment due to arrive early next week, and vaccinations will start a few days later.

This probably puts extra pressure on The United States, who has yet to approve the Pfizer vaccine developed by an American company. The US Food and Drug Administration has a meeting on

Thursday, likely the last step in the country’s decision to give the approval to the shot and proceed to begin shipping millions of doses. The leaders of the advisory panels have reported to the American press that the emergency authorization is very likely to come.

Some US states are already saying who will come first in immunization: Rhode Island promises healthcare workers and first responders will be first in line, with officials claiming that they ‘want to protect the protectors.’

Healthcare workers and residents who face a greater risk of infection will be the first-takers in Massachusetts too, meaning that most residents will not receive a coronavirus vaccine until at least April. Despite the number in line, however, the vaccine will be free for all, according to Govornor Charlie Baker.

In this, what Dickens would probably have called “Great Anticipations,” three of America’s former presidents Obama, Bush, Clinton, have expressed their willingness to get vaccinated in front of the cameras as soon as the shots arrive. The Great Expectations of this campaign is to raise the credibility of the vaccine in the eyes of the American public. As more time passes in the pandemic world, more Americans are reporting to be pro-vaccination. A Gallup poll released midNovember showed that 58% of the adults who were surveyed were willing to be

vaccinated, up from 50% in September, as reported by the New York Times. The numbers have supposedly gone higher since then, at least, up until the allergy reaction, that is.

The race for scientific innovations between the leading countries of the world did not end in the twentieth century. The Russian Ministry of Health registered Gam-COVID-Vac, trade-named Sputnik V, a COVID-19 vaccine, back in August. Russia was the first country to approve a coronavirus vaccine for mass distribution, after testing it on a small number of people. Mass immunization has now been kicked off in the Kremlin; however, it is facing some resistance.

Despite the fact that the Russian vaccine is supposed to have 86% efficacy, because of the rushed testing and authorization, not many states are willing to purchase the Sputnik V shots. Turkey announced on Wednesday that since its development lacked “good practice”, the country won’t be buying the Gam-COVID-Vac. Vaccination prospects for Georgia, which reported over 4,600 new COVID19 cases on Thursday morning, remain unclear. The head of National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, Amiran Gamkrelidze, said on Tuesday that COVID-19 shots would probably arrive in Georgia in March or April. The country has paid $17 million for 1,400.000 doses that will be enough to immunize 700,000 Georgian citizens, 20% of the country’s population. Gamkrelidze also said that the Foreign Affairs Ministry is currently in talks to be able to ship 200300,000 doses of authorized shots by early February at the latest.

The start of the vaccination process has raised hopes that life will gain momentum at last. But the truth rings that the return to normal will only be possible when society as a whole gains solid protection against the virus. Once enough people are vaccinated, it will be very difficult for the coronavirus to find vulnerable people to infect. The realistic, and what now seems even optimistic view, after almost a year living in unprecedented times of global pandemic, suggests that by the end of 2021, the world will be “normal” again, whatever normal now means.

Sources: The BBC, CNN, NBC, BusinessInsider, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal

Coronavirus: Georgia Reports 4734 New Cases, 3895 Recoveries, 38 Deaths

BY ANA DUMBADZE

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n the last 24 hours, 4,734 new cases of the virus have been identified, Berdia Sichinava, Deputy Head of Operations at the Interagency Coordination Council, said at a briefing at the government administration on Thursday morning. "As part of two months of intensive testing, 20,959 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours.

As a result, 4,734 new cases of the virus have been identified. The total number of confirmed cases detected since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country amounts to 174,383.

"In the last 24 hours, 3,895 people recovered, and the total number of recoveries increased to 145,287.

"Unfortunately, we have 38 new deaths caused by the coronavirus in the last 24 hours. Since February 26, 2020, we have a total of 1,614 deaths.

"Out of 4,734 new cases of infection detected today, 1,637 cases were reported in Tbilisi, 489 in Adjara, 823 in Imereti,

372 in Kvemo Kartli, 381 in Shida Kartli, 93 in Guria, 377 in Samegrelo in Zemo Svaneti, 328 in Kakheti, 143 in Mtskheta-

Mtianeti, 73 in Samtskhe-Javakheti, and 18 in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti," he said.

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POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY

DECEMBER 11 - 17, 2020

Turkey’s Re-Emergence in the Caucasus after 100 years ANALYSIS BY EMIL AVDALIANI

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s the second Karabakh War ended, it is time to reflect on Russian aims in the South Caucasus. Thought by many as a victory for Moscow in its being able to station its peacekeepers, and in the truncated Karabakh, an alternative view might be presented.

First are the medium-term problems Moscow will be facing. The issue of the displaced Azerbaijani people returning to the recovered regions around Karabakh will be a tough process to navigate.

Another challenge will be the safety along the division line between the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides, which now runs between Shusha and Stepanakert, Karabakh’s capital. The proximity of both sides will put tremendous pressure on the Russian peacekeepers.

Incidents of a varying degree could jeopardize the entire mission.

Though hailed by Yerevan as a guarantor of peace, the five-year term of the Russian peacekeeping mission is an uncomfortable reality for the Karabakhi Armenians. As the stipulation states, both Armenia and Azerbaijan have a right to stop the extension of the agreement.

Undoubtedly, Russia will work hard to make sure neither Baku nor Yerevan want to have the Russian peacekeepers head back home. It is also clear that Armenia, due to its poor military results, is unlikely to be a side to support a Russian departure.

Baku, on the contrary, could pedal this scenario. Though thankful for Moscow’s reticent position during the war, resentment in Baku towards the Russian mil-

Two soldiers attach a flag on a Russian peacekeeping force military vehicle as they move on the road toward Martuni, Armenia, on November 13, 2020. Source: Russian Defense Ministry / AFP

itary presence, which will be unwilling to leave Karabakh, may emerge. This happened in Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova, and Azerbaijan is likely to be no different.

A long-term challenge, NATO member Turkey’s emergence as a direct military player in the South Caucasus after 100 years, is a significant development which will influence Russia’s calculus. Azerbaijan allied itself with Turkey and was

victorious, a move made possible through Azerbaijan’s decade-long military buildup and Turkey’s continuous logistical support and training. Now, Turkey is considering sending its troops to Azerbaijan. Before the war, this would have been impossible. A great power competition is back in the South Caucasus.

Although there remain multiple questions on its successful operation, Turkey also gained a corridor to the Caspian

Sea which could allow it to anchor its influence in the resource-rich region and, in the longer term, even look further, towards its Central Asia kinsmen.

This creates a major dilemma for Russia and Iran, both of whom historically viewed the Caspian Sea as a condominium between themselves. They also aspired to project their influence over Azerbaijan, which is set to serve as a transit country for the North-South

transport corridor stretching from the Persian Gulf to the Baltic Sea. There is also a great power status reality check. Russia’s decision to use the peacekeepers card is, in a way, an escalation of those options which were traditionally at the hands of Russian politicians. As a dominant power, Russia ideally should have navigated the differences between Armenia and Azerbaijan without involving itself directly.

Acting as a power which dissuades from war based on its prestige is what a great power position is all about. The Russian decision, however, could signal if not an immediate decline, then a limit of options. After all, Russia has been pushing for a peacekeeping mission for years, but it is symptomatic that this option was realized amid Turkey’s growing influence and Azerbaijan’s military preponderance.

For Russia, the Turkish military presence in Azerbaijan is a NATO military presence in its backyard. In fact, the West’s reticence or rather inability to influence the conflict could be substantiated by the relegation of its position to Turkey. Ankara could be a major Western agent in the Caspian region.

After all, does the EU and Turkey’s connectivity and South Caucasus energy corridor vision not dovetail? In the age of the Biden presidency and some signals on possible rapprochement between Turkey and the West, the South Caucasus is the region where both actors’ aims coincide.

Emil Avdaliani (Twitter – @emilavdaliani) is a non-resident fellow at the Georgian think tank, Geocase, and teaches history and international relations at Tbilisi State University and European University.

Is People’s Rule the Summum Bonum?

OP-ED BY NUGZAR B. RUHADZE

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n the beginning was the word, and the word was God, and then God stepped in and made another word and He called it Democracy, which meant the rule of people who had the right to elect the governing authority of the land they inhabited. God also had a plan to make democracy the ultimate good He had ever bestowed on His people, with the intention of giving priority to the highest human values and fundamental moral principles. This was presumed by the Creator to be conducive to the best possible quality of life.

What has happened in reality? To the worst expectations of the Lord, Man has corrupted His divine blueprint so much that the presumed ‘rule of people’ became utterly distorted to the ugliest detriment of the electing part of a human society and to the flagrant benefit of its ruling part. Consequently, the world has entered a red-hot discussion on the subject of democracy, trying to define whether it is the highest good or the lowest bad, making the question as straight as that.

What was beyond any doubt three or four decades ago, has today become sharply questionable. The earlier standardized values, based on Judeo-Christian philosophy and Greco-Roman political culture, are being widely revisited; the attitudes are changing from generation to generation, doubting every single issue of life with a regular periodicity of 15-20 years; the relevancy of conventional education has to be totally revitalized (think of the discrepancy between education and the job market); the impotence

of international law is growing even more obvious than ever before; the traditional democratic electoral system is ubiquitously losing reputation (suffice it to mention the current American paradigm); peoples of the world are persistently asking for more optimal ways of ruling their countries and distributing the wealth (go online and dig into public thoughts and comments). In fact, the world is turning into a gigantic bold-type question mark, hanging over Mankind like the sword of Damocles.

One of those pending questions will hopefully be answered on the upcoming December 14, when the American electors are poised to cast their concluding votes in the capacity of the famous Electoral College members (God forbid they deserve the epithet of infamous instead!).

As a result, the world will either celebrate the existential necessity of democracy all over the globe, or pull the plug on the once attractive legacy of this purely western governing instrument.

We certainly love America, and appreciate the story of its democratic development, but we should probably take care of our own skin first, meaning that in pursuit of democratic solutions of our burning issues we very often bungle things up, not clearly telling right from wrong. Take our long-standing tendency of solving our socio-political problems in the open air instead of doing meaningful politics within the indoor space where hearing is better and mutual understanding has a stronger chance.

We could continue sitting in the armchair of a student of democracy, but not forever. Someday, we will have to take a test, and preferably not fail it.

Incidentally, I read in one of the issues

Image source: blogs.iadb.org

of the ‘Harvard Magazine’: “A vibrant democracy depends upon important foundations: adequate socioeconomic conditions, elite commitment, some consensus within the society itself about national identity, and adequate institutional conditions”. Wow, I should have read it earlier! Who knows, we might be disgruntled with the style and quality of

our democratic development because it is not very vibrant at the moment. Another reason could be the absence of relevant social and economic conditions in the country. It might also be the lukewarm elite that is in our way of giving a strong impetus to vivacious democracy. We could also blame it on the never-achievedconsensus in Georgia about our national

identity. And the problem with the functionality of political institutions might well be spoiling the broth.

At the end of the day, we definitely have to go deeper into responding to the question: is our type of people’s rule in the category of the Summum Bonum or not? Sounds like we are not yet on top of it.

POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY DECEMBER 11 - 17, 2020

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Unity Through Security: Assumptions, Opportunities, Suggestions. Part I ANALYSIS BY VICTOR KIPIANI, GEOCASE, CHAIRMAN

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egional security around the Black Sea has been a frequent topic of discussion over recent years. The explanation for this is logical when one considers the far-reaching changes that are ongoing in the region, as well as the rearrangement of the global order. It is also noteworthy that old norms and standards have mostly been rendered useless, whereas new ones have not yet been fully established. Discussing this issue is very important, and it is vital that these discussions be based upon competent evaluations and the country’s national interests, rather than upon internal political or party assumptions.

A stronger motive for unity than Georgia’s security and welfare could hardly be imagined.

INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS Improving Georgia’s security system and finding new approaches or solutions is a constant process. This is unsurprising given the fact that, since we regained our independence, our region and the world in general have been under constant transformation. The centers of regional and global power have shifted from time to time, and new centers have emerged, enlarging, reducing or modifying military or political alliances. On the other hand, the appearance of additional risks and challenges is also the result of deep geopolitical and socioeconomic processes that demand constant improvements to our national security system and its adequate alignment with changeable risks.

The aim of this article is to discuss security aspects from a geographical point of view, evaluating problems from a very specifically Georgian angle, but also studying their impact upon regional partners and strategic allies, in order to present and analyze the ‘big picture’ dynamically instead of statically. Pursuing such an approach of ‘total interests’ makes it possible to imagine a security model that would enable the national and geostrategic interests of every participant to merge with each other.

WAITING FOR NATO’S EXPANSION The development of a modern Georgian state is impossible to conceive without close co-ordination and cooperation with the country’s Western partners. This cooperation, along with many national programs or initiatives between countries, mostly exists within the close-knit relations that exist between Georgia and the Alliance. It should also be mentioned that the promise that was made several years ago regarding Georgia’s NATO membership remains precisely that, a promise that has quite frankly not

acquired a tangible specificity since 2008.

Moreover, over the past few years, a certain hesitation has been noticeable even within NATO regarding the question of the Alliance’s further enlargement to the east: a hesitation whose neutralization will, we fear, require more time and effort. And besides, this quite unique security system established after the Second World War has been confronted with even greater challenges by the Trump Administration’s unorthodox attitude towards the Alliance’s unity, as well as by renewed discussions over the autonomy of European security. It is no accident that during the most recent NATO Summit, its Secretary-General was specifically tasked with drawing up a package of recommendations for the next summit that will encourage the Alliance’s transformation and improve its effectiveness.

It is obvious to all that alignment with NATO’s current requirements is not only in the interests of the Alliance’s formal members but also in those of its partner countries, including Georgia. While we wait for reforms to the Alliance, our country’s cooperation with this security umbrella must continue, whether as part of the NATO-Georgia project defined by the ‘substantial package’ or any other project, and any opportunity must be used for the further rapprochement and integration of Georgia’s national security system with the Alliance.

THE RELEVANCE OF BILATERAL ALLIANCES Bilateral alliances and links are, historically speaking, nothing new in the security sphere. Some of them were created shortly after the end of the Second World War and have stood the test of time. What should be underlined, however, is the greater flexibility, mobility and adaptability to changing circumstances of bilateral alliances and unity in terms of political and military operations, particularly when compared to multinational ones. Furthermore, based upon the geopolitics of this or that region, the formal and functional load of a bilateral alliance may go further than its initial aim and expand into a much larger functional dimension. The US military presence in South Korea, for example, is not only linked to maintaining stability on the Korean Peninsula, but also ‘closes’ a strategically much vaster geography with its accompanying functionality. In general, such an approach is the result of a conceptual attitude in Washington, which holds that US national security neither begins nor ends at the country’s borders, and that complete and effective security is in practice achieved by ‘geographical coverage’ obtained through close cooperation with supportive partner countries. The bilateral alliance between the US and South Korea is a concrete example of this, as its direct aim, deterring North Korea, has been accompanied by

Image source: polgeonow.com

practical ‘side effects’, such as blocking the further expansion of the Soviet Union and China. It is also noteworthy that, politically, the US military presence on the Korean Peninsula has broadcast a strong message of support for the countries of the region.

It is a well-known fact that US-South Korean defense cooperation is not the only example of this kind of alliance: there are other interesting examples (USA-Japan, USA-Philippines, etc.) with the same idea of a partnership. Every one of these alliances has its own unique characteristics, as this approach is not based upon a common formula or single universal frame. These characteristics are the specificity of a given region; the regional interests of the alliance’s leading actor and their degree of importance (e.g., ‘vital’, ‘substantial’, ‘peripheral’); the abilities of the leading actor’s regional partners; the leading actor’s relationships with immediate neighbors; and so on and so forth. Even a current event can have a fundamental impact on the formation of a bilateral alliance. These and many other directly or indirectly linked factors must be considered when envisaging Georgia’s membership of a bilateral alliance with its own specific configuration: from a so-called ‘visiting armed contingent’ agreement all the way to a bilateral defense. We will also add that, whatever the precise format of any horizontal or bilateral cooperation, its vital component must be the establishment of Georgia as a self-sustainable and autonomous national center, within the framework of bilateral military planning, that enjoys the continuous economic and military support of the country’s

defensive capabilities.

Various important steps have already been taken as part of our country’s strategic cooperation with our main ally.

Several targeted programs aiming to improve Georgia’s defensive capabilities are invaluable, and the relatively recent Georgia-US framework agreement on deepening defense and security cooperation is vital, as well as the adoption of a bilateral memorandum on carrying out Georgia’s defense readiness program.

Even the fact that around 60% of Georgia’s military staff and officers have been through educational and retraining courses as part of US military education and training programs is sufficiently significant in itself.

REGIONAL AND THEMATIC ALLIANCES: A GROWING TREND Multilateral alliances with multiple members are good in general, but we believe that their existence in their old forms and content should be revised and adapted. It is a fact that the intentions and roles of the so-called ‘super-alliances’ (e.g., NATO, the Warsaw Pact) were more fitted to the period of confrontation between the two global and ideological mega-camps of the Cold War. Nowadays, the Cold War’s parameters have finally disappeared, and the fundamentally different grounds upon which a ‘Cold War’ between the USA and China might possibly be built would exclude any resemblance with the one that opposed the USA to the USSR. In fact, the political and ideological grounding of mega-alliances has currently become more difficult, as have the economic justification and timely management of such large

Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index: Georgia among World’s Top 40 Performers

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ased on the Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index, Georgia, with its ranking reaching a historic high, is among the world's top 40 performers (37th place), also leading worldwide in ranking improvement in the past seven years.

The transnational organization SolAbility published the Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index 2020, assessing sustainable competitiveness in 180 economies around the globe.

The Better Governance indicator of the index ranks Georgia among the world's top 30 countries. In this indicator, Georgia is

ahead of such leading countries as Spain, Italy, Singapore, France, Greece, South Korea, Norway, Hungary, Cyprus, Japan, Sweden, the US, Canada, Australia, and others.

In the overall Competitiveness Index assessment, Georgia is ahead of every country in the wider region, also of such leading economies as China, Singapore, Australia, Israel, Greece, Malta, Chile, Cyprus, and others.

According to the GSC Index 2013, reflecting a period prior to 2013, Georgia was ranked 95th in the world, between Papua New Guinea (94th) and Nepal (96th), thus

having moved up 58 spots.

The Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index employs 127 indicators grouped into 5 aggregates and is based on profile studies by numerous global think tanks, such as the World Bank Indicator database, various UN agencies (UNDP, UNEP, UNICEF, FAO, WHO, WMO, www.data.un.org), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and other non-governmental organizations (including Transparency International, Reporters without Borders, The New Economics Foundation, The Institute for Economics and Peace, The Fund for Peace, and the Joint Global Change Research Institute). Source: solability.com

alliances. NATO’s current crisis could most likely be attributed to the undoubted delay with which it is aligning itself with new realities, but we also realize that this problem is much more complex and requires greater attention to detail. In any case, a question arises: besides the bilateral formats we have already mentioned, what could serve as an effective alternative to large, multilateral alliances?

In our opinion, such an alternative exists in co-operational models with a regional twist. This could be described as a regional-thematic system whose functional intention is linked to a unity of interests with the aim of accomplishing specific thematic tasks in a specific region.

It should be mentioned that the format of such associations, e.g. certain ‘regional North Atlantic alliances’, does not necessarily require a coarse bureaucratic approach or the existence of permanent structures. Moreover, in our modern world an alliance or association free of excessive and formalized linking threads could present certain advantages. The most important requirement is for the united subjects of the alliance to have naturally linked interests. Also not to be excluded is the fact that countries that belong to such associations may not even have overlap in obligations in case of a military attack upon one of them. The so-called ‘Quad’, for example, is precisely such a ‘free regime’ alliance that unites the USA, Australia, India and Japan. The Quad’s creation within a specific region serves the functional task of deterring expansionism and revisionism. In other words, such functional associations of several members may not even be based upon strict contractual requirements, but may represent a thematical form of cooperation between states enjoying appropriate levels of practical ‘capacity and willingness’.

Alongside a security agenda, it is also possible to direct regional-thematic alliances towards accomplishing different task, e.g. mutual assistance during natural disasters, combating cyber warfare, adopting a unified approach to telecommunications technologies and coordinating work around different humanitarian initiatives and programs.

We therefore do not exclude the possibility that this trend, as described in this part of the paper, might become a topic of discussion between Georgia and its strategic ally and partners in practice.

That said, it is of course understandable that initiating an appropriate dialogue requires an expression of goodwill from every interested party. Besides, any dialogue as such should be based upon regional specificities and the current regional ‘picture’. Common analysis is helpful to efforts to properly guide the process towards a format of cooperation and defining dates. Considering all this, we would now like to outline the following initiative which could help moving into a right direction.

6

POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY

DECEMBER 11 - 17, 2020

Perception of Turkey in Georgia - Enemy or Ally?

OP-ED BY GIORGI MOLODINI, HEAD OF THE STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION CENTER - GEORGIA

I

magine Georgia being the largest trading partner for one of its neighboring countries with a turnover of $1.8 billion. Unlike other neighbors, only Georgia has established borders with this country, and with our Foreign Minister calling on the international community to bring this country into NATO, Georgia trains and arms the representatives of the armed forces of this country within the framework of partnership and various agreements, supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of this country in international organizations, and in spite of all that, in this country, specific forces come into politics through anti-Georgian campaigns and become stronger, which in turn strengthens the interests of Georgia's rival state.

It is not wrong if we say that Turkey is in a similar situation in Georgia, and Ankara is openly worried about this. It is not difficult to read these messages from the recent media activities of the Turkish Ambassador to Georgia, Fatma Seren Yazgan. However, both the experts in realpolitik and pragmatism and a large part of the audience will rightly ask: What is eating Turkey in Georgia? Posing questions about Turkey in this form is the easiest thing to do in Georgia.

The education system established after the occupation and Sovietization of our country in 1921 purposefully created the image of Turkey as a historical enemy, thus saving the face of the modern and sole occupier, the Soviet Union. This purposeful and manipulative propaganda left a painful mark on three generations of Georgians. According to my subjective observations, the Russian aggression in August 2008 is much harder to build in the collective memory of Georgians, while specific stories, narratives and icons of the battles between Ottomans and Georgians many centuries ago are constantly being reproduced and formed in our modern society.

This has something to do with realpolitik and pragmatism. That is, a large part of the Georgian population does not believe in "Turkish altruism" in relation to Georgia. A controversial question that has arisen in relation to Turkey, What is eating Turkey in Georgia?, which has

deep, psycho-historical and emotional roots, is logically followed by another factor. Most Georgians know that modern international relations are, in fact, based on "reciprocity" and mutually beneficial deals. In this relationship, neither partnership, nor alliance, nor friendship is one-sided. The parties are constantly looking out for the best from each other. For example, let’s not deceive ourselves and say that the Georgian humanitarian act of providing healthcare to people living in separatist Abkhazia has a political overtone. Bringing "Deda Ena" books to Saingilo may go beyond a cultural and educational event. That is, the authors of the question, What is eating Turkey in Georgia?, wonder at what price a historical enemy-state can become our friend. Thus, there are sufficient grounds to pose the above question in Georgia. And if the Russian propaganda machine pushes it a little, this question might be posed as loudly as possible.

Let us try to answer this question together, what interest Turkey may have in Georgia and how real are the fears in the collective memory of Georgians associated with the destruction of our territorial integrity and the religious persecution of Georgians.

TURKEY'S PRAGMATIC INTEREST IS DIVERSIFYING ENERGY RESOURCES. The share of the Russian gas in the total consumption of the natural gas in Turkey amounts to 33-40%. This figure stood at 52% in 2017. Turkey already uses the pipelines running through the territory of Georgia. For example, the gas pipeline project TANAP, to which the last component TAP should be added soon. This means additional billions of cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas, which should further reduce the share of the Russian gas in Turkey's total natural gas consumption.

On October 21, the adviser to the Turkish president made it clear to German media outlet Deutsche Welle that, “Russia is neither our enemy nor our ally, but we will not be able to build relations if we are too dependent on it, especially when it comes to energy.”

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trengthening ties with Russia and creating a common defense and security area is becoming a priority, the so-called president of occupied Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, stated last Friday.

He noted that the recent developments in Nagorno-Karabakh have revealed that "ensuring military security is of top importance," and that the issue of military security was discussed at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Developments in Nagorno-Karabakh show that the world has not become more humane, and that military security remains at the forefront. Given that

TURKEY HAS ALWAYS BEEN AND WILL BE RUSSIA'S NATURAL COMPETITOR IN THE CAUCASUS, INCLUDING IN GEORGIA. However, this competition has been based on a certain concept for many years. The depth of the competition between Moscow and Ankara, as well as the extent of their rapprochement, is determined by the activity of a "foreign", i.e. third force in the region. For example, neither Ankara nor Moscow is ready for the US and NATO to be strengthened in the Black Sea, but this does not mean that Russia's strengthening in the region makes Ankara very happy. In August 2008, Moscow politely toppled the peace and stability pact drafted by Ankara. Only the Turks speak about its existence today. Ankara failed to oppose the annexation of Crimea, and in all likelihood, despite its great desire, it will fail to be represented in Karabakh as it wishes. In this context of regional conflict, it is understandable that Turkey is using its soft power in Georgia to compensate for similar "failures" experienced with Moscow.

MOST LIKELY, WHAT ANKARA DOES NOT WANT IS A COMMON BORDER WITH RUSSIA. Turkey is well aware that Moscow responds to the problems at the southern borders with only one traditional and ugly way: by moving the borders further south. Thus, friendly Georgia, free from anti-Turkish sentiments, dependent on Turkey's direct investment and trade turnover, which will also act as a buffer between Turkey and Russia, should be a wonderful prospect for Ankara until an even better option appears on the horizon.

TURKEY'S INTEREST IS TO STRENGTHEN ITS POSITION AS A LEADER IN THE REGION THROUGH ENERGY PROJECTS IN GEORGIA.

TURKEY TRIES TO INCREASE THE SPHERES OF INFLUENCE IN DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS OF GEORGIA WITH "SOFT POWER" AND VARIOUS MANIPULATIONS.

Turkey is trying to become a power to be reckoned with in Europe's energy

It also needs it to reduce the degree of Russia’s strengthening in Georgia and

De facto Abkhaz President: Strengthening Ties with Russia Becoming a Priority

BY ANA DUMBADZE

supply. The launch of the TAP project will bring Turkey even closer to this strategic goal. From this Turkish perspective, the need for friendly relations with Georgia, which has the function of a transit corridor, is quite clear. There is no communication line of a similar strategic level with Azerbaijan.

Georgia still considers Abkhazia as its territory and we do not have a peace agreement with them, we also discussed the military security issue at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Strengthening ties with Russia and creating a common defense security area is becoming a priority," Bzhania stated.

Russia recognized the two Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (socalled South Ossetia) as independent states following the Russo-Georgian War in 2008.

The central government of Georgia considers the republics under military occupation by Russia. They are both partially recognized as independent states by Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru and Syria, while Vanuatu recognizes only Abkhazia but not Tskhinvali.

Photo by Ali Ekeyılmaz / Sabah

the South Caucasus in general. In such a situation, it is interesting whether Ankara has a specific interest in the border region of Adjara, for example. It would be naive to think that it does not have. Moreover, the conversations about the "specific projects" implemented in Adjara should not be a story made of cardboard. However, what "specific / closed projects" are needed, when 70% of absolutely open and direct investments in Adjara are Turkish ones, resulting in up to 20,000 jobs?

To summarize, we mentioned five possible "Turkish interests" in Georgia that we have tried to explain. In my opinion, none of these "interests" can be considered in the short or medium term as an existential risk or threat to Georgia, and the very fact that neighboring countries may have certain intentions towards each other, I think, is quite normal. Georgia may have similar interests toward the historical Hereti region and / or the Turkish territories where the Laz people live today, and many others.

The main thing is that despite the fact that Turkey has deteriorated its relations with the West in recent years, it still remains a faithful and active follower of the rules of the game, the norms set by the West. That is, Ankara imposes selflimitations on itself due to its membership in this Western international relations and security system. Given its economic, financial, technological and military dependence on the West, it is unable, for example, to completely reject US support. And as long as both Georgia and Turkey play by the rules of the game imposed by the civilized world, the danger is minimal. The so-called "Turkish threat", as it is popularly called, will be devastating for Georgia in only a few cases: 1. If Erdogan follows the footsteps of Putin and / or any other even worse

leader and completely disregards all the rules and norms already established by international law and interstate relations, and pursues foreign policy goals and interests only through military means, the likelihood of which is low in the near term; 2. If the Georgian government is not up to the economic, military or political challenges it faces; 3. If Georgia follows the path of Putin's Russia and / or Lukashenko and refuses to build a democratic, European, united and strong Georgia.

The repressive measures taken in Turkey in recent years under the pretext of anti-state measures do not really meet Western standards of fairness and transparency. This circumstance is notable for us. In addition, we should not overlook the Turkish contribution to the victory of Azerbaijan in Karabakh, which will surely find its "place" in the hearts and minds of ethnic Azerbaijanis living in Georgia. It is also noteworthy that since Ataturk, the Turkish government has been trying to achieve the so-called unity of Turkish-speaking countries, creating a "Great Turan". All of the above does not explicitly give us a basis for calm, nor there is reason to encourage a superficial policy based on pseudonationalism. Under the Russian occupation, extending peaceful, neighborly relations with Turkey would really be the best solution, along with the creation of all effective defense mechanisms.

Four Rounds of Talks Held between GD, Opposition: Results & Expectations Continued from page 1 The first session of the newly elected Parliament is scheduled to be held on December 11. The relevant decree has already been issued by President Salome Zurabishvili, who will open the first session.

The CEC chairperson will also attend the opening.

The Parliament is authorized to start working at the first sitting if the majority of MPs is present.

Parliament will acquire full powers from the moment of recognition of the powers of two thirds of the MPs. From this point on, the authority of the previous Convocation of Parliament will be terminated.

However, given the current situation, it seems that the first session will be held without the participation of the united

opposition.

The public was hopeful about the 5th round of negotiations that was supposed to take place on Thursday, December 10; however, it was announced by the EU Delegation to Georgia that the meeting had been postponed.

The previous round of talks was held on December 8.

Holding repeat elections remains the top demand of the opposition. As a result of the talks held between the parties, the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party has promised that they will accept repeat elections if a temporary investigative commission created by the 10th Convocation of the Parliament of Georgia reveals that at least 1% of votes were rigged or falsified, ruling party Executive Secretary Irakli Kobakhidze stated on December 9.

He also commented on other issues related to the parliament, noting that parties that

do not take up their mandates in parliament will not receive budgetary funding and other benefits.

It was also announced that GD will not be able to set up a temporary investigative commission if opposition lawmakers refuse to enter parliament and take up their mandates.

The United National Movement (UNM) opposition party responded to GD’s statement regarding potentially losing budgetary funding, saying that the incumbent government is trying to blackmail them and disrupt the election talks which are taking place with the mediation of the diplomatic corps.

“This is an attempt by the ruling party to disrupt the ongoing negotiations,” UNM member Khatia Dekanoidze said.

At this point, it is not clear when the next stage of talks will take place, or whether it will be held at all.

BUSINESS

GEORGIA TODAY DECEMBER 11 - 17, 2020

7

Startup Grind Tbilisi Hosts HUAWEI’s 14 Unprecedented Large-scale Tech Flagships to Receive Conference in Europe & Asia Updates by the End

W

hile COVID-19 has us stuck at home, Startup Grind Europe and Asia Connect set to open doors to connections around the world. On December 10-12, Tbilisi virtually hosted its biggest online Startup Grind conference.

Organized in partnership with Georgia's Innovation and Technology Agency, the event brought together more than 5,000 participants and startups from up to 35 countries.

The Europe-Asia Connect event included more than 20 thematic sessions, startup programs, masterclasses, and workshops. Among the speakers were the founders and investors of billiondollar tech companies from the largest venture foundations. During the conference, startups from more than 35 countries competed with each other within the framework of the startup program.

The conference also covered the topic of the changes caused by the pandemic, with prominent speakers advising startups how to adapt to the new environment. The international speakers also shared their experiences from around

the world.

Steve Blank, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, hailed as the father of modern entrepreneurship, was one of the first speakers. His name unites many successful projects and companies: it was he who changed the ways industrial business is learned, modern startups are created, and science is commercialized.

He developed the Lean Startup movement and published a manual guide for startups, named ‘Four Steps to Cognition.’ Companies and governments base their innovations on Mr Blank’s ideas.

Another key speaker at the Startup Grind Conference was Guy Kawasaki, a mentor and one of the most sought-after speakers on numerous platforms for innovation, technology, and startups. Mr Kawasaki is the author of fifteen books, basic textbooks for the finest academic institutions in the world, which have been among the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers. He is considered to be one of the greatest marketing experts worldwide.

The first Europe-Asia Connect was held in Tbilisi in November 2019, seeing 1,700 delegates and 40+ speakers attend-

ing. Usually, the vast majority of the speakers are globally recognized business figures, as well as local heroes, for example: Zaza Pachulia, Tamaz Giorgadze, and George Arison.

Although the Startup Grind Conference is organized in Georgia, it includes up to 90 Startup Grind offices from up to 50 countries. This is almost 50% of the countries on this continent.

Derek Andersen, the founder and CEO of Startup Grind, was also one of the key speakers at the event this year.

Startup Grind, a community of over 300 Chapters in 120 countries, is designed to educate, inspire, and connect entrepreneurs. Google also contributes to the establishment of the company, as it is a technological and financial supporter of the events. Since 2012, Startup Grind has hosted over 6,000 events. Every year, hundreds of events are held by Startup Grind around the world; however, the three largest take place in Silicon Valley, London and Tbilisi. All conferences have one goal in common: to share knowledge, build meaningful connections, build a startup community, and develop an ecosystem.

of March 2021

T

he company HUAWEI announced an EMUI upgrade plan in early December. The EMUI 11 will receive 14 flagship models from HUAWEI, including the P40, P30, Mate 30 and Mate20 series smartphones, along with Huawei’s latest MatePad. The latest EMUI 11 company was introduced to the general public on October 22. It offers new software features such as: • Ability to perform operations faster and easier.

• Ability to open and work several windows on the smartphone screen at the same time.

• Ability to share the screen between both smartphone and personal computer, as well as between smartphone and tablet.

• Ability to block the most important information separately.

• Ease of Story Creation - With the help of EMUI 11, HUAWEI users will be able to set the desired music as a background to their videos directly, without the need

for additional software, and to montage them in the gallery.

• Improved protection of privacy and security.

With all this, it offers an updated, modern design with elements of art. The updated, simple and sophisticated visuals of the home screen will definitely leave no one indifferent. Given that you can change and adjust the colors for the screen design yourself, it will undoubtedly be able to win your heart.

Receiving updates is divided into two stages, and the periods vary by region.

Additional details can be found at the link.

CENN & EU4Youth to Establish Rural Innovation Hubs with Local Organizations

O

n November 4, CENN, the Kakheti Regional Develo p m e n t Fo u n d a t i o n (KRDF), the Society Biliki, Ni n o t s m i n d a Yo ut h Center and the Society Development Association (SDA), signed a Memoran-

dum of Understanding together for the creation of Rural Innovation Knowledge Hubs with the aim to develop youth entrepreneurial potential at the local level in Georgia.

In total, three Rural Innovation Knowledge Hubs will be established in disad-

vantaged rural communities in the Gori, Ninotsminda and Akhmeta municipalities in Georgia. The hubs will provide a co-working space and facilities for the development of young people, especially women and girls from remote and vulnerable communities.

Each Hub will provide access to the internet and technologies and address information gaps as well as equip rural youth with relevant skills and knowledge to discover new opportunities for growth and income generation.

According to the Memorandum of Understanding, which fully mirrors global development trends such as the European Green Deal, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and EU4Youth program priorities, the parties aim to co-create and operate innovative knowledge hubs, which is reflected in the preparation and implementation of action plans, providing a unified, safe workspace for the youth, organizing trainings, seminars, workshops and various educational events. The Hubs will provide a wide range of youth-driven activities and initiatives from 2021.

The Memorandum of Understanding

has been signed within the scope of the “EU4Youth: Social Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Development (SEED) for Green Growth in Borderline Communities” project, which aims to create a favorable ecosystem for the development of social entrepreneurship and green

innovation in the borderline regions of Georgia (Gori, Akhmeta, Ninotsminda) and Armenia (Lori, Tavushi, Shirak). The aim of the project is to discover the entrepreneurial potential in the most vulnerable municipalities and to promote entrepreneurship opportunities among youth.

8

BUSINESS

GEORGIA TODAY

DECEMBER 11 - 17, 2020

National Bank President Projects Georgian Economy Will Grow 5% in 2021

BY ANA DUMBADZE

T

he President of the National Bank of Georgia, Koba Gvenetadze, projects the Georgian economy will grow 5% in 2021.

"I think from today's perspective, the forecast for a 5% decline in 2020 is quite realistic. Based on the 10-month data, the economic growth is -5.1% and we expect a similar decline in NovemberDecember. Also, since the restrictions imposed now are lighter than the ones imposed in the spring, I think this drop

will be close to the rate we had in those 10 months. However, it should be noted that lending activity is quite high, which helps the economy and domestic demand.

"Regarding next year, we think that in 2021 the economy can grow by 5%. Do not forget that fiscal stimulus is also planned at a fairly high level, while lending activity is to be maintained. We have to take into account that it is very difficult to make predictions during such a pandemic, and there is a lot of uncertainty," he said.

For the record, the 2021 budget was projected at 4.3% economic growth. At the same time, a 5% decline in the economy is projected in 2020.

First China-bound Export Train Travels Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway

Private Sector: Restrictions Imposed by Gov't will Damage Economy by Billions of GEL

BY ANA DUMBADZE

BY ANA DUMBADZE

F

or the first time, cargo is being transported to China on the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway. The first China-bound export freight train entered Georgia from Turkey on the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway on Tuesday, the Ministry of Economy announced.

The train is scheduled to cover 8,693 km and reach China in 12 days.

The Agency claims that this is an

unprecedented event, as, until now, transportation of cargo through the Middle Transport Corridor was carried out from China to Europe only.

"Such projects and activities are important in order to increase the competitiveness of the transport corridors crossing Georgia," the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development said in a statement.

The Iron Silk Road connectivity program reduces freight duration between Turkey and China from a month to 12 days by following the Middle Corridor via the BTK railway.

Geostat: Number of Employees in Business Sector in 3rd Quarter Decreased by 7.2%

BY ANA DUMBADZE

I

n the third quarter of 2020, the average number of employees in the business sector amounted to 645.6 thousand, which is 7.2% less than the same period last year, based on the results of the activities of enterprises published by Geostat.

Based on the same source, the turnover of the business sector in the third quarter of 2020 increased by 0.6% compared to the same period last year and amounted to 29.2 billion GEL. At the same time, the production value of the business sector is characterized by a decreasing

tendency. In the third quarter of 2020, its volume was estimated at 11.6 billion GEL, which is 8.8% less than the same period last year.

Regarding employees in the business sector, 40.5% of the total number of employees come from large businesses, 22.7% from medium-sized businesses, and the remaining 36.8% from small businesses. At the same time, the total costs of enterprises on staff were set at GEL 2,4377.8 million (7.4% less than in the same period last year).

In the third quarter of 2020, the average monthly salary in the business sector amounted to 1305.9 GEL, a 10.3 GEL decrease compared to the same period last year.

S

hopping malls and brand retailers have issued a joint appeal.

The statement is signed by, among others, City Mall, Tbilisi Mall, East Point, Tbilisi Central, Gldani Mall, Karvasla, Retail Group Georgia, ICR Holding, LC Waikiki GE, and Tradeline - Dressup, GTEX. Private sector representatives are addressing the government with several requirements: - Open and allow shopping malls to operate from December 15 to January 3; - Exemption from deferred property tax in July 2020.

Business representatives claim the restrictions imposed by the government will affect the Georgian economy by up to a billion GEL, and will put at least 25,000 jobs at risk.

The joint statement reads: "Businesses will not be able to retain employees under the restrictions on operation.

"The Commercial Real Estate and Retail Sector is one of the largest employers in Georgia, a generator of business activity, and an important source of budget tax revenue. With the collapse of the tourism market, after hotels and restaurants, it is the retail and commercial real estate segment that has suffered the most losses, and virtually every mall and retailer has to operate in force majeure mode.

"After the declaration of a state of emergency, we were able to maintain a functioning business and a significant part of our human resources. We did our best to maintain lease relations in shopping malls. We were hoping to reimburse the three-month deficit during the busiest pre-Christmas period of the year, on which we made optimistic forecasts.

• Our shopping centers directly employ up to 2000 employees (mall administration, services), while stores directly employ up to 15,000 people; The number of employees indirectly employed in the mall is much higher. We, with our resources, managed to maintain this number of employees during the state of emergency; however, these resources have been fully exhausted. Businesses will not be able to retain employees under the current operation restrictions.

• Virtually all shopping malls and retail outlets face the problem of servicing current bank liabilities, and the need for further loan restructuring is on the agenda. Restoring the operation of a mall requires a lot more financial resources and time compared to the amount of

potential revenue it generates during a closed period.

"Shopping malls and their tenants follow all the recommendations needed to fight the virus. The mall is one of the most well-protected shopping environments. This is evidenced by the fact that during the pandemic, the mall did not become a major source of virus spread.

"The complete restrictions imposed by the government on the operation of stores from November 28 to December 24, and then from January 3 to February 1, put at risk the existence of at least 25,000 jobs in the country, and hundreds of small and medium-sized businesses.

"The Georgian economy and retail sector will suffer losses of up to 1 billion GEL during this period, which will put tens of thousands of families in dire straits. The state budget will not receive hundreds of millions in revenue in the form of various taxes, and will significantly shake the confidence of international investors who have invested more than $500 million in this field.

"In view of the above challenges, we request that the decision be corrected, taking into account objective factors, namely: • Open and allow malls to operate from December 15 to January 3. Redistributing customers over this period of time will actually reduce the risk of massive gatherings and the likelihood of the infection spreading. Shopping malls and retail

outlets are ready to increase security measures during this period and ensure the regulation of the flow of customers; • Exemption from deferred property tax in July 2020. This will allow us to use the released funds to maintain operational stability and also, for at least the next 4 months, retain more than 80% of the staff employed.

"We believe that it is important to communicate operatively with government agencies within the working group in order to discuss the above-mentioned issue with all parties involved, in order to find ways to overcome the crisis with minimal losses.

"At the same time, we would like to meet with the government bloc and epidemiologists to discuss a number of additional measures that will provide even higher levels of security measures and relieve peak periods. We are ready to take responsibility for these measures in order to manage flows more effectively in full compliance with safety standards in trade facilities."

For the record, on November 28, the Georgian government decided to tighten and expand restrictions throughout the country. Based on the decision of the Interagency Coordination Council, until January 31, certain economic activities are prohibited, including the operation of municipal and intercity transport, gyms and swimming pools, restaurants, shopping malls, etc.

BUSINESS

GEORGIA TODAY DECEMBER 11 - 17, 2020

9

Carrefour Introduces Self-Checkout Systems for Safer & More Convenient Shopping

C

arrefour, owned and operated

by Majid Al Futtaim in Georgia, has launched new selfcheckout counters at its Tbilisi Mall and Isani branches in another step to help preserve the health and safety of its customers. Introduced to reduce queue times and contact between customers and cashiers, shoppers who choose the self-checkout lane can pay using their credit and debit card or by redeeming My Club points earned through Carrefour’s loyalty programme.

The self-service checkout counters offer significant advantages, as they allow customers to complete transactions without the assistance of a cashier and, consequently, avoid physical contact with others. For added convenience, the self-service option is also faster than a manual cash register.

“With the festive season approaching,

we know our customers will be eager to fill their shopping carts with many great value items, which sometimes means slightly longer queues at checkout counters.” Commented Christophe Orcet, Country Manager of Carrefour Georgia at Majid Al Futtaim Retail. “The launch of our self-checkout service comes right in time to help provide our customers with an even more convenient and — during these times — a safer shopping experience.”

Sell service payment is growing in popularity in many countries around the world as customers desire a faster and more convenient in-store shopping experience. As a leading name in retail, Carrefour is playing its part in establishing the service in Georgia as another important step towards the brand’s digital future and its aim to pioneer tomorrow’s retail. In this difficult and challenging

period, Carrefour Georgia continues to expand both physically and digitally.

Most recently, the brand enhanced its online presence and expanded its delivery service by partnering with non-food delivery app Vendoo, and food-delivery apps Glovo and Wolt.

Across the country, from Tbilisi to Zugdidi; Batumi to Rustavi, Carrefour customers can now purchase imported non-food items through Vendoo, an online shopping platform that enables users to easily sell items on multiple marketplaces. Through this partnership, Carrefour customers enjoy a smoother and more streamlined retail journey, with delivery straight to their doors.

Similarly, since 6 November, customers in Tbilisi and Batumi have been able to order a wide assortment of more than 1,000 Carrefour products, including fresh fruit and vegetables, household items,

and hygiene supplies, on Wolt. Moreover, the brand’s e-payment partnership ensures that when shoppers pay using MasterCard, they benefit from free delivery for an entire month.

These newly announced partnerships help to safeguard customers’ health and wellbeing during the pandemic, allowing them to shop from the safety and comfort of their own homes.

People's Vaccine Alliance: Poorer Nations Are Being Left Behind

R

ich nations have bought enough coronavirus vaccine doses to inoculate their entire populations nearly three times over, leaving the developing world behind amid the global effort to save lives, the People’s Vaccine Alliance has said.

The People’s Vaccine Alliance, a network of organizations including Amnesty International, Frontline AIDS, Global Justice Now and Oxfam, calls on the drug companies to openly share their technology and intellectual property so that billions more doses can be made available for those in need.

The group’s analysis claims that in 67 poorer countries, as many as 9 in 10 people can miss out on the coronavirus vaccine next year because most of the supply has already been bought up by wealthy nations, with 96% of Pfizer's vaccine and 100% of Moderna's vaccine acquired by the rich. Canada, says Oxfam, has purchased enough doses to immunize citizens five times over.

Anna Marriott, Oxfam's Health Policy Manager, said: "No-one should be blocked from getting a life-saving vaccine because

Georgian Defense Forces Receive Training Equipment from US within $4.3 M Program

BY ANA DUMBADZE

A

s part of the United States' firm commitment to the US-Georgian military partnership, a shipment of Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) equipment arrived this week, and will be distributed

to the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center (JTEC), where it will be used to enhance the realism of combat training for the Georgian Defense Forces.

At a total cost of $4.3M, this program (funded with Title 22 grant assistance) includes the full complement of training, equipment, and administration.

The relevant information was spread by the US Embassy in Tbilisi.

of the country they live in or the amount of money in their pocket. But unless something changes dramatically, billions of people around the world will not receive a safe and effective vaccine for Covid-19 for years to come.”

Dr Mohga Kamal Yanni, from The People’s Vaccine Alliance, noted that in the current system, pharmaceutical companies are using public funding for research, all the way retaining exclusive rights to the technology developed.

“While that boosts profits for the companies, the system could cost many lives”, he warns.

Other organizations have likewise voiced concerns about the uneven distribution of coronavirus vaccines and the prevailing motivation on part of pharmaceutical companies to ensure profit in times of the deadly crisis. Winnie Byanima, UNAIDS Executive Director, said: “Our best chance of all staying safe is to ensure a COVID-19 vaccine is available for all as a global common good. This will only be possible with a transformation in how vaccines are produced and distributed — pharmaceutical corporations must allow the

COVID-19 vaccines to be produced as widely as possible by sharing their knowledge free from patents. Instead, they are protecting their monopolies and putting up barriers to restrict production and drive up prices, leaving us all in danger.”

It is also true that some significant steps are being taken to ensure access to vaccines is fairly distributed around the globe. At least 172 countries have or are considering participating in COVAX, an initiative led by the World Health Organization that aims to secure 700 million doses to be distributed between the lower-income nations.

AstraZeneca, the company manufacturing the coronavirus vaccine developed by the University of Oxford, has committed to making the vaccine available on a not-for-profit basis to the poorer nations.

While the People’s Vaccine calls this "a welcome contrast", it says Oxford/ AstraZeneca could "still only reach 18% of the world's population next year at most, which demonstrates that one company alone cannot hope to supply the whole world".

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SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY

DECEMBER 11 - 17, 2020

UNFPA Releases New Study on Reproductive Health & the Rights of Women with Disabilities

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n December 4, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Georgia Office held an online presentation of the Study on Legislative Analysis and Recommendations on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Women and Girls with Disabilities in regards to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The presentation was attended

by Sabine Makhl, UN Resident Coordinator in Georgia; Lela Bakradze, Head of the UNFPA Georgia Country Office; Tamar Barkalaia, Deputy Minister of Refugees from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs; Nino Lomjaria, Public Defender of Georgia; Olga Kalina, member of the Georgian Network of Women with Disabilities; and Nino Odisharia, UNFPA Program Manager.

“On December 3, the world celebrated the International Day of Persons with Disabilities,” Ms Bakradze noted. “We are pleased that today we are taking

Image source: blogs.iadb.org

effective steps to ensure that women and girls with disabilities have access to services that are vital to them, that their rights are protected, and that each of them lives a full, dignified life. We are cooperating with the state, as well as with the non-governmental sector and community members, because we believe that it is the joint effort that will lead to a desirable, more equal and inclusive society.”

Ensuring women's reproductive health and advocacy all over the world is the ultimate priority of the UNFPA. In order to eliminate stigma, introduce appropriate services, and ensure that women and girls with disabilities enjoy sexual and reproductive health rights on an equal basis with others, it is essential to harmonize legislation and policy documents with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and other international standards. Accordingly, UNFPA has assessed and analyzed the legal framework and policy documents related to sexual and reproductive health and

rights of persons with disabilities, and developed specific recommendations regarding their alignment with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and other international standards.

The document presented at the event will assist the legislative and the executive government to bring the legal framework and policy documents in line with international standards and obligations, and will support the achievement of sustainable development goals, which will lay a solid foundation for the development of relevant services and best practices in Georgia. This document will also support the NGO sector and community members to advocate for issues that are important to them.

The study was initiated by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Georgia Office and supported by the SDG Fund in the framework of the United Nations Joint Program "Transforming the Social Protection System for Persons with Disabilities in Georgia."

Human Rights Are at the Heart of Any Post-COVID Recovery

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mid concerns that the COVID-19 crisis is deepening inequality and jeopardizing the prospects of vulnerable and marginalised groups, the European Union (EU) joined forces this week with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to launch a EUR 2.5 million ($3 million) program to promote and protect human rights in Georgia.

The three-year initiative “Human Rights for All” was signed to mark International Human Rights Day. The programme will be implemented by the two UN agencies in close coordination with national human rights institutions and legislative, executive and judicial authorities, as well as civil society and communities.

“Investing in human rights, democracy and the rule of law is essential to achieve more fair, more resilient and inclusive societies,“ said EU Ambassador Carl Hartzell. “Human rights, democracy and the rule of law, as well as a genderresponsive approach, will remain at the heart of the EU’s response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“Georgia has come a long way in enacting the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” said UNDP Head Louisa Vinton. “But the pandemic has exposed cracks in society that threaten these values. Our program responds by putting inclusion and equality at the heart of any postCOVID recovery.”

“Today we stress the imperative to build back better by making human rights central to recovery efforts,” said OHCHR Senior Adviser Vladimir Shkolnikov. “We will reach our common global goals only if we create equal opportunities for all, address the failures exposed and exploited by COVID-19, and apply human rights standards to tackle

entrenched, systematic and intergenerational inequalities, exclusion and discrimination.”

The new program launched by the EU, UNDP and OHCHR assists Georgia in reinforcing its achievements in promoting and strengthening human rights policies and practices, and addressing

the areas of concern outlined by the independent assessment commissioned by the EU and the UN in 2019.

The program focuses on five areas: Enhancing the public bodies that are responsible for developing, monitoring and implementing human rights policies;

Assisting law-enforcement agencies and human rights institutions in carrying out their duties; Promoting the rights of minority groups and vulnerable citizens; Supporting human rights protection at the local level; and Ensuring that citizens have full access

to human rights information and protection mechanisms.

Human Rights for All builds on the achievements of a previous four-year partnership between the EU and the UN agencies. The new stage of the programme runs from December 2020 through October 2023.

SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY DECEMBER 11 - 17, 2020

11

Wizz Air & Turkish Airlines to Resume Int’l Flights

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Wizz Air was flying before the pandemic.

"We are in a constant state of dialogue with the government. Nothing has changed in this regard. We are very pleased to be able to return and continue aviation activity from March. But of course, everything will depend on the restrictions that will be in force at that time, both in Georgia and in other countries of the world," said Rado.

Rado added that he does not rule out the addition of new destinations from Kutaisi International Airport.

"We flew from Kutaisi to about 30-40 destinations during normal conditions.

We want to restore all directions, and also add several new ones. But certainly, everything will depend on the epidemiological situation in March.”

izz Air and Turkish A i rl i n e s a re to resume international flights from Georgia despite the continued COVID-19 risk. Turkish Airlines January 2021 flight schedule has already been published, seeing the airline expected to operate three two-way flights a week from Tbilisi to the new Istanbul Airport.

Flights will be operated every Monday, Wednesday and Sunday at 4:50 p.m.

Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air also plans to resume operations in Georgia starting March 2021.

Andrash Rado, the head of corporate communications of the company, says the plan is to resume the 40 flights that

CULTURE

Georgian Ballerina Maia Makhateli Named Dancer of the Year

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ritish Dance Europe magazine has named Georgia’s awa rd -w i n n i n g ba l l e t dancer Maia Makhateli 'Dancer of the Year.'

Makhateli was one of 11 performers selected from all over the world as nominees of the 2020 Dancer of the

Year Award.

The Georgian-born soloist was awarded the prestigious Alexandra Radius Prize in 2015 in Amsterdam, where she has been living since joining the Netherlands’ principal company in 2007.

In 2011, Makhateli was awarded the

‘Star’ prize, established by famous Georgian dancer Nina Ananiashvili and Swiss jeweller Gilbert Albert.

In 2019, Makhateli was included in the renowned dance magazine's Critics’ Choice twice in the category: ‘outstanding performance by a female dancer’.

Image Obsession BLOG BY TONY HANMER

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ecently, I have been enjoying looking at online images of the works of one Jerry Uelsmann, b. 1934. An American photographer and master of the art of photomontage in the 20th century, some of his works (which you can see by googling him) are iconic, famous, collected in art museums all over the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York. What might be the most astonishing thing about his work, usually mixing two or more images to great surreal effect, is that it was done entirely by hand, in the darkroom, using liquid chemicals and FILM. I dabbled in black and white developing of 35mm film and printing in my teens and early 20s, given the chance, in Canada and the UK. Color once, too, but it’s much harder as you have to forgo the red safelight which monochrome allows and work in total darkness, by feel alone.

One of the things I experimented with (there were many) is the Sabattier Effect, also known as pseudo-solarization.

While your black and white print is still appearing, in the bath of developing

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Journalists: Ana Dumbadze, Vazha Tavberidze, Nini Dakhundaridze, Tony Hanmer, Emil Avdaliani, Nugzar B. Ruhadze, Michael Godwin, Elene Dzebizashvili Photographer: Aleksei Serov

liquid, you briefly re-expose it to light, then continue developing it and fixing it in the next bath. The light has the effect of reversing some, but only some, of the print’s tones, and graying out others. You never get exactly the same result twice by hand, though you can get close by measuring all the parameters of brightness, timing, temperature and so on. It can be quite magical, given the right subject, and many much more famous photographers than I have over the decades have played with it. Photoprocessing software offers similar results too, but the “wetware” version is incomparable in its slightly chaotic fun.

One of my portrait subjects in 1990 in the south-west UK was a young lady who, at 17, often back-combed her hair and ended up looking quite unusual. I took several sessions of her at a friend’s studio, and solarized some of the results in his darkroom. One of the best is a small print which I still have, about the size of my hand. I have come back to it time and again, adding color and so on Inspired by Mr. Uelsmann, though not imitating him at all and not even using a darkroom, I have recently been revisiting a high-resolution scan of this little portrait, playing with it onscreen as I have no access to the darkroom anymore. Selecting sets of its tones, and replacing them with textures from my

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collection of tens of thousands of images from my own decades of work. The results only add more to the image’s unreal qualities, I feel, and I will keep on playing until I have perhaps a large set of alternate versions, each of which I might decide to print only once, to make them unique, just as the original is.

The key seems to be to select textures which don’t detract too much from the original, and also which work together in feel and color. It’s a rewarding exercise, and with such a great body of my own images to play with, there may well be more composite photos of quite other types to emerge soon as well. If the “dead zone” of an early Svaneti winter, with the leaves down and not much if any snow yet to change the landscape, does little to inspire by looking out the window, I can always look inwards instead.

Tony Hanmer has lived in Georgia since 1999, in Svaneti since 2007, and been a weekly writer and photographer for GT since early 2011. He runs the “Svaneti Renaissance” Facebook group, now with nearly 2000 members, at www.facebook. com/groups/SvanetiRenaissance/ He and his wife also run their own guest house in Etseri: www.facebook.com/hanmer.house.svaneti

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