Issue #1289

Issue no: 1289

• MARCH 26 - APRIL 1, 2021 • PUBLISHED WEEKLY

PRICE: GEL 2.50

In this week’s issue...

Russia’s Violations and the Prioritization of NATO Membership NEWS PAGE 3

Where to Book Your Next Hotel-Based Business Meeting or Conference BUSINESS PAGE 5

COVID and the City – A Spatial Fracture in Georgia?

ISET PAGE 6

MoU Signed to Boost the Energy Efficiency of Keda’s Public Schools SOCIETY PAGE 8 Image source: Mikheil Svetlov/Getty Images

FOCUS

ON A COUNTRY UNDER THE THUMB

In an interview with an analyst, we discuss the harsh realities in today's Armenia

PAGE 4

The Landslide Risk in Vashlijvari: Residents Evacuate, Mayor Says Not to Panic

BY KETEVAN SKHIRTLADZE

O

n March 17, photos were spread showing evidence of a landslide risk on the road connecting Vashlijvari and Nutsubidze in Tbilisi. It is a site where heavy construction work has been

ongoing.

Geologists said that action needed to be taken immediately and nearby construction halted.

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze responded, saying, “These are processes that have been going on for years, and as soon as we realized that there was a danger, preventive measures were taken, with Machavariani Street being blocked bilaterally. We are waiting for specialists from Germany, and work will begin in the near future to open the road as soon as possible and make it safe to move on.”

Residents of Vashlijvari soon began a petition concerning the landslide, demanding a moratorium on the construction of buildings in Vashlijvari, and asking for a group of experts to study the site.

Continued on page 2

Restaurateur & Gastronomy Consultant Levan Qoqiashvili: 700 mln People Are Starving, and We’re Still Wasting Food SOCIETY PAGE 9

Luke Grenfell-Shaw: Aroundthe-World Cyclist with Cancer Arrives in Georgia SOCIETY PAGE 10

Meet a Kutaisian Illustrator, Icon and Fresco Painter CULTURE PAGE 11 CULTURE PAGE 11 Prepared for Georgia Today Business by

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2

NEWS

GEORGIA TODAY

MARCH 26 - APRIL 1, 2021

Vaccination Continues in Georgia amid High Skepticism following Nurse Death Last Week vaccinated with, as there are still a number of questions regarding it, with people who are against the use of a Chinese vaccine in Georgia.

“We, however, have adhered to the principle that any vaccine imported must have been recognized by a strict regulator. We thus have reason to consider the Chinese vaccine safe for use, so it will be available to Georgians in the near future,” she told TV Imedi.

BY TEAM GT

A

fter months of waiting, Georgia finally began vaccinating its people against coronavirus on March 15, at the first stage with the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The country received the first batch of 43,200 shots of AstraZeneca on March 13, principally for medical personnel. In the coming weeks, Georgia will receive 129,600 doses more from AstraZeneca.

However, despite the fact that the vaccine has been imported and the process is ongoing countrywide, there is unprecedented passivity being seen among doctors and the population towards the vaccine, along with high skepticism, meaning mass vaccination is unlikely to be possible. This is mainly related to the incident that happened in Georgia last week, shortly after launching the vaccination process, when a 27-year-old nurse developed anaphylactic shock following vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine, and died the next day. Afterwards, it was decided that, in order to ensure maximum safety, vaccination will only be carried out in multi-profile clinics which have resuscitation departments.

On March 25, Tengiz Tsertsvadze, Head of the Tbilisi Infectious Diseases Hospital, publicly expressed his concern about the passivity towards vaccination.

“Although the number of new cases of infection in Georgia has stabilized, the country is in serious danger, as mass vaccination will not possible at this stage. Further, people are no longer following the minimum regulations, especially with regards to wearing a face mask. The rate of wearing a face mask was 70%, now it has dropped to 42%, which is an alarming sign,” Tsertsvadze said.

The National Democratic Institute (NDI) on Tuesday released a report stating that less than half (42%) of Georgians believe that the government's vaccination plan is effective. Only 35% would

A NEW ORAL OPTION?

The Health Minister is vaccinated with AstraZeneca. Source: ImediNews

choose to receive a vaccine, if given the option right now; 53% said they would not. Vaccine hesitancy is highest among women and individuals under 55.

Among those who are hesitant, the main reasons are concerns about the quality of the vaccine (48%) and the belief that they can overcome the pandemic without vaccination (20%). Georgians, who say they get their news on COVID-19 primarily from television (60%) and internet (35%), look to medical professionals (74%) and the Georgian National Center for Disease Control (68%) for trustworthy information.

“While the country continues to endure a political crisis, it is important to demonstrate that the fundamental needs of the public are being met,” said Alan Gillam, NDI Country Director. “Ensuring a smooth rollout of the vaccine and making use of trusted medical professionals to provide the public with accurate information will be critical to the government’s effort to deliver crucial services and safeguard public health.”

In order to reduce distrust in the vaccine, state officials and public figures this week began to call on the population to get a shot, claiming the AstraZeneca vaccine, which was re-approved by the European Medicines Agency last Thursday, poses no danger to their health. Some chose to be vaccinated on live television, among them Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze, President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili and Deputy Head of the National Center for Disease Control Paata Imnadze.

A VACCINE CHOICE

The Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) at the International Criminal Court (ICC) Trust Fund for Victims at the Int’l Criminal Court Approves Victim Assistance Program in Georgia.

The Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has approved a Victim Assistance program in Georgia. TFV will soon issue a solicitation for the provision of the assistance program to conduct psychological rehabilitation, physical rehabilitation, and material support for the victims of the armed conflict of 2008, the August War, in Georgia, through TFV funding.

Within this context, the ICC/TFV has announced a call on Expressions of Interest (EOI) from qualified and interested organizations. Through this announcement, TFV calls on competent and qualified organizations to express their interest.

The assistance services requested, modalities, and the minimum qualification criteria are outlined here: https:// www.icc-cpi.int/get-involved/Pages/expressions-of-interest. aspx Reference Number 128881 And here: https://www.ungm.org/Public/Notice/121344 Interested organizations should submit their Expression of Interest, as well as all required documents, by e-mail, to Tender.7@icc-cpi.int, by 29th March, 2021.

On March 25, 30,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine arrived in Georgia, intended for 14,000 people.

To date, over 4000 medical personnel countrywide have been vaccinated with the first doses of the Astrazeneca vaccine, and from March 25, vaccination is also available for citizens over 65, with a choice in most cases between AstraZeneca and Pfizer.

Minister Tikaradze says that after Pfizer, the Chinese vaccine will be the next to be brought to Georgia.

“The Chinese vaccine is the one I was going be

An Israeli-American pharmaceutical company is preparing to launch a Phase I clinical trial for the world’s first oral COVID-19 vaccine.

Two pharmaceutical companies, Oramed Pharmaceuticals Inc., based on technology developed

by Hadassah-University Medical Center, and Indiabased Premas Biotech, announced a joint venture last weekend, forming Oravax Medical Inc..

“An oral COVID-19 vaccine would eliminate several barriers to rapid, wide-scale distribution, potentially enabling people to take the vaccine themselves at home.

“While ease of administration is critical today to accelerate inoculation rates, an oral vaccine could become even more valuable in the case that a COVID-19 vaccine may be recommended annually, like the standard flu shot,” Oramed CEO Nadav Kidron told the Jerusalem Post.

Pfizer has also begun an early stage clinical trial in the US of an experimental oral antiviral drug for COVID-19, CNBC reported Wednesday.

The drug is part of a class of medicines called “protease inhibitors” that is also used to treat HIV and hepatitis C. “Tackling the COVID-19 pandemic requires both prevention via vaccine and targeted treatment for those who contract the virus,” Pfizer’s chief scientific officer, Mikael Dolsten, said in a press release.

Dolsten explained that because of the SARS-CoV-2 mutation and its continued global impact, it will be critical to have access to therapeutic options both now and beyond the pandemic.

THE LOCAL STATISTICS Georgia reported 399 coronavirus cases, 356 recoveries, and 10 deaths in 24-hours on Thursday.

The country’s total case tally thus reached 279,027 since February 2020, of which 271,278 people have recovered and 3732 died.

The daily test-positivity rate stands at 1.566%,while it was 1.58% in the past 14 days.

Currently, out of 302 critical patients, 86 require mechanical ventilation.

On Wednesday, Health Minister Tikaradze said she does not exclude the re-imposition of restrictions in certain regions, which are going “red” with their numbers of new COVID-19 cases.

“There is already a discussion about the restrictions, as we have several regions in Georgia, which, as we observe, are actively moving back into the red. These are Imereti, Guria and Tbilisi, where there is the highest mobility rate,” Tikaradze told TV Imedi.

The Landslide Risk in Vashlijvari: Residents Evacuate, Mayor Says Not to Panic Continued from page 1 Deputy Mayor Irakli Bendeliani agreed to a suspension of construction work due to the wet weather.

“We are in communication with the National Environment Agency and, within the working group, we jointly decided that in rainy weather, construction works on Machavariani Street and the surrounding area will be put on hold,” he said.

Experts arrived in Georgia on March 22 to assess the landslide risk. Dr. Peter Neumann, Graduate Geologist (TUM), Registered Manager, Tunneling, Soil Engineering, and Senior Research Fellow from Germany stated, “The issue is quite complex, for which there is no one specific solution. On-site, the work environment itself is unfavorable, in the sense that too much rock is being released, which in itself complicates the work process. Of course, first of all, the specific current process must be identified and appropriate measures taken.”

The Tbilisi Mayor announced that he had instructed his deputy to include independent experts in the Vashlijvari working group, and

noted that the situation is under control and the population has no reason to panic.

"We have strengthened security so as to prevent citizens entering the risk zone, as many come back with false information that ultimately sows panic.

If they are really worried about the current situation, our door is open and they can join the working group,” Kaladze said.

Environmental studies are currently underway, and the decision on the work to be carried out will be announced by the end of the week, the Mayor said.

"Members of this working group worked on the restoration of the Tskneti-Akhaldaba landslide road and also on Sheshelidze Street, where there was a serious problem and a great danger to the locals. They are working together now to solve this specific problem as soon as possible," he said.

In the meantime, numerous local residents, fearing for their and their families’ safety, are choosing to evacuate the Vashlijvari risk zone.

For updates on this and other news, go to georgiatoday.ge

POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY MARCH 26 - APRIL 1, 2021

3

Russia’s Violations and the Prioritization of NATO Membership

Image source: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

ANALYSIS BY MICHAEL GODWIN

M

arch 7, 2021 should have been a day that rocked the nation. It should have shaken not just the people and government of Georgia, but Europe and NATO officials to their core. It should have elicited some of the harshest action and diplomatic, economic, and cyber repercussions to date. On the contrary, this date went largely unobserved, and was swept under the proverbial rug in many news outlets. The brash, detestable, and disgusting assault against the sovereignty of the Georgian nation by Russian special operations members disappeared from the news like a demon's whisper.

On that day, Ramaz Chalauri woke up to coax his tractor into action and plough his fields in the biting cold. A pair of Russian occupation forces members,

most likely a part of the regionally assigned GRU surveillance and abduction teams, breached their so-called boundary line and moved deeper into Georgian sovereign territory. The two made their way through the old village and fields, surely hunting for their next abduction victim.

Chalauri noticed the two maneuvering towards his position and decided against remaining there, abandoning his tractor and making an emergency call to the police. The two Russians, noticing their prey feeling and possibly notifying authorities, opened fire in a last ditch attempt to save their bungled operation.

As the responding police teams closed in on the Russians, it was clear the game was over. While their apprehension and processing was not clearly described by the authorities, the savior of a Georgian against an occupying force should have been held in much greater regard by the media, the government, and by the authorities overall.

This is not the first time Russia has crossed their so-called border to kidnap innocent civilians to be used as political bargaining chips. The practice has almost become standard drill for the occupation forces. However, things may begin to become far more difficult for the occupiers as heightened talks between Georgian, European Union, and NATO officials revive promises of additional partnership initiatives and nearing membership.

In a recent meeting, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg spoke on the matter at length in Brussels. While talks included the recent political events in Tbilisi, it was affirmed that inclusion and membership were still very much priorities. While so many see this as a “holy grail” for the nation, it’s the events that take place afterwards that would have greater impact.

Russia has long warned against the admittance of Georgia into NATO, even going so far as to threaten a “terrible conflict” should they be onboarded. The dominance of the Black Sea, a relic of the Soviet Union, is still at the forefront for senior officials in Moscow. Recent actions in Ukraine attest to this.

From covert and subtle underground destabilization operations against the Ukrainian state, to outright violations involving the recent deaths of multiple Ukrainian military service members, it’s clear their aggression is still alive. With the implementation of S-400 Triumf missile systems near Sevastopol, it’s all too obvious that the old soviet objective of seizure of the Black Sea is their goal.

Georgia has been a thorn in their side in this objective. In addition, a hold over Georgia would further cement their dominance in the South Caucasus overall, as their forces deployed in NagornoKarabakh and Armenia proper are isolated.

With Turkey in the firm grasp of NATO, and already a near-enemy in the Syrian and Nagorno-Karabakh regions, it’s only Georgia that stands in the way of regional control and firm leverage against NATO. Because of this, both powers have been pulling on each leg of the nation in an effort to deny the other.

While the military has largely been converted to a NATO standard through its past and current contributions to the missions in Mali, Central African Republic, and Afghanistan, it still stands to step up to the full strength of a NATO force.

Sadly overlooked, the size of the force is woefully minimal compared to the threats that lie on the doorstep. For a country with one of the world’s largest military powers actively taking offensive measures against the state, it’s surprising to see such an undermanned warfighting force.

With just under 40,000 active military service members, Georgia has less military service members than The Netherlands, but with exponentially greater territorial risk. If granted NATO membership, it should be painfully imperative

that the force size needs to be expanded.

While doing so, the standards and training must remain the same, if not higher.

A page could be taken from the Israeli Defense Force on total social change towards combined national defense, and a serious examination at a holding of the proverbial line.

With this type of social change, Georgia stands to be the poster child and model example of the NATO force on the frontier: a force on constant standby and a people ready to back their fighting men and women. While this kind of shift is incredibly large, it’s not outside the realm of reality as we look at Israel, plagued with its own territorial woes.

For Georgia to not only advance into NATO, but succeed and thrive, more than a simple elevation in its military is necessary. Russia only responds to strength, and that strength can't come from the military alone. The issuance of new weaponry and equipment can make the Georgian military more aesthetically pleasing to the Western eye, but the populace needs to back this with a renewed vigor against Russian tyranny.

Image by Roma Baindurashvili/Office of the State Minister for Reconciliation

Taking Stock of Recent Developments in the South Caucasus. Part I ANALYSIS BY EMIL AVDALIANI

G

eorgia’s regional position is quickly changing. External powers are increasing their influence in the South Caucasus, causing revverbations across the very fabric of the geopolitical balance of power which had prevailed for years, if not decades. Take Russia, which, it must be said from the outset, is less interested in a final settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

This Kremlin policy is based on the traditional geopolitical interests that have driven Moscow in the South Caucasus since the 1990s: maximization of divisions within the region to maintain its influence; promotion of cooperation and and economic integration should be pursued only under Moscow’s auspices.

From a purely geopolitical point of view, Russia's actions are part of a rather logical policy. By deploying 2,000 peacekeepers in Karabakh, Russia is now exerting direct influence over Azerbaijan. At the same time, the Armenian population today sees Russia as an opportunity to maintain its positions in the remaining Armenianpopulate territories of Karabakh.

Based on this, Russia will try to extend its presence in the conflict zone for another five-year term in 2025, when the first term for the deployment of peacekeepers in Karabakh expires. Russia, however, will be facing the issue of always having to strike a certain balance. The point here is that Baku will not be fully satisfied with the fact that the Russian army is stationed on the internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan, a fact that will occasionally cause tensions between Moscow and Baku.

Image source: finchannel.com

At the same time, although not directly supporting Yerevan, Moscow has indeed managed to position itself as the savior of the Armenian population. However, this has not been able to fully ease tensions in Armenia-Russia relations, and, consequently, Moscow will have to maneuver, a game in which it will try to partially satisfy both Baku and Yerevan's demands. Moscow will also have to prove to Baku every five years that the deployment of peacekeepers should

be prolonged. For this, Moscow can use Armenia’s military preparations for a future conflict and the coming to power of politicians who are intent on pursuing a tough policy towards Azerbaijan.

Another interesting development for Georgia is Iran’s changing position in the region as a result of the Second Karabakh War. A brief introduction would be needed here: Iran's diplomatic efforts during the latest Karabakh conflict did not yield results; after the

war, Iran began to face a completely changed geopolitical picture along its northern border. Emboldened Azerbaijan, with which Iran has had periodically difficult relations since the 1990s, is a different state for Iran today.

It is possible that this is exactly why Tehran changed its rhetoric towards Baku, with various statements made in support of it during the 2020 war.

There has been some deviation from the pragmatic model that has driven

Tehran in favor of Armenia in the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict since the 1990s.

Azerbaijan's victories in the autumn of 2020 changed the status quo, and Iran has been forced to adjust to the new reality. It is therefore not surprising that the Iranian media has taken a relatively pro-Azerbaijani stance since the end of the war. Moreover, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Javad Zarif, has since made several statements in which he directly congratulated Baku on the returned territories.

Against the background of all this, Zarif's regional tour was in fact an attempt to show the geopolitical importance of Iran in the quickly changing South Caucasus. Iran presented a regional peace initiative, important for Tehran, as it sees the role of Russia and Turkey in the region growing and steps needing to be taken, be it through peace initiatives or something else.

Regarding Georgia, we should not expect any particular changes in Iran's foreign policy. It will remain just as pragmatic as before. Iran is interested in Georgian ports and other infrastructure that will help it reach the Black Sea. Iran is also interested in restoring direct rail traffic with Russia. Today, there are talks about the restoration of the Soviet-era railway from Azerbaijan to Armenia, which will potentially also connect Iran directly with Russia. But Iran is interested in additional directions too: a line from Iran to Azerbaijan via Russia, which is still under development. The second option is from Armenia via Georgia, which leads to the resumption of talks on the Abkhazian railway, although economic sustainability is at stake in this project.

Emil Avdaliani is professor at European University and the director of Middle East Studies at Georgian think tank, Geocase

4

POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY

MARCH 26 - APRIL 1, 2021

“Pashinyan Might Call Armenia a Democracy, But It Is a Pseudo-Democracy” – What’s Next for Armenia?

INTERVIEW BY VAZHA TAVBERIDZE

T

urmoil in Armenia shows no sign of abating. Having finally secured the agreement of parliamentary opposition parties, the divisive Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that elections will be held on June 20. With society restless and the army seemingly distrustful of every side involved, tensions remain high in Armenia, with its people trying to cope with the aftermath of the Second Karabakh War. Pashinyan himself is faring no better: although he retains his core supporters, there is a growing Armenian dissatisfaction with both him and his policies, that for some have become increasingly authoritarian. What are we witnessing in Armenia right now and what to expect in future? These were the two principal questions GISP asked Tatevik Hovhannisyan, an Armenian political analyst based in Warsaw.

WITH SNAP ELECTIONS LOOMING, A DOUBLE QUESTION: FIRST, WHAT MADE THE CONSENSUS POSSIBLE? AND SECOND, WHAT CAN BE EXPECTED OF IT? The snap election decision has come off the back of behind-doors talks between the parliamentary parties, and I believe that the deal might be to form a coalition after the snap elections. At the same time, a large part of the country's society remains unwilling to pick a side, as they are not willing to overthrow Pashinyan with representatives from the old regime, and are waiting for a third power to arrive, which does not appear likely anytime soon.

So the deal might suit both sides: Pashinyan knows that he will probably not be able to get a majority and will need some support from the parliamentary opposition, while the opposition would like to be part of the government. Thus, a winwin situation for them and an unfavorable situation for the public, because with the existing electoral code (which runs on a rating system) and the existing constitution (which gives turbo-charged Prime Ministerial power), which the revolution promised to change but didn’t, Armenia will most probably witness the worst elections since it won independ-

ence, as they will not be elections about ideologies and political programs, but instead focused on political life and death, especially for the ruling party.

this one. We could have done better than that. And then again, if our Prime Minister was set up that easily, without realizing it himself, maybe he should not be Prime Minister to start with. If he did indeed realize he was being set up, why did he remain silent about it?

WHAT ROLE DOES THE MILITARY PLAY IN THE ONGOING STANDOFF? There is significant mutual distrust between the army and Pashinyan, especially from the generals who served under the previous regime. For that reason, Pashinyan initiated a “de-generalization” of the army, and in many cases, personal loyalties are preferred over professionalism.

The non-parliamentary opposition, which is composed mainly of people from the previous authorities and their satellites, not having enough supporters, were encouraging the army to join them, but the army limited its actions to a statement which said that the PM should resign, as “his actions are based on personal interests and he is unable to make adequate decisions in this crucial moment”. This was conveniently declared by Pashinyan to be an attempted coup d’etat. Interestingly, Russia, the West (ie. the USA and the EU) and Turkey expressed their concerns about an attempt on a coup. From the latter, this is the first statement concerning Armenia’s domestic affairs in a long time, and I would assume that the change of power is not in Ankara’s interests, as there are certain agreements that the Armenian side should adhere to based on the November 9 document.

HOW IS ARMENIAN SOCIETY COPING IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE LATEST WAR? The public were not ready for the capitulation, politically, socially, or psychologically. This was the red line that was not meant to be crossed: it seemed unimaginable. And this was down to the government-imposed information blockade during the war. We were under the unshakeable belief that our army was great, and we refused to believe that we might lose. It had an existential streak: we either don’t lose, or if we do, we disappear altogether. The war is over, but this existential threat still hangs over us.

One of the more peculiar aspects of this defeat is that it was made possible because of the hitherto unprecedentedly high legitimacy of our Prime Minister: he was calling the shots in all matters important,

COULD RUSSIA HAVE PLAYED A ROLE IN SETTING HIM UP?

and no-one dared to question his decisions. He might himself call it a democracy, but I’d call it a pseudo-democracy instead. It was personality-driven politics.

The hope that he'd been feeding us till the very end, that we might not lose it despite everything suggesting the opposite, turned out to be false and misjudged.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WAS THE RATIONALE BEHIND THE GOVERNMENT’S INSISTENCE THAT THE WAR COULD BE ENDED ON FAVORABLE TERMS FOR ARMENIA? That’s exactly the question that people are asking him now. Knowing that you’re the leader of the country and knowing the war is objectively unwinnable, why didn’t you stop the war while you still had the chance to do so? One reasonable explanation is that he thought that in giving away those seven territories, he’d betray the national sentiments, the proverbial “not an inch of land back” theory, and he’d be blamed for it, and that would mean his demise as a political figure. So he went all the way and lost even more than there was to lose.

Russia is another story. It’s no secret that Russia has been and still is using other countries' territories to bargain with major powers. Georgians know that all too well.

There was a fear that if pro-Western actors were to come to power in Armenia, a similar scenario to Georgia and Ukraine would unfold in Armenia as well. And that’s what happened, albeit indirectly.

And despite the Pashinyan government’s claims that Russia is a friend and partner, their steps spoke of the opposite, and Russia’s, or rather Putin’s, behavior changed accordingly.

IS THERE AN OVERWHELMING PUBLIC SENTIMENT THAT GOING PRO-WESTERN WAS A MISTAKE AND THAT RUSSIA IS THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE? Even though the progressive part of Armenian society isn’t fond of Russia, mostly there is an understanding that we don’t have much of a choice in this regard, geopolitically. In a nutshell, it’s political pragmatism versus political romanticism.

We are dependent on Russia politically and economically, as well as for our energy supplies and military security, and it’s not just because we like it, but because we don’t have the luxury not to be. As bitter a pill it might be to swallow, this is the reality. Our hands are bound and, in this situation, speaking about political alternatives is a moot point.

AND WHAT ARE THE ARGUMENTS THAT THE STILL RATHER SIZABLE NUMBERS OF PASHINYAN SUPPORTERS HAVE AGAINST THAT?

OF THE SNAP ELECTIONS, THE PM RECENTLY INDICATED HE’D BE OK WITH IT, AS LONG AS HE PERSONALLY STAYS ON AS PM. THIS, COMING FROM A PERSON ADVOCATING FOR PRO-WESTERN VALUES, RAISED QUITE A FEW EYEBROWS WORLDWIDE.

They claim that Pashinyan was set up. Or that it wasn’t his fault and the war was inevitable. But there is setback or defeat, and then there is a crushing defeat, a complete fiasco. There was no dignity in

That’s exactly why I called what we have in Armenia a pseudo-democracy. In a true democracy, you can’t make demands like that. Those are words befitting of a tyrant, not a democratic leader. When

you start using national security and judicial issues to further your own political interests, then whatever democratic element you might proclaim to base them on becomes just a façade.

THE WEST WAS ESSENTIALLY INACTIVE DURING THE WAR, AND NOW THE PERSON THEY PLACED THE PROVERBIAL BET ON IS SEEN AS AUTHORITARIAN DOMESTICALLY. DOES IT MEAN THE WEST HAS LOST MORE IN ARMENIA THAN MEETS THE EYE? It certainly was a war for Turkey to strengthen its influence in the region and Russia to keep its own, and during the war we experienced first-hand that the West wasn’t able or willing to do much.

In reality, there were truly certain leverages both for the US, as a NATO ally for Turkey, and the EU, in terms of sanctions and for the sake of human rights, or Great Britain, which has a solid but maybe for some invisible presence in Azerbaijan, but the political interests were put forward vis-à-vis human rights. And from the current perspective it might seem naïve, but we were really waiting and hoping that the West would do something tangible to stop this war. In the end, the 'right is might' principle triumphed, and Russia and Turkey made a deal over the disputed territories.

AND THE REALIZATION OF THAT FACT DID NOTHING TO DIMINISH THE “ALLY” STANDING OF RUSSIA IN THE EYES OF THE ARMENIAN PEOPLE? IS THAT HOW ALLIES BEHAVE? The Russian side resorted to an excuse that whatever was happening was happening not in Armenia but in Karabakh, therefore, they were unable to intervene.

And we could not really afford to demand anything from Russia. From the viewpoint of sovereignty, we have become worse off than any other period since our independence. And this shameful defeat, orchestrated by our current government, has put us in an even more difficult situation.

A Little Heads-up Would Make Sense OP-ED BY NUGZAR B. RUHADZE

B

ig ideas beckon, solemn dreams enchant, a place in history awaits and more than at any time since he’s been in the Kremlin, the current Russian chief executive may be looking for a triumph – would these words sound portentous to any of the ears that are alert to the Russian geopolitical kinks and curves? I read them the other day in one of the most popular western editions.

While the Georgian political elite and their respective electorates are tumbling head over heels into those interminable deliberations over the legitimacy of the 2020 parliamentary elections, each chunk of the overly motley Georgian political spectrum aspires to perpetuate the idea, each in its own way, of the nation’s prospect. But who wouldn’t agree with the famous conventional wisdom that man supposes and God disposes? If Russia continues to be one of the most solid determiners of Georgia’s fate, and she has every possible power to be one, then who will tell me what unexpected tricks the bear might have up its mighty sleeve? There could

be none, but what if there is, and not just one?

The same article by Leon Aron, the resident scholar and director of Russian studies at the American Enterprise Institute, unreservedly says that there are at least two reasons for our northern neighbor’s longtime leader to be thinking about some big and bold actions today, one being strategic and abiding: glory for himself and his Russia, the other motive being tactical: his endeavor toward a lifetime presidency. If this is true and the desire is shored up and balanced by his real-time ambition, then the Russian big guy would need another boost of his ratings. Incidentally, the observant author continues that his highest one ever was 88% in September 2008, following the five-day war against Georgia.

I loathe this kind of connectivity, because it sounds a little ominous, although this might very well be only a suspicion. On the other hand, wouldn’t it be better to be safe than sorry? I ask all my readers to peruse the prominent American scholar’s article I’m talking about to get better versed in what he qualifies as the potential unexpected moves by the Russian Federation in the direction of some of the former soviet republics, if this is imaginable at all.

Image source: CSA Images/Getty Images

The article presupposes that “If the Russians want to launch another short victorious war, there is no shortage of potential targets: at least five neighboring countries are obvious candidates; three of them, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, are the sites of frozen conflicts that can be easily thawed by Russian troops inside those countries or on their

borders.” The other two targets, notes the author, might be Belarus and Kazakhstan, and in case it comes to the Baltic Sea countries, both Brussels and Moscow know that they are indefensible in the short run because Russia enjoys an absolute supremacy in offensive equipment compared to other powers on the European continent. The article con-

cludes that these five potential wars would not quite measure up to Putin’s ambition for the big ideas. But not all is in the hands of just one side of the game. As a matter of fact, “In the longer run, and on truly important issues, democracies are informed by public opinion, which may change foreign policies, often quickly and radically,” which serves as a principle guaranteeing deterrence from any rash and impulsive action.

Going back to our own judgment kitchen, where there are a lot of political vegetables on the table to be turned into a tasty and nourishing dinner for all, I would give deep thought to the fact of our busyness with the nation’s business as usual, but I would at the same time think about the latent politic-economical and ideological fluids running back and forth between Russia and Georgia, doing this when the chasm between our adversary number one, Russia, and our strategic associate number one, America, has widened, having brought the two biggies once again to the point of “daggers drawn.” If I were a politician, I would look for menacing dangers not inside the house, but in the backyard, where players other than us are used to playing the kind of games that have not always ended in our triumph.

BUSINESS

GEORGIA TODAY MARCH 26 - APRIL 1, 2021

5

Where to Book Your Next Hotel-Based Business Meeting or Conference laneous events and conferences within the pandemic restrictions. On top, the natural ventilation system makes it appropriate to hold several meetings per day.

Republic Event Hall offers guests a spacious two-storey area. The ground

BY TEAM GT

T

he world, and indeed Georgia, is slowly re-emerging from the latest lockdowns.

While many companies, either due to personal choice or to ongoing travel restrictions, are still working, training and promoting themselves remotely, thoughts are turning once again to the ever-more effective face-to-face interaction.

Numerous hotels in Georgia offer the facilities needed to host those guests most important to the growth of your business, expansion of your ideas, or sharing of your company’s experiences.

And of the many, the hotels we’ve picked out below, in particular, can be trusted to uphold the latest hygiene and safety standards during your visit.

HILTON BATUMI At Hilton Batumi, there are various meeting spaces with different set up styles possible.

Hilton has developed a brilliant events program called EventReady™, a global meeting designed to create event experiences that are clean, flexible, safe and socially responsible.

Hilton EventReady with CleanStay provide curated solutions with creative food and beverage, thoughtful technology resources, elevated standards and practices, with redesigned spaces for physical distancing, and reimagined ways to meet and gather.

Hilton Batumi Meetings Simplified™ package is specially designed for meetings of up to 35 people. Book with their online express offer and get free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.

The Hilton Batumi venues include: • Extensive event space choices with natural daylight.

• Light-filled function suites and a pillar-free ballroom.

• Disinfection of conference spaces 30 minutes before the event.

• Signs to aid social distancing.

• Hand sanitizers in the hall and at the entrances to the conference spaces.

• Regular air ventilation of meeting spaces.

• Themed coffee breaks and individual menus for your attendees.

40 Rustaveli Avenue, Batumi Email: Batumi.info@hilton.com Tel: (+995) 422 22 22 99

THE SILK HOSPITALITY HOTELS Silk Hospitality is a tourism and recreation company managing a variety of assets, ranging from upscale hotels to local restaurants, casinos, and other leisure facilities. Found at three key touristic destinations, Tbilisi, Batumi, and Tsinandali, each offers bespoke accommodation and entertainment for guests, in order to create a truly world-class experience.

tions can be divided into three separate spaces depending on guests needs. All rooms come with large windows for natural daylight, free high-speed Wi-Fi, and great views of the sea and the charming city.

1 Ninoshvili St., Batumi Tel: (+995) 577 790 049

RADISSON BLU IVERIA, TBILISI In order to help stop the spread of the virus and keep people safe, the Silk Hospitality group has carefully reshaped its traditional offerings and fully adapted to the new reality, promising to host events in the safest way possible.

The team of Silk Hospitality is happy to get back on track by the reopening the meeting and event venues, according to the regulations. Meetings, conferences and events being a key driver of hotel revenue.

Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel Tbilisi, Radisson Blu Hotel Batumi, Radisson Collection Hotel Tsinandali Estate, Park Hotel Tsinandali Estate, and multi-functional space Republic have a new, in-depth cleanliness and disinfection protocol, created in partnership with the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company SGS. The protocol is specially designed to ensure guests’ safety and peace of mind during a visit to the venues.

“We will work in partnership with every client to meet the needs of each special event,” the Group says. “The professional team at each venue aims to fulfil all possible requests and wishes, including special design and set-up of the zones, technical requirements for hybrid meetings as well as a selected menu of canapes and lunch breaks, that are vital for each event to be successful. According to the regulations, a limited amount of guests is allowed in one room. Yet, if you need more space for more people, we are happy to offer a simple solution- our spaces can facilitate the movement of people to different conference rooms, according to the regulations, and also offer guests the opportunity to take PCR tests. We are glad that we can be very flexible, when it comes to the satisfaction of our precious customers.”

Silk Hospitality Tel: (+995) 599 531 177 Being in line with Covid-19 regulations, the team of each Silk Hospitality property, with SGS, have implemented 10 special key standards, among them: 1. Ensuring the safe handling of personal belongings in designated areas.

2. Installed stations with alcohol-based hand sanitizer and gloves in hotel public areas and meeting and event spaces.

3. Increased the cleaning and disinfection frequency of all hotel areas, paying special attention to high-touch items.

4. Improved the air circulation processes to improve air quality.

5. Displayed door hangers with cleaning and disinfecting information in each meeting room.

6. Placed a “disinfect box" in meeting rooms for used stationary items to be disinfected after events.

7. Ensured physical distancing in meeting and event facilities.

8. Ensured the hotel event manager is available for contact directly through clients’ own devices, to assist with requests during the event.

9. Adhered to strict safety procedures while serving all food and beverages.

10. Frequently cleaning and disinfecting coffee machines.

REPUBLIC EVENT HALL Republic is a multi-functional space, located in the center of Tbilisi, that combines restaurants and a venue for events with an interior design by contemporary Georgian architects. Republic Event Hall covers 534 square meters, which is a valuable opportunity for holding miscel-

Be inspired by their meeting venue’s views of Tbilisi and the nearby mountains, with a spacious ballroom and nine

floor is designated for guest reception, promo material allocation, photo-shooting, etc, while the main floor is designed for events/conferences and lunch or coffee breaks. A large projector screen (3/4) is installed in the main area; however, any additional technical supplies may be provided upon request.

6 Republic Square, Tbilisi Tel: (+995) 599 425 555

TSINANDALI ESTATE, KAKHETI The history of Tsinandali Estate, as one of the most important centers of cultural life in Georgia, extends more than two centuries into the past. In the time of Alexander Chavchavadze, it was a must destination for musicians, writers, poets and other prominent foreigners visiting Georgia, as well as for local public figures, and its cultural traditions are still upheld today. The place regularly hosts festivals, exhibitions, concerts, library events, fantastic weddings and has the opportunity to serve simultanesly more than 3000 people.

flexible meeting rooms, ideal for both corporate and private events. The ballroom can be divided into three sections within the pandemic regulations, depending on guest needs. If you want natural daylight for a meeting, you can choose from six of the rooms that offer large windows and lovely views of the capital.

1 Republic Square, Tbilisi Tel: (+995) 599 736 367

MERCURE TBILISI OLD TOWN, TBILISI

“Marriott International has been recognized as a hospitality leader for 92 years due to its commitment to quality, exacting standards, and rigorous training,” the company states. “The company has rolled out a multi-pronged platform to elevate its cleanliness standards and hospitality norms and behaviors to meet the new health and safety challenges presented by the current pandemic environment. We will continue to monitor the situation, as well as to follow the recommendations of the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health authorities.”

For group events, the hotel offers a PCR testing service to its guests. All guests who book a conference room with full whole service before April 1, will be able to take advantage of a special 30% discount.

13 Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi Tel: (+995) 32 277 92 00

SHERATON GRAND METECHI PALACE, TBILISI

Radisson Collection Tsinandali Estate, Tel: (+995) 598 500 094

Park Hotel Tsinandali Estate, Tel (+995) 598 500 094

Tsinandali Estate offers 13 spaces for different events in both the Radisson Collection Tsinandali Estate & Park Hotel Tsinandali Estate Hotels.

RADISSON BLU HOTEL, BATUMI With the beautiful Black Sea in the background, the hotel meeting rooms here make ideal venues for both business and personal events. They offer seven flexible meeting rooms, which include two boardrooms that can host up to 12 people, and a ballroom that spans 350 square meters. The ballroom accommodates up to 350 people in general, but within the pandemic regula-

Mercure Tbilisi Old Town provides the perfect setting for all kinds of meetings in a warm and locally inspired atmosphere, in Conference Room ‘Gorgasali.’

The hotel collaborates with the world leading company Bureau Veritas to provide high standards of safety and a hygiene protocol aimed at reassuring customers and employees, and to foster a fast, trustworthy resumption of activity.

The daily rental fee includes: Laptop, notepads, pencils, cordless microphone, flipcharts, projector, screen, and a clicker.

9 Vakhtang Gorgasali St., Tbilisi Tel: (+995) 32 200 60 60

TBILISI MARRIOTT HOTEL Located on the central avenue of the capital, Tbilisi Marriott Hotel boasts not only more than a century of history, but also completely renovated conference facilities.

Tbilisi Marriott Hotel is once again open to host all kinds of business meetings, conferences and trainings in fully renovated spaces, taking into consideration all the hygiene and safety regulations. Marriott offers its loyal customers a full package of conference services, including all the necessary technical equipment. It is possible to hold full or semi-hybrid conferences there.

Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace, one of the most popular hotels in the capital, is distinguished by its 11 large conference halls suitable for a variety of different purposes, from business meetings, to weddings or social gatherings. At Sheraton, from seamless preparation and expert support, to flexible layouts and cutting-edge technology, inventive ideas, and smart tools are guaranteed, so your company can deliver forward-thinking results.

The Kavkasioni Ballroom, for example, is the largest ballroom in Tbilisi, at 2000 square meters, with an every-day capac-

ity of over 1,000 guests in theater-style seating arrangement, or 600 in a classroom or banquet-style. Today, of course, no more than 30 participants of a training/conference can be allowed. Each participant should wear a face mask and keep a social distance of two meters while attending an event.

At the entrance of each conference hall, disinfectant stations allow guests to clean their hands before entering, and disposable gloves are available.

The hotel management guarantees regular cleaning and airing of the ballrooms several times a day to create maximum safety for those making use of the facilities.

20 Telavi St., Tbilisi Tel: (+995) 32 277 20 20

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BUSINESS

GEORGIA TODAY

MARCH 26 - APRIL 1, 2021

THE ISET ECONOMIST A BLOG ABOUT ECONOMICS AND THE SOUTH CAUCAUS

www.iset-pi.ge/blog

The ISET Policy Institute (ISET-PI, www.iset-pi.ge) is an independent think-tank associated with the International School of Economics at TSU (ISET). Our blog carries economic analysis of current events and policies in Georgia and the South Caucasus region ranging from agriculture, to economic growth, energy, labor markets and the nexus of economics, culture and religion. Thought-provoking and fun to read, our blog posts are written by international faculty teaching at ISET and recent graduates representing the new generation of Georgian, Azerbaijani and Armenian economists.

COVID and the City – A Spatial Fracture in Georgia?

BLOG BY LUC LERUTH

T

he COVID pandemic raises a vast number of questions for economists, though researchers have mostly focused on advanced economies and on the economic ‘scarring’ that the virus has inflicted. Not all, however, as a few economists have been interested in the likely evolution of cities after the pandemic. They observe that some cities, in particular travel hubs, have been epidemic hotspots, while many others, usually smaller, have been reasonably spared. More rural areas have also been less affected, although with strong variation across regions.

Importantly, there was also an exceptional real-life experiment: people were forced to work remotely. Many have since become accustomed to this way of life.

Before COVID, they would go to their offices as a matter of routine, even when given the opportunity to work from home.

Will this change? Once the pandemic is over, is it possible that these same people will decide to settle in the countryside, or another city, with the occasional trip to Tbilisi when strictly necessary? At present, it is not entirely obvious. Most scholars observe that past epidemics (some of which proved much more deadly than COVID) led to a short exodus, followed by a resumption in the trend towards large city centers. That trend, except for a few years every now and then, has been going on for centuries. Take Tbilisi: except before 2014 (for known reasons) when the population declined, the size of the city has since been steadily increasing.

Could COVID change this? If the trend could be reversed (one third of the population lives in Tbilisi already) or even slowed, it would be good news for an urban infrastructure that is clearly under pressure. These questions are significant, but their relevance has been exacerbated under the recent adoption of a decentralization strategy by the authorities.

Once translated into law, it will give Tbilisi (and other subnational governments) the means to face future challenges, however, COVID may have changed the nature and magnitude of these challenges.

Image source: GeorgianTravelGuide

WHAT DO THE ECONOMISTS TELL US? Migration to city centers is a symptom and sometimes result of the so-called spatial fracture. The concept is hard to define, but its origins go back to the late sixties when economists observed migration to the outskirts of city centers (note ‘outskirts’) by well-off families. Firms had established their activities in the suburbs, and those that could afford it settled near their employment. The poorer populations could no longer afford to live in those neighborhoods and migrated to cheaper houses in city centers where there were fewer job opportunities. This instigated a vicious cycle.

It soon stopped though, as cheap and fancy flats in city centers, combined with the prospective of an active cultural life, attracted the young population and helped them settle in. The trend had reversed, and cities started growing again. Still, it is generally agreed that a greater distance to poles of activity increases the likelihood of unemployment and poverty. As a consequence, remote areas are typically poorer and even stigmatized. But now that COVID

has taught people to work from home, and that internet connections are reliable, things may have changed. Could it have an impact on the growth of cities?

There are certain factors that could at least change the speed of the trend, perhaps even its direction.

Factors conducive to city center growth include: • Not too many jobs can be performed remotely on a permanent basis and most require some in-person contact from time to time; • Amenities in rural areas are not always sufficiently developed, especially if a large-scale influx of people (leaving Tbilisi) must be absorbed (schools, hospitals, even the internet, etc.); • Cities will continue to be attractive to highly skilled young people who hope to avail themselves of the cultural activities on offer (notwithstanding the market for friendship and partners).

At the same time, there are factors that will act as a repellent to living in city centers, at least in the medium term, such as: • A reluctance to take part in any activity that involves large crowds (public

transport, movie theatres, restaurants, etc.); • The loss of income experienced by wealthy couples, which may prevent them from entering (or re-entering) the urban real estate market; • The need to stay in the city at times, for work-related reasons, may just prevent people from maintaining two residences, even if their flat in the city is not too large.

THE CASE OF GEORGIA There are two main questions that must be asked: i) is there an important spatial fracture in Georgia that could make it unrealistic to settle outside Tbilisi? ii) how will the COVID experiment impact Georgian commuting habits in the longterm?

There is certainly a spatial fracture in Georgia, but it is not necessarily more acute than in other countries. A few studies before 2016 observe an economic fracture, though it is largely explained by the difference in degree of urbanization across regions; spatial clustering by region does not yield surprising results either. Even if poor data implies that the results obtained

from these studies must be interpreted with caution, the evidence is not surprising: Tbilisi is economically better off than other parts of the country. More recently (April 2020), a German Economic Team, incollaborationwithISET,analyzedincome distribution and poverty in Georgia. Their conclusion was the same, but with a twist: Tbilisi still has the highest GDP per capita in Georgia, however, it also has the slowest growth rate in the country, and other regions are catching up.

Of course, not all is economics related.

Regarding the second question, for example, the relative importance of COVIDrelated factors (such as those listed above) from the Georgian public perception is not yet known. As for the scope for employment, subnational competitiveness will be key. In a recent study, the World Bank (2020) identifies “secondary nodes of economic activity outside Tbilisi”, which certainly play an important role in attracting people who would possibly prefer to settle in these nodes. Yet how all these factors will combine to slow, accelerate, or even reverse general migration to the capital is still difficult to assess.

Whatever may determine the attraction of a particular place for businesses and people relies not solely on economic opportunities. Other factors, such as how connected, rich, stimulating, comfortable, or in other words, how ‘livable’ the environment is, play a significant role in our perception of well-being and quality of life. Thus, tracking indicators of livability could offer a better understanding of the hidden constraints of settling outside Tbilisi, even with good internet access. Indicators of livability can become a catalyst for change at the local level. Its pillars would be health, environment, culture, education, and gender bias, amongst other things. They would certainly determine whether the spatial fracture in Georgia will at least partially heal, while also determining the flow of migration to Tbilisi.

Ultimately, it is a subject worth studying: we all have colleagues who have decided to stay away from Tbilisi during the pandemic and work from another place. Those I know seemed to have enjoyed it and sometimes even come back for a visit.

Global Finance Names TBC Capital the Best Investment Bank in Georgia

I

nternational edition Global Finance has named TBC Capital the best investment bank in Georgia, 2021.

This year, for the 22nd time, the magazine identified the world's best investment banks by country, region and sector.

The editorial staff of Global Finance, together with a jury panel composed of leading industry analysts and experts, reviewed both announced and completed deals by 2020 and identified the winning financial institutions according to the following criteria: market share, number and size of deals, service and advice, structuring capabilities, innovative approach, competitive pricing and market reputation.

"Worldwide, expectations for consolidation in large sectors are high,” says Joseph Giarraputo, publisher and editorial director of Global Finance. “That is

why investment banks will play a leading role in shaping the post-pandemic economy. Companies, as never before, now need investment banking specialists and their skills, which creates the necessary opportunities for the current situation.

The Global Finance Award is a valuable guide to the new reality.”

"TBC Capital is actively raising awareness about capital market instruments and access to diversified funding sources for corporations," Giorgi Tkhelidze, Deputy Director General of TBC, noted.

“As a result, last year, we issued bonds worth up to GEL 1 billion. Even during the crisis, TBC Capital actively published research in various directions, which made it easier for our business partners to make decisions.”

In 2020, with the help of TBC Capital, TBC Leasing placed GEL 58.4 million worth of bonds on the Stock Exchange,

and the investment company Georgia Global Utilities, which manages water supply and discharge and energy assets, placed $250 million international green bonds on the Irish Stock Exchange. TBC Capital also successfully closed two private placements totaling $25 million.

Parallel to its intensive investment activities, TBC Capital responded to the crisis in the very first days of the pandemic. The first webinar to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the economy took place in April 2020. During the year, TBC Capital hosted six online conferences on expectations and possible scenarios related to various business sectors.

In addition, TBC Capital continues to prepare weekly reports on the dynamics of economic recovery, which are an additional tool for companies to assess the current situation and better plan their activities.

BUSINESS

GEORGIA TODAY MARCH 26 - APRIL 1, 2021

7

The Quarantine Zones Program - An Overview From March 2020 up to and including January 2021, on average, 6340 hotel rooms were utilized per month. The dynamics of this figure by month are nearly identical to the dynamics of total hotels utilized.

The average price of one hotel room per day over the analyzed period was 32 GEL. This figure was at its highest in April (50 GEL), and at its lowest in December and January (2021) (17 GEL and 19 GEL, respectively).

In sum, the program provided alleviation for at least some actors of the accommodation sector; however, given the size of the tourism industry and the magnitude of the shock, this support is relatively insignificant.

HOTEL PRICE INDEX In February 2021, in Georgia, the hotel price index decreased by 2.8% compared to January 2021. The 3-star, 4-star and 5-star hotel price index decreased by

I

n March 2020, to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Georgia closed its borders to international visitors. The combination of the pandemic breaking out and the lockdown measures imposed to combat the spread of the virus plunged businesses in the hospitality industry into crisis. After that, a government program emerged which aimed at: 1) providing quarantine spaces for Georgians returning to the country, as well as other people at risk of COVID19 infection, and people actually infected with COVID-19; and 2) providing at least some support to the heavily damaged accommodation industry. Thus, the concept of quarantine hotels emerged, and under this government program, 220 different hotels (and 11,744 hotel rooms) were utilized as special quarantine zones during the period of March 2020 to February 19, 2021. According to the GNTA, the program ensured that 3644 employees in the tourism sector kept their jobs, and 148,904 people were assigned to quarantine zones between March 2020 and February 2021.

From March 2020 up to and including January 2021, a total of GEL 66.6 mln

was spent on the program. This represents an average of GEL 6.1 mln per month. The program spent the most in April 2020 (GEL 9.7 mln) and the least in January 2021 (GEL 2.2 mln). If the dynamics of monthly spending are analyzed, April and May, two months with the most stringent lockdown measures, stand out for the highest spending, along with August (coinciding with a lockdown imposed in Mestia, Svaneti) and November (coinciding with the peak of the virus’s spread in the country). On the contrary, June and July stand out for the lowest amounts spent, as well as December and January (2021).

From March 2020 up to and including January 2021, on average 94 hotels were utilized per month. However, when carrying out a month-by-month analysis, it can be observed that before August, much fewer hotels were utilized (on average 68 per month), and from August to December, many more hotels were utilized (on average 128 per month), while this figure dropped to 51 in January 2021. It is worth noting that the number of hotels used as quarantine zones by month is unsurprisingly correlated with the dynamics of the virus spread.

3.1%, while for guesthouses, the price index decreased by 0.5%.

In February 2021, compared to February 2020, hotel prices in Georgia increased by 9.8%. The prices of 3*, 4*, 5* hotels increased by 6.7%, while the prices of guesthouses increased by 15.1%.

Compared to February 2019, the hotel price index decreased by 6.9%.

AVERAGE HOTEL PRICES In Georgia, the average cost of a room in a 3-star hotel was 126 GEL per night in February 2021, while the average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia was 180 GEL per night, and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse was 75 GEL per night.

The average cost of a room in a 5-star hotel in Georgia in February 2021 was 345 GEL per night. In Guria, the average price was 464 GEL, followed by Samtskhe-Javakheti - 433 GEL, Tbilisi - 428 GEL and Kakheti – 329 GEL.

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SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY

MARCH 26 - APRIL 1, 2021

MoU Signed to Boost the Energy Efficiency of Keda’s Public Schools with the Support of the EU and Austrian Development Cooperation

BY KETEVAN SKHIRTLADZE

A

Natakhtari Fund Presents 2020 Annual Report to the Public

N

atakhtariFundwasfounded in 2011. The aim of the Fund is to empower adolescents without parental care, and young people who left the care system, and prepare them for independent living. This implies their support in education and employment. The project is being implemented in partnership with the NGO Association Our Home Georgia.

Since 2011, the Fund has helped 600 beneficiaries with GEL 992,593. As a result, hundreds of young people deprived of care started independent lives, and many of them are building successful careers. This is ensured by three main priorities of the Natakhtari Fund: education, employment and psychological assistance.

Throughout 2020, the Fund allocated its resources by needs that were relevant for each beneficiary:

MAIN CHALLENGES During the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to support young people leaving the care system increased, as they have to live without family support. Therefore, overcoming social isolation is especially hard for them. In addition, they lost their jobs due to the pandemic, and for some, physical and mental health conditions were exacerbated. However, at this stage, the major obstacles have been overcome, and the Natakhtari Fund and NGO Association Our Home Georgia continue support of adolescents and young people deprived of care across Georgia.

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of the Ajara Autonomous Republic, CENN, Institute of Democracy, and Keda LAG on the introduction of energy-efficient practices in Keda schools. All signees seek to strengthen cooperation to support rural development according to best international and European practices, sustainable inclusive economic growth, improvement of the natural environment and social conditions in rural areas, as well as the well-being of the local rural population. They do so by considering local, regional and national interests and acting accordingly, first by getting schools heated with central systems rather than wood stoves, and by teaching the children and wider communities why embracing such technology is of benefit to the environment.

The project was initiated within the frameworks of the Keda LEADER and Sustainable Forest Management for Rural Development projects.

To find out more about the joint initiative, GEORGIA TODAY spoke to CENN’s Nino Gaprindashvili.

HOW WOULD YOU ASSESS THE MOU? It is important to introduce such cooperation between different parties in order

to promote the sustainable use of natural resources in the region, to provide energy to schools, and to raise environmental awareness in school children.

The memorandum was only formalized by the close cooperation between the parties, which in recent months has ensured intensive work in all public schools in the region, the results of which are already visible. With a preliminary expert examination of every detail and redistribution of responsibilities, including financial contributions, the key to success was precisely good coordination.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEMORANDUM? Within the framework of this memorandum, the parties, through joint efforts, will promote: Introduction of energy and energy efficient technologies in public schools and villages of Keda Municipality, which means improving the energy supply of schools in the following areas: Design and upgrade of central heating systems; Warming of schools for energy saving; Purchase and installation of energy stoves and helio systems; Arranging security systems stands; Increase energy management capabilities for school administration; Introducing non-formal education in schools in the field of energy; and, Establishment of demonstration centers for the rural population.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF INTRODUCING ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIES? Energy efficient technologies are primarily green. Here, we’re talking about tech-

nologies that will reduce operating costs, and at the same time, do not harm the environment, as is the case of traditional energy technologies.

Such technologies are great news for our country. Many may not even have complete information, which leads to a distrust of new technologies and hinders progress. However, this is the most important part of the aggressive environmental and economic policies of the modern world and European countries. It is the education, information and technology demonstration of an effective community that has become the basis for the implementation of energy projects in schools.

Our project includes a wide educational program, which, also in agreement with the Ministry of Education, will start this academic year and will be more intensive from September. Nor should we forget that school also functions as a community development center in a village. It is the school that gathers intellectual resources and is directly related to almost every

family and their well-being. Schools best show what social or financial benefits these technologies bring, how they save money, and sometimes, conversely, how they become a source of income instead of cost.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER SUCH PROJECTS PLANNED? “We’re proud that all schools in Keda Municipality are equipped with a variety of heating, generation, warming, security systems, and that they set an example within the village, town and municipality, as well as for the entire region and country,” Gaprindashvili tells us. “As a rule, the replication of such projects is fast. It’s also just a matter of time, as the country has to keep up with technology in any case, and good demonstration and practical initiatives are the best way to speed up the process.

“There is little time left: no one disputes that traditional heating systems have already led to the degradation of forests, and if we do not counter this process with modern technology, there will be dire consequences, both in terms of natural resource depletion and economic depletion. .

At the present stage, together with the Ministry, a non-formal education program

Traditional heating systems have already led to the degradation of forests, and if we do not counter this process with modern technology, there will be dire consequences is being prepared, which will soon be introduced in Keda schools before being nationalized.

“Of course, CENN, as an environmental organization, actively continues to work towards sustainable energy, it is important to use renewable energy resources in the face of climate change and to introduce modern energy efficient technologies,” she concludes.

Within the frames of the MoU, CENN procured and install the equipment needed for introducing energy efficient technologies to public schools in the Keda Municipality, and will also carry out awareness-raising activities in the schools and their communities.

The Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara in turn promises to mobilize the school administration, teachers and students to ensure the efficient delivery of both technology and knowledge; install solar power systems (delivered by CENN) in all schools in the municipality; organize the installation of the insulation materials (delivered by CENN); and develop and implement projects prepared within the framework of the initiative.

In parallel, the Institute of Democracy will facilitate awareness raising activities on energy efficient technologies in Keda’s public schools in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara.

They will further share other grant project information related to the introduction and use of the new technologies in Keda’s schools.

KEDA LAG, meanwhile, will monitor the installed energy efficient technologies in those schools, analyze the “before and after” of introducing energy and energy efficient technologies in the schools, and will share its experience with other LAGs and LEADER municipalities in Georgia.

The MoU is set to last four years.

SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY MARCH 26 - APRIL 1, 2021

9

Restaurateur & Gastronomy Consultant Levan Qoqiashvili: 700 mln People Are Starving, and We’re Still Wasting Food Composting is also very important, meaning making use of product waste for something else, including stalks and stems.

AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC, THE POVERTY LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO RISE TO UP TO 125 MILLION, AND 2020 MARKS THE MOST SEVERE INCREASE IN GLOBAL FOOD INSECURITY, IMPACTING VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS IN ALMOST EVERY COUNTRY. YET WE CONTINUE TO WASTE A THIRD OF PERFECTLY EDIBLE FOOD. WHAT WORK HAVE YOU DONE IN THE PAST/ WILL YOU DO IN FUTURE TO HELP THE VULNERABLE WITH REGARDS TO FOOD WASTE?

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY KETEVAN SKHIRTLADZE

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EORGIA TODAY, in partnership with CENN and the British Embassy in Georgia, is running a joint awarenessraising campaign to try and turn things around with Georgia’s food waste issue. As part of the campaign, we are talking to those in the know – chefs and industry experts – to find out their views on the food waste problem, what they are doing to combat it, and what they suggest could be done in future.

This week, we spoke with restaurateur and gastronomy expert & consultant Levan Qoqiashvili, who boasts 17 years’ experience in the hospitality industry and runs his own agency, Gastronaut.

Two years ago, he was elected the Executive Director of the Gastronomic Association of Georgia, and is a co-founder of the same association.

“Our main goal here is to popularize Georgian gastronomy, both abroad and in the country itself, advocating education and research in the gastronomy industry,” he tells us. “We currently have 105 members in the association, among them people from the regions, family cellars, family restaurants, family accommodation, general gastronomic locations, and, of course, the best Chefs of Georgia.

“Gastronomy is the science that studies the culture of food,” Qoqiashvili says. “We are trying to introduce this food culture in Georgia; to develop our country in this direction. Gastronomic tourism is a very important part of this.”

Gastronaut currently has some interesting food establishments as its members, notably Barbarestan Restaurant, Puri Guliani Bakery & Kitchen, Rigi Gastrodouqan and many others. In collaboration with the Gastronomic Association of Georgia, and with the support of the Georgian Agricultural Ministry, the first National Chefs Championship, the world's prestigious Bocuse d’Or, was held in Tbilisi 2019. Gastronaut also works abroad to help Georgian restaurants develop and present Georgian cuisine by matching it to the tastes of that particular country.

“When I was a student, even though I was studying law, I started working in the field of hospitality,” Qoqiashvili tells GEORGIA TODAY. “Georgia is a hospitable nation, and I was brought up surrounded by such traditions. My love for guests and communication was deepened by the fascinating uniqueness of Georgia's gastronomic culture. Gastronomy is considered one of the best ambassadors in the world, considered to be the ‘ambassador of peace.’ There is no country that isn’t interested in sharing the love for another's cuisine.”

ONE-THIRD OF FOOD PRODUCED EACH YEAR IS LOST OR WASTED. FOOD WASTE IS CAUSED BY OVERPRODUCTION, SPOILAGE, OVERBUYING, AND A LOT MORE! FOOD WASTE IS ALSO SAID TO BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTORS TO CLIMATE CHANGE, ACCOUNTING FOR 8% OF THE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. WHAT HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE BEEN WITH REGARDS TO FOOD WASTE IN GEORGIA, AND HOW HAVE YOU WORKED TO COMBAT IT? The situation in Georgia is bad in this regard. A third of products are lost in the world, despite there being 700 million people hungry on Earth. When we established communication in 2012 with the University of Gastronomic Culture in Italy, the largest research organization trying to promote proper use of food, it was the first time we’d heard of “food waste,” and it really got us thinking.

Even nowadays, very little is known about this topic in Georgia, which is unfortunate. When we meet and host the world’s best chefs and gastronomy enthusiasts here in Georgia, almost all of them are obsessed with the heritage of Georgian cuisine, our gastronomic traditions and unique recipes. But the famous Georgian Feast keeps such gastro travelers confused, as most of the food remains uneaten and is literally thrown away. This common situation for us unfortunately has the real gastronomy influencers leaving Georgia with the term “food waste” on their minds.

When we did the Bocuse d'Or National Chefs Championship in 2018, many of our people first heard about food waste there, and the highest score was given to chefs who reduced food waste properly, for example, for the proper use of bone, fish heads, or the use of parts that are usually thrown in the trash.

As such, before the competition, we had to explain to our chefs how to work in a waste-limiting manner. We plan to hold another National Championship in 2022, and higher qualification will be given to the importance of food waste, and we will strengthen this propaganda in young chefs and in the hospitality sector in general.

Important things happened during the Covid-19 pandemic: health became important; more and more people started cooking food at home; and the price increase of products since has been huge. Restaurants are being forced to think not about increasing the price for customers, but about feeding them quality food. To achieve this, one possibility is to reduce portions.

Food waste should be managed properly, and restaurants should see the current reality as an opportunity. The more cor-

rectly you use a product, the more revenue you generate.

WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE TO REDUCE FOOD WASTAGE? They say you can reduce a restaurant's daily expenses by 40-45% if you know how to process a product properly. So, my first suggestion is to use as little product as possible. Prepare small portions of food, no need for large portions, which allows us to save daily and not generate waste. When a guest in a restaurant orders a salad, they are often served enough for 2 or 3 people. The same thing happens in homes: people prepare more food than is needed. Buy less, use less, serve acceptable sized portions.

In general, the human body can be satisfied with 600 grams of food per meal.

In restaurants, there is the general view that a guest should eat at least three things: a starter, a main course, and a dessert, for example, but always three things. And we professionals are told that that 600 should be divided into three: the salad should be 220 grams, hot dish 230 grams and dessert up to 150 grams. But this wouldn’t be an acceptable practice in today’s Georgia.

Whatever you put on the plate, eat to the end, and before ordering in a restaurant, ask the waiter about the dish: they should be able to explain it well to you.

Whether you eat at home or in a restaurant, pay attention to how many grams the product is.

Buy only as much as you can use. Georgia is in a bad situation in this regard.

Make a list of what you need and be guided by that list; it will save the planet when we take care of ourselves, and will also reflect on our pockets.

PEOPLE ARE LESS LIKELY TO BUY AND CONSUME FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IF THEY ARE UNAESTHETIC OR PHYSICALLY IRREGULAR. AS SUCH, ONE THIRD OF THE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES GLOBALLY DO NOT MAKE IT TO OUR GROCERY STORE SHELVES BECAUSE THEY ARE REJECTED TO AVOID COMPLAINTS OF BAD QUALITY PRODUCT BY THE CONSUMERS. WHERE DO YOU BUY THE INGREDIENTS YOU USE IN YOUR KITCHEN? DO YOU CHOOSE AESTHETICALLY PLEASING, OR ARE YOU HAPPY TO BUY “UGLY”?

People instinctively try to buy beautiful products. I advise them not to judge a product by how it looks: a natural bio product rarely comes out beautiful. Georgians have delicious strawberries, I tasted strawberries in eight different countries, strawberries they told me were “good,” but even our worst-looking strawberries taste better. You know why? Because we’re

a poor country and poor farmers don’t have the means to cultivate excess products, so they cultivate what they have with extra care.

We shouldn’t distinguish either fruits or vegetables visually: a visually imperfect product can be just as tasty. When a product has a worm, it means it’s healthy.

But as children, we’re often taught the opposite. The truth is, we won’t find worms in products where fertilizers and poisonous pesticides were used, because the worms can’t find the desired nutrients in such products. Organic farming is opposed to such poisoning because it removes things that are very necessary substances; things that both worms and humans eat. If the fruit is damaged, simply remove the damaged part and eat the rest. When people see an apple with a worm in, in Georgia, they will likely throw it away. It’s common in Georgia for this to happen, and it comes down to education.

I try to buy most of my products from farmers, and I have great communication with family farms. I try to buy everything at the Navtlukhi market. I also trust AgroHub. In short, a product, even if “ugly” can turn out even more delicious.

40% OF WASTE IN GEORGIA IS ORGANIC WASTE, A LARGE PORTION OF WHICH IS FOOD. WHAT EFFECT DOES THIS HAVE ON THE ENVIRONMENT? HOW DO YOU SUGGEST WE REDUCE THIS PERCENTAGE? Another important thing is to clean the refrigerator, check the temperature, control what products you store, and know the expiry date of the product. Learn which products can be put together in the refrigerator: refrigerators have different shelves, and each shelf is for different things. Unfortunately, refrigerators tend to be very untidy in Georgia, often resulting in food waste.

Share with friends what “food waste” is.

It’s very important for the country and the people to talk about it, and to share that knowledge.

The biggest danger in the long run is the misuse of products. Globalization is taking place and the world is becoming less productive, with desertification being seen over a large part of the planet. Globalization is reducing the possibility of production, yet companies around the world seek to offer a wider variety of products, despite the fact that 700 million people are starving.

On Earth, we produce more than we eat. This affects both our health and the planet. Many of the products people throw in the trash can actually be used. For example, machine coffee, which nearly all of us drink, leaves residue. This residue can be used by farmers as a fertilizer.

So, we should collect the remnants of this coffee and send it out to farmers. In some countries, there is even a law allowing food establishments to store such waste.

Awareness should be raised in the community. We should all be talking about food waste and how to reduce it. Unfortunately, awareness of such issues is very low in Georgia. But it has to change, as it is our responsibility to the planet and to each other that together we take better care of our Earth.

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SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY

MARCH 26 - APRIL 1, 2021

Reno, not Nevada

BLOG BY TONY HANMER

R

eno, pronounced as in Renault, and short for renovation. This is what I’ve been immersed in for a couple of weeks in Tbilisi: the ongoing saga of taking a completely unfinished apartment to a state able to be walked into and lived in.

So many choices, narrowed down by

one’s taste, desired quality, and budget!

Flooring materials, wallpaper or paint, ceilings, bathroom tiles, curtains, heating system, door locks. Then furniture (ready to buy or custom made), appliances, and all the bits and pieces like cutlery, crockery, and bedding. My taste, hers, or a mixture? Color schemes?

She (my wife) had got there first and chosen browns and creams for the bathroom tiles, in three different patterns which worked well together. I decided to do the rest of the small flat in a similar

palette, from brown through yellow, a bit of orange or red as well. The necessary contrast with these hues would come later from my choices of photos and pictures to frame, a whole kaleidoscope.

At least as important as the above items is who will be installing them. Here we lucked out, with highly recommended craftspeople doing it all very well, buttressing their reputations thereby and becoming our friends, instead of failing us and becoming our enemies!

But there were a few blips along the

way, largely from having several people each working on a different stage of a project, like the doors. The wife was against solid wood ones, apparently justifiably afraid of shrinkage even from the driest materials, leading to ill-fitting results in the future. I was equally against the self-named “Door of Kings, King of Doors” type, which are basically ornate but fake: plastic film over Masonite, which we unwittingly went for on our upstairs doors in Svaneti. Only a third main choice remained: wood-toned “metallo-plastic” doors, typically used on bathrooms. Unusual, but not impossible.

However, the man who until now had done bathroom, walls, floors and ceilings, balked as soon as he saw my choice, unannounced, installed. “I can’t finish the frames around these, what have you done, if only you’d told me!” he exclaimed, and then spent the next half an hour bemoaning his fate and brainstorming what to do, while I stressed out. In the end, we took a taxi to a factory of the “Door of Kings” type, ordered enough corner lengths to finish the job, and asked a friend of his to cut and glue them in on the spot. Done in a day, with much less fuss than his initial reaction had suggested.

With not much space to play with, we went with two double beds (one a bit bigger than the other, as the rooms are) each with a hinged liftable mattress support revealing a considerable storage area underneath. The sofa would also open out to make a third bed, and I went for nice bright yellow material to upholster it; and the coffee table turns into a dining table for at least 8!

With everything being of measurably exact right angles, I decided to soften the look with the lighting choices, which are all circles. No expensive chandeliers: the main light in the living room is a minimalist thin band of illumination

hanging from three vermicelli-thin wires like a UFO. Nice to have lower-energy LEDs for all lights too, as we will be paying for our electricity here, unlike in Svaneti, where it’s been free for longer than my 21 years in Georgia!

The kitchen was where we really put down the most money. It’s being custom made, three-sided, upper and lower cabinet sets, and will be installed soon, after a whole month or so of work. The stove, hood and sink are pretty well the best brand you can buy in Tbilisi. Other things might be damaged by renters, and we went cheaper for these, like the chairs.

During the whole process, I’ve been sending my wife photos to examine in Svaneti, but she’s given me carte blanche to make all choices, with a few caveats.

I suppose I proved myself in doing a similar job for the village house’s entire upstairs some years ago, and she trusts me now. An important understanding, as we will eventually be retiring to this little nest…

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

Luke Grenfell-Shaw: Around-the-World Cyclist with Cancer Arrives in Georgia

BY AMY JONES

S

ince the outbreak of the pandemic, few tourists have set foot in Georgia, and Luke Grenfell-Shaw is perhaps the only around-the-world cyclist to arrive in the country since the start of the pandemic.

The coronavirus outbreak is not the only factor which makes Luke’s journey unique. Luke is cycling as a ‘CanLiver’, someone who is living with cancer, facing uncertainty and challenge daily, whilst acknowledging they can still live a rich and full life. With fresh snow reminding Tbilisi that spring hadn’t quite taken control, I sat down with Luke to hear about his trip.

Luke set off to ride 30,000 kilometers from Bristol to Beijing at the beginning of 2020, unaware that a pandemic would render travel extremely challenging.

“Borders have been difficult,” Luke says. He had to change his route to keep up with changes, cycling around Hungary and to the east of Ukraine, only to find the border to Russia was shut.

“Instead of finding it frustrating that I have to do an extra 500 kilometers because a border is closed, I tried to think differently,” Luke explains. “I’m cycling during a pandemic; a lot could go wrong. I didn’t think I would get further than Germany.”

Whilst teaching English in Siberia in 2018, Luke noticed an ache in his shoulder. At first he presumed it was a pulled muscle, but after a nurse showed con-

cern, he decided to fly back to the UK for further tests, where he doctors told him he had stage four cancer at age 24.

Following the diagnosis, Luke decided to commit to his life-long dream of cycling around the world.

“Receiving a cancer diagnosis can feel like a death sentence. I’m doing this ride to show it’s possible to live your dreams, even with cancer,” Luke explains. “But you’ve got to create your own opportunities – no-one else will do that for you.”

But first, to stand a chance at fulfilling this dream, he had to undergo chemotherapy. During his treatment, Luke kept fit and healthy as a way to keep control of an aspect of his life.

“My attitude was that I wanted to give myself the best chance of getting through chemo, and looking after my body through exercise and diet were going to help the most.”

During the first round of chemotherapy, Luke also tragically lost his brother, John, in a climbing accident.

Despite this, Luke’s outlook is positive: “I feel enormously lucky to be doing this when so few people are traveling. I’m aware that what I’m doing is very different,” he tells me.

The journey so far has taken him through 18 countries to Tbilisi. True to Georgia, locals have treated Luke to large doses of hospitality as he rode from Batumi to Tbilisi.

“It was snowing, and I stopped before a tunnel to turn my lights on and some guys who were clearing snow invited me for tea. It was the most amazing hospitality.”

Luke often wild camps on his trip, but things don’t always go to plan. In Austria, he camped next to the Danube and decided to wash in the river.

“I’d just stripped everything off when, all of a sudden, this speed boat came around the corner. That was bit awkward,” he says with a grin.

During his journey, people have invited Luke into their homes many times. On his final night in Turkey, he stayed with a host in a small hut on a strip of land between the highway and the Black Sea.

“He cooked us meat and beans for dinner, but a few hours later, I felt my stomach churn. I tried to tell myself it was fine, but eventually my body rejected most of the bean stew we’d eaten.

“The next morning, my host was determined I would have lunch, and you can guess what was on the menu – bean stew,” Luke recalls, grimacing.

Luke rides a tandem bike and invites friends, family, other CanLivers and locals to join him for parts of his journey.

His mum flew out to ride with him in Georgia. How did they experience the

notorious Georgian roads?

“I think they’re fine, to be honest, everyone seems to pride themselves that their roads are the most dangerous – I’ve known worse,” he says.

Luke aims to inspire other Can-Livers to lead fulfilling lives and raise awareness about the CanLiver movement. He’s raising money for cancer-related charities too. You can follow his remarkable journey through the Bristol2Beijing podcast and donate on his website (https://www.bristol2beijing.org/) or Instagram @bristol2beijing.

SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY MARCH 26 - APRIL 1, 2021

11

On Specific Issues – So Simple, Yet So Complex. Part 2 ANALYSIS BY VICTOR KIPIANI, CHAIRMAN, GEOCASE

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trategic depth in geopolitical plans - Georgia feels the practical effect of this very specific set of words. But before we discuss it more specifically, it is necessary to note that modern national influence or power is manifested in its geographical access, economic potential, and military resources. The last two categories are not relevant for the immediate purpose of this article and, therefore, we will focus only on geographical access.

The influence of a global or regional leader country is mostly within its national borders, and its external influence is the result of the external gravity of resources concentrated in the national territory.

By the way, such a synergy reminds us once again of one of the principles of the modern arrangement, according to which, at present, domestic and foreign policy are inseparable: One is only a natural continuation of the other.

The concept of “strategic depth”, which refers to maintaining a comfortable area in the border countries of the Russian Federation, is connected with geographical access: gaining and strengthening more influence in a region. This can be achieved with or without a direct military presence in a particular territory by using other means to maintain some form of control over that territory. The main thing is the result: To prevent or maximally restrict the interests of the country in the geographical area. The practical manifestation of this approach is the occupation of Georgian territories by the Russian Federation, as well as the delay or prevention of Georgia's integration into Euro-Atlantic structures.

Moscow strengthens its security interests by having so-called buffer zones through such a military-political status quo. It can be said that because of the

agreement of November 10 of last year, practically the whole South Caucasus was involved in such a “buffering”. Here we add that from the point of view of our country, the current situation can develop both in our favor and vice versa: It can be aggravated in the case of inertia or inconsistency on the part of Tbilisi and its strategic allies and partners. It is also expected to become a prerequisite for completely new opportunities with bold, non-standard actions tailored to the time and circumstances.

The above example is a concrete form of strategic depth, and it is related to open military aggression and occupation. But this is not the only example, the unsystematic nature of the system of international relations offers others, too. In particular, the variegated geopolitical mosaic of the Middle East, among other processes, is distinguished by the construction of Tehran’s “Arch of Influence”, including the area which largely covers Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and secretly and to a lesser extent, three more Middle Eastern countries.

It is true that a few years ago this arch was more robust, but its impact is still felt today. Moreover, this very specific aspect of the projection of Iranian power, the desire to assimilate new spatial signs, also stands out. The most recent example of this is the resumption of Tehran's diplomatic efforts towards the South Caucasus. However, it should be noted that in the case of the four countries already named, Iran's strategic depth pursues much more practical-militarypolitical goals to curb anti-Iranian forces in the region and weaken their focus on the intra-Iranian agenda.

While the realization of strategic depth is sometimes done in gross violation of the norms of international law (such as in the case of the occupied territories of Georgia), in other places it simply lacks the appropriate legal justification (in Yerevan’s view, for example, universal security is considered to be the “depth” of Nagorno-Karabakh), and still else-

where it is due to circumstances of inadequate demarcation and delimitation which in turn exacerbate relations between countries (such as the reefs in the South China Sea which have become “artificial islands” causing disagreements between neighboring countries), that are at the same time precedents when the maintenance of strategic depth should be conditioned by the legitimate interests of its national security. Among them, in our opinion, is the example of Israel (Golan Heights).

In any case, it is a fact that today, along with those geographical boundaries marked by state borders, the notion of geopolitical boundaries (the marking of real influences) has firmly taken root. In the conditions of the modern redistribution of forces and new geopolitical competition, the geopolitical boundary is sometimes wider than the geographical one, and more dynamic and even more decisive. It is impossible that such a “mistake” does not remain an object of constant attention, study, and evaluation of political Tbilisi. As for the context of the South Caucasus, Black Sea, and Caspian Sea macro-regions, this is practically a 24/7 challenge for Georgia.

THE GEORGIAN “REGIONAL” DIMENSION The regional specifics of recent years are very complex. It is also unusual that in light of Georgia's irreversible Euro-

Atlantic integration and the intensification of the US-Georgia strategic partnership, the contradictory tendencies of these two events have intensified. The limitations of the Black Sea legal regime for better access by the Alliance, NATO's heterogeneous attitude towards its Eastern Partner countries, the asymmetry of the North Atlantic military-political shield between the north and south of the east flank – these and other factors have posed a major geopolitical puzzle to date. And the familiar configuration created recently in the South Caucasus has made the issue of eliminating “natural backwardness” in Georgian-AmericanWestern cooperation even more urgent.

If not only this country maintains its foreign policy, but also our strategic allies and partners do not intend to cede the Black Sea and Caspian macro-regions as a strategic space of Eurasian political geography, then neither Tbilisi nor Washington (as well as the capitals of our partner countries) can in practice any longer retain much choice there.

The south of Eurasia has always been characterized by its traditional “historical confusion”. This, unfortunately, is still the case now. There are still several strong geopolitical currents crossing it, and are often in opposition to each other.

As a result, irrespective of the motives for gaining influence and their justification (“zone of influence”, “privileged interests”, “strategic depth”, etc.), its

instability, internal conflicts and external controversies have become a kind of trademark of our region. This will put a stamp on the domestic and foreign dynamics of the development of the Georgian state, turning us into a hostage trying to escape from the influence of an unfavorable “regional trademark”. It also restricts our allies in taking more effective and courageous steps. Realism in assessments and pragmatism in action requires conducting a different, strong, proactive (and not reactive) political line. At this point, the overlap between Georgian and Western interests has reached such a point that we have probably never seen before. This historical coincidence needs to be used. Delaying its execution can cost us all dearly, and the outcome can be expressed in a geopolitically harsh penalty: Its execution, for one reason or another, will eventually become long overdue.

We have talked about the issues discussed in this article many times; thus, we will refrain from the details and save the reader time. One “small” aspect that we want to mention is the concept of national security in Georgia: (a) accelerating the work on the document due its actual purpose and its benefit; (b) a greater openness of the process (within acceptable limits) and engagement in it, which will help to create a quality document. Not to mention that the concept of national security should become a “living” document adapted to the process and not just an attribute on the shelf.

This country has practically no time and luxury to store such accessories.

This period requires great effort from both us and our allies, an objective assessment of the circumstances, and strong leaders. Clearly, the expectations of a Hegelian “historical leader” are superfluous, especially in the modern era of poor political talent. But the ability and knowledge – to correctly identify an already established or approaching historical moment – is what is essential for steering the process.

CULTURE

Meet a Kutaisian Illustrator, Icon and Fresco Painter eval painting techniques. And he will not be moving his beautiful creations into the digital era any time soon.

Davit Khidasheli was born in 1962 in the city of Kutaisi. He studied at the Tbilisi Academy of Arts in the Faculty of Easel Graphics, majoring in book illustration, under the guidance of Dimitri Eristavi. After graduating, he chose to spend a year at the Bethany Monastery studying restoration and the basics of medieval painting, after which, he began a long career working on icons and frescoes. Having painted more than 20 churches, he still finds enjoyment in painting and book graphics.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR WORK? WHICH COMMON TRENDS IN ART OR IMPORTANT ARTISTS THEMSELVES HAVE HAD AN IMPACT ON YOUR WORK?

BY KETEVAN SKHIRTLADZE

W

ithin the scope of GEORGIA TODAY’s collaboration with BI Auction, we are offering our readers exclusive interviews from Georgian artists and designers. This week, we meet a man who has spent his career dedicated to the study and development of Medi-

Describing your own work is a bit difficult. I love medieval Georgian church art very much, as well as Persian and Turkish miniatures, Fayum paintings, etc. However, working on old murals, preparing medieval paints and materials, and my icon painting experience had the greatest impact on what I do today. This experience dictated that I use the same technique in my paintings - natural pig-

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EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT:

Editor-In-Chief: Katie Ruth Davies

ments and egg tempera. For me, it’s an organic and natural technique.

HOW HAS THE CORONAVIRUS CHANGED YOUR CREATIVE VISION, THE ART MARKET IN GENERAL, AND YOUR SPECIFIC SALES?

son the opportunity to get acquainted with the creations of different artists and come to an exhibition more prepared.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT BI AUCTION AND ITS ROLE IN ARTISTS’ LIVES, BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE?

BI Auction was the first auction where my works were sold, and I want to thank the organizers. The auction gives the artist the opportunity to understand how popular their works are in the market, and it is an important and necessary part of artistic life. This tradition must be continued.

The one-year quarantine regime has hardly changed the intensity of my work.

Sales of works of art have increased, probably because people who didn’t have time for art before, now have the time and resources for it.

DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND SHIFTING OF THE WORLD TO MORE DIGITAL RAILS, WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF ART? The internet has made information very accessible, including about artists, and it’s no longer difficult to take a look at the works of a particular artist you’re interested in. However, it is inconceivable that art ever becomes limited only to the virtual space.

WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE VIRTUAL ART SPACE, EXHIBITIONS, AND SALES? Clearly, virtual information cannot replace the vivid impression received at exhibitions; however, it gives an interested per-

Journalists: Ana Dumbadze, Vazha Tavberidze, Tony Hanmer, Emil Avdaliani, Nugzar B. Ruhadze, Michael Godwin, Ketevan Skhirtladze, Ana Giorgadze Photographer: Aleksei Serov

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