Issue #941

Issue no: 941

• APRIL 28 - MAY 1, 2017

• PUBLISHED TWICE WEEKLY

PRICE: GEL 2.50

In this week’s issue...

Georgia, Romania Seek Deeper Economic & Political Cooperation NEWS PAGE 3

FOCUS ON CLEANING & RESTORING

Amanda Paul on Georgia’s European Future: EU Enlargement Capacity at All Time Low Get on board the new campaigns launched to clean up the Georgian countryside and restore Borjomi forest!

POLITICS PAGE 4

SES Presents Satellite Monitor Results in Georgia

PAGE 7&11 Photo by Nika Tsiklauri

Gov’t to Make Amendments to Tax, Criminal Codes

BY THEA MORRISON

T

he Government of Georgia discussed a proposed legislative package for amending the tax and criminal codes at this week’s cabinet session.

The amendments propose decriminalization of economic offenses, one of the key promises under the economic component of the Government's Four-Point Plan. The legislative package also includes increased fines for committing economic crime.

"This package increases the amount for criminal liability from 50,000 to 100,000 GEL. In addition, criminal liability is abolished for tax offenses related to waybills, excise stamps, and others. The package also includes significant incentives for individual sectors, such as aviation. We will exempt from VAT excise duty aviation fuel intended for domestic flights and various air transportation services," Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, said, adding that the amendments seek to boost tourism, as domestic aviation is a highly subsidized industry, and special incentives are necessary to simplify travel as much as possible.

Continued on page 2

SOCIETY PAGE 8

Georgian-German Year Opens at Tbilisi City Assembly SOCIETY PAGE 12

Georgian National Museum Hosts Latin America & Caribbean Film-Screening CULTURE PAGE 15

2

NEWS

GEORGIA TODAY

Gov’t to Make Amendments to Tax, Criminal Codes

New Life to Georgian Healthcare: Turkish Acibadem Opens Office in Tbilisi

Continued from page 1

The PM noted that special incentives will be introduced for owners of micro power stations. He also said that the government will encourage solar energy development. “Today, many countries actively use solar power roof panels, and we want to encourage this practice here. The Ministries of Environment Protection and Energy are coordinating their work in this direction. Besides tax-related incentives, we want to have particular financing mechanisms in place to use innovative micro power stations of this type,” Kvirikashvili said.

The amendments also involve the construction industry. According to the PM, the tax benefits for construction companies will be extended by two years.

“By the end of 2017, constructions worth an investment of $65 million are expected to be completed. These benefits will promote the renewal of unfinished construction and ensure the satisfaction of the affected population," the Prime Minister said.

The changes to the Tax and Criminal Codes of Georgia were prepared by the government's economic team.

APRIL 28 - MAY 1, 2017

BY NINO GUGUNISHVILI

W

orld class healthcare and treatment offered to patients by Acibadem hospitals in Turkey will now be available in Georgia, it was announced at the opening of the Acibadem Tbilisi office this Wednesday.

The Acibadem Healthcare Group, present in 30 countries, provides patients with the latest treatment methods and services of the highest international standards. With the recent office opening in Tbilisi, patients will have a chance to verify their existing diagnosis and receive all necessary assistance. In addition, Turkish doctors will offer their Georgian counterparts trainings and consultations to share their experience.

The Georgian office is expected to become not only a bridge between Georgia and Acibadem allowing patients to receive services and treatments not readily available in Georgia, but also a platform for both Georgian and Turkish doctors for the development of global medicine.

In 2016, almost 4,500.000 individuals were treated in Acibadem: 30,000 patients arriving from 47 countries worldwide.

Hundreds of Georgian patients are treated in Acibadem. Previously, they had to contact the head office in Istanbul. Now,

with the Georgian office open, patients will receive all the information and assistance needed, right here in Georgia.

“The Acibadem Healthcare Group is an eco-system with hospitals, mobile health system, laboratory groups, Acibadem project management and state of the art technology,” said Murat Pekmezoglu, MD, CIS Region Investments and Business Development Director of Acibadem Healthcare Group.

“We believe in Georgian doctors and we believe in the Georgian health system; we are here to collaborate with your

doctors,” he added.

“The opening of an Acibadem office in Georgia opens various possibilities both for Georgian patients and doctors, with whom we’re going to collaborate very actively,” said Nino Lobjanidze, Acibadem official representative in Georgia. “We’re planning to have joint conferences and seminars, giving Georgian doctors the chance to attend trainings, get acquainted with and deepen their knowledge of modern medical technologies. We also hope that Georgian students will have an opportunity to con-

tinue their studies at Acibadem University, a leading medical university in Istanbul. At the same time, our patients will receive the second opinion option, being consulted by the leading specialists from Acibadem hospitals. Our office will also assist patients needing to receive medical treatment and care with leading modern technologies unavailable in Georgia.”

Acibadem’s Tbilisi office is located at 58 Chavchavadze Avenue, Tbilisi.

Phone: 2 15 85 00

NEWS

GEORGIA TODAY APRIL 28 - MAY 1, 2017

Georgia, Romania Seek Deeper Economic & Political Cooperation

BY THEA MORRISON

Strategic Defense Review 2017-2020: Russia Remains Top Threat to Georgia

BY THEA MORRISON

T

he governments of Georgia and Romania agreed to deepen their political, economic, energy, transit, cultural and humanitarian cooperation during Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili’s official visit to Bucharest.

Kvirikashvili was greeted at the Henri Coanda International Airport by his counterpart, Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu of Romania, on April 26.

Later the officials held a face-to-face meeting and discussed the key directions of Georgia-Romania relations and cooperation, as well as recent developments in Georgia’s occupied territories and throughout the Black Sea region.

The prime ministers also discussed the process of Georgia's European and EuroAtlantic integration and emphasized the success achieved on this path.

Grindeanu congratulated Kvirikashvili on the recent EU/Schengen Area visa waiver for Georgian citizens and reaffirmed Romania's unwavering support for Georgia's European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

Afterwards, a wider-format meeting of Georgian and Romanian officials was held during which the dynamics in defense, judiciary, and internal affairs cooperation were underlined.

Special attention was paid to energy and transit relations, prospects of developing tourism, and the importance of closer cooperation between business communities to attract more investments.

It was agreed that Georgia will soon

R host the next meeting of the Economic Cooperation Council and a joint business forum.

The Georgian side informed the members of the Romanian government about the ongoing far-reaching reform agenda under the EU Association Agreement, emphasizing political association and economic integration with the EU as Georgia's goal.

Black Sea security and issues related to security and human rights difficulties in Georgia's occupied territories were also discussed.

The Romanian side reaffirmed its firm support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity and commended Georgia's progress in the process of drawing closer to the EU and NATO. While speaking at a joint press-conference, Georgia’s Kvirikashvili said that on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Georgia and Romania, the two countries have issued

a joint declaration.

“Georgia and Romania both countries represent a natural bridge between Europe and Asia and we are actively working on the development of these opportunities. Accordingly, our goal is to maximize the use of transport and energy potential,” Kvirikashvili said.

Grindeanu said that both sides are interested in regional projects in the transportation and energy sector aimed at activating the Caspian and Black Sea Corridors.

"We have a common goal of encouraging investments and increasing the level of trade between our countries and there is a tremendous potential for both. We have decided to accelerate this process and activate bilateral economic cooperation through the involvement of business sector representatives,” the Romanian PM noted.

Within the frames of his visit, Kvirikashvili also met the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis.

3

ussia remains the main threat to Georgia, according to the Strategic Defense Review 2017-2020 released by the Ministry of Defense (MoD) of Georgia. The 45-page strategic document says that the Kremlin is trying to weaken Georgian state institutions and strengthen pro-Russian public and political groups by using soft power.

The document defines the directions of the ministry as well as structural, institutional and operative capacities Members of the European Union Monitoring Mission at the boundary line between Georgia and South Ossetia. Claire Harbage/NPR

of the armed forces and refers to threats and challenges. It also identifies the main directions for the development of the MoD and Georgian Armed Forces (GAF) over the next three years and aims to enhance the GAF’s capabilities.

The document considers Georgia’s security environment within local, regional, and global frameworks.

“Signing the so-called liaison agreements between Russia and occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions’ authorities and the absence of international peacekeeping missions in the occupied territories increases the risk of the restoration of military aggression,” the document reads.

Continued on page 5

4

POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY

APRIL 28 - MAY 1, 2017

Amanda Paul on Georgia’s European Future: EU Enlargement Capacity at All Time Low I think a key to it is building a strong and prosperous state with a good economy, rule of law and no corruption: key values that will make the country more attractive, because a Georgia that is only halfreformed and suffering from high unemployment is not going to make the population of the occupied territories feel any different about reintegration.

Another challenge is the never-ending propaganda campaign from the Russian Federation, which is difficult to counter in such an isolated environment due to lack of awareness and contact with the European Union among the local population, apart from with the Russian version of it. So, this is going to remain a key challenge. However, steps like Georgia receiving visa liberalization are always reciprocated by the Kremlin in one way or another, mostly by trying to bring Georgia closer to Russia via reintegration or through events like [the referendums and visits happening recently in the occupied regions]. This is all very negative, and, unfortunately, the international community and the EU do not have any policy to counter this.

INTERVIEW BY VAZHA TAVBERIDZE

A

round 100 international and Georgian experts and opinion-makers took to Holiday Inn last week to attend the South Caucasus Security Forum organized by the Georgian Rondeli Foundation. Panorama TV show and GEORGIA TODAY spoke to Ms. Amanda Paul, distinguished analyst and journalist who has covered the South East Europe extensively throughout the years.

WAR IN UKRAINE, CREEPING OCCUPATION IN GEORGIA AND A PRO-KREMLIN PRESIDENT IN MOLDOVA VS ASSOCIATION AGREEMENTS AND VISA LIBERALIZATION. WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT NEXT IN THE EASTERN PARTNERSHIP? The Eastern Partnership at the moment is all about different relations between all the different countries involved in it. At the beginning, when it was inaugurated, there was some unhappiness from the Russians who saw it as an encroachment on what they consider to be their special sphere of influence.

Historically, Russia has always viewed this region as a buffer protecting it from its enemies. But in this case, there is an additional element, because Russians would like to see the demise of the EU. From the perspective of the EU, I think the most important thing is to continue to support those countries

focused on the European future: future as a full member, integrated into Europe and encompassing European values- Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova.

From these three, Georgia is the most advanced

when it comes to integration and reform processes.

At the same time, however, the EU needs to change its narrative towards the Russian Federation, indicating that they fully support the countries that want to integrate into the EU by giving them some sort of clear perspective of what is at the end of the road.

I doubt it would be a membership prospect, but sending a different message that the Russians could understand would mean that the EU won’t tolerate Russian attempts to “veto” further enlargement of the EU in this part of the world.

WITH THE MAJORITY OF GEORGIA IN FAVOR OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION, THE GEORGIAN PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE WEST’S TAKE OF THEM – ARE THEY VIEWED AS REAL EUROPEANS?

Mixture of Cafe and Theatre under a single space in the very heart of the old city.

Warm environment, Georgian & European Food, Art and Music Open everyday from 12:00 pm to 01:00 am

When you talk about Georgia with an average person, he might first think about the US state of Georgia, because that’s what comes up when you Google “Georgia”. But I guess the more informed person would have a positive attitude. He might not be able to locate Georgia or the South Caucasus altogether on the map, but I suppose a European “in the know” would realize that Georgia is a European-oriented state. Apart from that, though, the people do not really have much of an idea about the country, its economy or the social situation.

Many people would also say, “It’s part of the Soviet Union, Russia’s backyard,” etc. In today’s climate, if you asked a European citizen if he wanted Georgia to join the EU, he would probably say no, because at the moment the capacity for expansion and the capacity of the EU to accept new members is at an all-time low.

WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THE SHORTAND LONG-TERM PERSPECTIVES WITH REGARDS THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES IN GEORGIA? I think we have to be frank here: Georgia having its territorial integrity restored is not going to happen in the near future. It’s a difficult thing to achieve.

YOU HAVE WRITTEN EXTENSIVELY ABOUT CYPRUS, WHERE, AFTER MORE THAN 40 YEARS, THEY ARE VERY CLOSE TO NEGOTIATING A REUNIFICATION. MANY WOULD SAY THIS IS BECAUSE OF CYPRUS’S EU MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS. COULD THE SAME TACTIC WORK WITH SOKHUMI AND TSKHINVALI? There are some elements that can maybe be borrowed from the Cyprus peace process and adopted

by Georgia, but all conflicts are different. The one in Cyprus dates back to the 1960s and is not ethnic in nature; when you look at the two communities in Cyprus, the Greek and Turkish Cypriots, they are very friendly to each other and there was never a great deal of hostility towards reunification. The main issue with the Cyprus conflict was the role of external parties – Turkey, Greece, the UK and to a certain extent, the US. They played a huge role in the conflict coming about in the first place. This is a scenario very different from the Georgian conflict.

Also, the Greek half of the island was allowed to enter the EU; this was not a productive step, it was detrimental because it made finding the solution harder, as the Greek Cypriots got leverage in the EU in terms of the Cyprus problem. It was detrimental to Cyprus, regional security and the EU relationship with Turkey, which was brought to a halt. But as I have said already, not all conflicts are the same, and Cyprus is still far from being reunified.

SO, VISA LIBERALIZATION AND OTHER STEPS TOWARDS EUROPE ARE GOING TO HELP? Visa liberalization could have an impact, because it might encourage those living in occupied territories to apply for Georgian citizenship, which would be positive. There won’t be thousands of people doing this, but there will be some; this in itself is a good thing because it would allow them to travel to Europe and no longer be isolated. Still, I think the key here is building a strong economy with employment opportunities, because the current situation in South Ossetia and Abkhazia in terms of employment is not very bright, nor is the situation in Russia. Russia does not offer serious economic prospects or prosperity, not in the way the EU can in case of a successful and economically reformed Georgia.

RENT YOUR DREAM APARTMENT IN TSKNETI

Samghebro St. 9/11 +995514001122 )% Ϥϛϯϟ Ϣϟϛϭϫϣ &DIH 7KHDWUH

Very cosy one bedroom 75 sq.m apartment in Tbilisi area with spectacular view over the mountains.

Located in Tskneti, a prestigious, quiet, green and safe neighborhood 15 minutes drive from the city center. The bright and sunny apartment is newly furnished and comes with a fully equipped kitchen and bathroom.

Comfortable and stylish living-room, cozy bedroom with closet and king-sized bed. 20 sq.m terrace overlooking the mountains.

Relax while enjoying the view and unwind with a glass of wine on the balcony as you watch the sun set.

Parking & WiFi available.

If you are looking for the perfect place to live, this is the apartment for you!

Only long-term residents should apply.

Ideally suited for a couple or single.

For more information contact: + 995 595279997

POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY APRIL 28 - MAY 1, 2017

5

German FM: We Appreciate Georgia’s Reform Efforts

BY THEA MORRISON

W

e support Georgia's rapprochement with the EU and we appreciate the great efforts that Georgia has made in terms of reforms”- said German Foreign Minister, Sigmar Gabriel, following a meeting with his Georgian counterpart, Mikheil Janelidze in Berlin.

He went on to note that in 1992, Germany was the first state to recognize Georgia’s independence and open an embassy in Tbilisi, and positively assessed Georgia’s visa-liberalization with the European Union.

The German FM also thanked the Georgian side for the bravery of Georgian servicemen in Afghanistan, who repelled a terroristic attack on the German Consulate in November 2016.

“Georgian soldiers were the ones who gave the Germans first aid; thank you

very much for this,” he said.

Minister Janelidze in turn said that his visit to Germany will further deepen bilateral relations between the two countries.

"Germany has made a significant contribution to Georgia’s institutional and economic transformation and is the second largest donor to Georgia,” he said, highlighting Germany’s political assistance in Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic path and aspirations.

The minister emphasized the strong trade and economic ties between the two countries, noting that some 380 German companies currently operate in Georgia.

“Georgia as a reformer country is an attractive model for German investors and today Germany is Georgia’s number one trading partner in the EU space,” Janelidze said.

The Georgian minister also met Chancellor Angela Merkel's foreign and security policy adviser, Christoph Heusgen.

Discussions focused on friendly and

partner relations between Georgia and Germany in various areas, with Heusgen highlighting Georgia’s impressive progress and its fundamental transformation in making Georgia a rightful member of the European family.

The sides also spoke about issues of regional security and saw Janelidze paying special attention to steps taken by the Russian Federation towards annexation of Georgia’s Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions.

Heusgen pledged Germany’s support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and highly appraised the Georgian government’s policy directed towards peaceful resolution of the conflict, de-escalation of the situation and confidence-building measures between the communities torn apart by the war.

Janelidze later met with representatives of the Georgian diaspora in Germany where he spotlighted the important role and contribution of Germany to the development of Georgia since the restoration of independence. He underlined

Mikheil Janelidze and Sigmar Gabriel, German Foreign Minister

the technical and financial assistance and the importance of co-operation in the area of education, especially in terms of the increasing number of German scholarships granted to Georgian students.

Janelidze also spoke about the diaspora strategy with the slogan “A united and strong diaspora with close links to the homeland”. According to the Minister, it is the first strategy on diaspora, oriented towards concrete projects promoting the active involvement of diaspora representatives in the development of the country, helping them improve their

status in the host countries and promote Georgia and its potential abroad.

In order to mark 200 years of relations between Germany and Georgia and the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties, the ministers officially opened the Georgian-German Year in the Weltsaal Conference Hall of the German Foreign Office.

Within the framework of the reception evening, a concert with the participation of Georgian musicians was also held, as was an exhibition titled ‘Future Heritage – 200 years: GeorgianGerman histories’.

Strategic Defense Review 2017-2020: Russia Remains Top Threat to Georgia Continued from page 3

The strategic review also says that Russia’s military aggression in August 2008, the occupation of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions and the deployment of Russia’s occupation forces and military infrastructure has significantly worsened the security environment in the country.

“Recognition of Abkhazia’s and Tskhinvali’s independence and the continuation

of the creeping annexation violate Georgia’s sovereignty and international law norms and roughly tarnish the fundamental rights of the local population,” the document reads.

Moreover, according to the document, the situation in the breakaway regions fosters an environment for spreading transnational organized crime.

The document emphasizes that Russia will continue efforts aimed at weakening

Georgia’s national and civil unity, causing enmity between ethnic and religious groups and destabilization. “The Kremlin will especially focus on strengthening the ‘soft power’ elements in order to weaken of state institutions, strengthen pro-Russian groups and discredit the western course,” the strategic review reads.

In relation to the regional security environment, the document says that recent unstable situation in the Black

Sea region, the annexation of Crimea, the unstable situation in the north Caucasus, and the unresolved Karabakh conflict negatively influence Georgia’s security environment.

“Within the global framework, globalization, climate change, the migration processes, international terrorism, the spread of weapons of mass destruction and cyber threats negatively affect Georgia’s security. At the same time, the

increasing international ambitions of Russia promote confrontation between the west and east that causes challenges for security of the EU and Georgia,” the document says.

The document says that the United States, NATO, and the EU remain the main partners of Georgia.

The Strategic Defense Review 20172020 was approved by the Government of Georgia.

6

POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY

APRIL 28 - MAY 1, 2017

No Victors, No Vanquished & Work Together!

OP-ED BY NUGZAR B. RUHADZE

I

remember like it was yesterday: flicking through the NY Times issue of August 8, 2014, when an interview by the three-time Pulitzer Prize winning op-ed columnist Thomas Friedman with President Obama caught my eye. The entire thing was classic, but one particular phrase stayed in my memory for good: ‘Societies don’t work if political factions take maximalist positions’. At the moment of that intellectual refreshment, my imagination waxed wistful with the desire to emboss those excessively precious words for us Georgians in golden letters on imaginary gates which would hypothetically lead into the realm of current Georgian politics. I had always known that our society, trying to present itself as free and democratic, would never make it if our politicians, and their respective political groupings, continue operating from a standpoint propped by extreme opinion.

I captured another determinative turn of phrase in the same piece, ‘No victors, no vanquished, and work together’. We do not need to see each other defeated in the political battlefield and then celebrate the victory in rhapsodic exultation: what we truly need is to coexist and cooperate. And the suggested sample of truism tends to corroborate that the enigma of Georgia’s political survival is laid in these sedative epochal quotes. Pushing my thoughts toward fathoming the recently suggested and currently discussed amendments to our Constitution, I tend to believe that we have never before needed national consensus about the text of the main law of the country as much as we need it now.

We have made up our minds to go along with wealthy and seasoned, strong and confident, aged and traditional Europe, having tethered our survival strings to her. As such, we can no longer afford a mere provisional blue print for national behavior, a document of transitory content to configure our future. This Constitution must sur-

vive not only a couple of generations but centuries of political battles that are still in store for this nation to endure.

Having perceived and taken for granted the rationality of this statement, how can we make it work in reality? Nobody is asking for obedient, mechanical consent to what is being suggested in

the context of the new Constitution. The writers, editors, amenders and observers of the Constitution are qualified enough to handle the text of the document so skillfully that its more or less important details be not omitted or muddied during the writing or amending. Of course, plenty of things matter in the creative process of writing and editing the Constitution, asking for manifold considerations and reconsiderations, but we have in our hands a certain number strengths in our political arsenal for this purpose. For instance, we are strongly aware of our main national idea of freedom and independence, which seems to be outdated, trodden down and devalued but still standing; we know what we aspire to; we are very much conscious of what the West wants from us; and we feel, although we do not fully and openly recognize, what Russia might go for in case of our ‘misbehavior’.

On top of all that, the public discussion of the project of incipient amendments is triggering reasonable and lawful doubts. How can a regular public, without any specific education and qualification, make relevant judgment about the text of the Constitution? Why is our public expected to know what the Constitution should sound like? The rank-andfile has no way to help here. Take me as one of the members of said public: I am not an eighteenth century European genius who is able to write a constitution which will survive hundreds of years as a plan for the nation’s march towards a better life. A good Constitution needs good care in good professional hands and talented political minds who want to stay away from a maximalist position in every decision they make in the process of casting together the most important paper of the land.

Do we have such? We might! Only if we look for them then and let them do their job.

Reporters Beyond Borders: Georgia’s Press Freedom Index Remains the Same

Photo source: Getty images

BY THEA MORRISON

FIRST BRAND HOTEL IN KUTAISI UNDER BEST WESTERN INTERNATIONAL Within the framework of the Georgian Hotels’ Regional Network Development Project “12 hotels in 12 regionsâ€? by GHYHORSPHQW FRPSDQ\ Âł6LPHWULD´ WKH ÂżUVW EUDQG KRWHO KDV been opened in Kutaisi under the Best Western International brand.

The hotel accommodates 45 guest rooms, including 40 standard rooms and 5 suites. The hotel was designed taking into consideration special conditions and safety for guests with disabilities.

Address: 11 Grishashvili Str., 4600, Kutaisi, Georgia TEL 219 71 00 info@bwkutaisi.com

Three mobile conference halls are available with a total capacity of about 100 persons.

(XURSHDQ FXLVLQH FDQ EH HQMR\HG LQ WKH JURXQG ÀRRU FDIp and a grill-bar menu in the roof top restaurant with panoramic views over the city.

The International Hotels Management Company “T3 Hospitality Management,� providing the hotel management, has 20 years’ experience in hotel management in different countries globally.

A

n independent non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Paris, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), has released its latest report. According to the World Press Freedom Index 2017, Georgia is in 64th place for journalistic freedom out of the 180 countries ranked.

RSF says that Georgia’s 27.76 points are the same as last year but noted that reforms in recent years have brought improvements to Georgia’s media landscape. These improvements include media ownership transparency, satellite TV pluralism, and an overhaul of the broadcasting regulatory authority. The report also says that violence against

journalists is less frequent, although threats are often reported.

However, according to the RSF, the media continues to be very polarized and, despite some progress, media owners often make editorial content decisions. “The war for ownership of the main TV channels is a source of concern for the future of pluralism. The fate of the main national opposition TV channel, Rustavi 2, will serve as a test,� the report says.

Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and the Netherlands are the five countries with the most press freedom, according to the report.

RSF is an independent NGO with consultative status with the United Nations, UNESCO, the Council of Europe and the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF).

SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY APRIL 28 - MAY 1, 2017

7

Care2: Clean-Up Campaign to Kick Off in Martkopi this Sunday

BY DIMITRI DOLABERIDZE

A

nyone who’s taken even a day trip out of town will have seen the trash hanging in the trees and littering the ground. Dumped by careless picnickers, blown away from illegal dumpsites or even thrown out of moving vehicles- the amount of litter in Georgia’s otherwise beautiful countryside is both sad and ugly.

You may have heard of the Geocell “Movla” (Care) campaign encouraging Georgians to clean up their country. In one year, 20,000 Georgians downloaded the App and 500 trash sites around Georgia were identified. So far, 400 of those have been cleaned up. The government is fighting an ongoing battle which many agree begins in educating people not to litter, but also necessitates more infrastructure (bins, garbage collection trucks, etc.) and, ultimately, fining the litterbugs.

Increasingly frustrated by the littering, a number expats living in Georgia, who come from vastly different cultural and educational backgrounds to the Georgians in terms of how to care for the environment, have decided to Care [for Georgia] Too. The “Founders” of the new campaign are Devi Asmadiredja, Johan Strydom and Katie Davies.

Devi is an Indonesian-German mountain tour guide who has lived and worked in Georgia since 2011. She considers

Georgia her home and told GEORGIA TODAY, “Georgia’s main treasure is its nature. I hate to see people disrespecting that. I hate even more when people talk about how disgusting it is but then do nothing about it. I grew up in Germany and we were raised not to drop litter, plus we had a good recycling system. Indonesia has a similar situation to Georgia, with most products packed in plastic- it took a lot of persuading to stop even my relatives throwing garbage carelessly”.

Johan, from South Africa, has been living in Georgia for three years with his Georgian wife. He is an experienced goldsmith but chose to open a tourism agency, Chemiani, here. “When I’m out with a tour group, it can be very embarrassing to stop at a place that is so messy with litter. I’m very pro-tourism and Georgia has huge potential for it, if only the locals would look after what they have”.

Devi agrees. “Last year, in Tusheti, at my basecamp in Chiglaurta, my friends and I took time to clean up the village. This was in May. In August, the village had its traditional festival- families came up, and again there was trash everywhere”.

She goes on to tell us that a number of calves then ate the plastic containers and bags and died, “which is economically really bad for the owner”.

Katie Davies, English language specialist and author, has been in Georgia 10 years and has three children by a Georgian husband. Her eldest, 7-year-old Lily, openly laments the amount of trash she sees when out on family walks and pic-

Photo shows 'GYSD Georgia: We Belong To Earth' after their clean-up at Tbilisi Sea

nics. “She tells me, ‘why do people want to hurt nature?’ She doesn’t understand and neither do I,” Katie tells us. “I mean, I realize that in some cases the trash is blown from the villages where there aren’t enough dump trucks to service the number of people living there, but the problem of negligent littering, especially in the summer picnic season, is

Mtskheta: 38 arsukidze str 40 arsukidze str 42 arsukidze str 44 arsukidze str 46 arsukidze str

Tbilisi: 3 king erekle ll str 12 bambis rigi str 13 abano str 2 kipshidze str +9955 55 50 89 54 ENG; +9955 55 31 13 76 RUS

asmonte.ge

truly disgusting. Campaigns are starting to deal with it; the government knows it’s a problem and is working on educating and punishment, but the bags are still hanging in the trees and the bottles are on the ground. Something needs to be done now”.

“We set up Care2 to get people, from concerned ex-pats to locals, ‘putting their

money where their mouth is’,” Katie says.

“Not just talking about the problem but actively trying to clean up Georgia”.

The first clean-up event will be this coming Sunday in the Martkopi area just outside Tbilisi, one of those identified in the Geocell Movla campaign. Geocell will be providing participants with cleaning kits which include trash bags, masks and gloves.

“A 21-seater bus will leave at 10am sharp from Rose Revolution Square, near the Big Bike. If more people plan to come than we have space for, we’ll organize other transport, too- we already have some volunteer drivers,” Devi says.

This is only the first of many such clean-up events. Devi already has her own wish-list, based on what she has seen while guiding around Georgia: “Marneuli, Udabno, Pankisi, Eagles Canyon near Dedoplistskharo, Vashlovani, Tusheti…”

One look at the Geocell Movla map (link below) shows us just how bad the situation is even in close proximity to Tbilisi. Put simply, we, as a community of many nationalities united by a love for this beautiful small country, have a duty to care.

If you Care Too, join the group this Sunday.

More information and updates on Care2 here: h t t p s : / / w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / events/665746203621315/ Check out the Movla App here: https://movla.ge/ge

8

SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY

APRIL 28 - MAY 1, 2017

SES Presents Satellite Monitor Results in Georgia

BY NINO GUGUNISHVILI

W

orld leading satellite operator SES presented the results of its annual market research study, at a presentation for the press held in the Museum Hotel Tbilisi this Tuesday.

Georgia was first added to the list of countries studied in SES satellite monitor research in 2015. The satellite monitors are an annual market research study commissioned by SES and carried out by independent institutions, measuring the development of the reception markets for broadcast and broadband services and providing information on the development of TV reception markets in Europe.

As a world-leading satellite operator, SES serves 700 broadcasters, telcos, enterprises, governments and institutions in over 130 countries, having to date 65 satellites covering 99% of the world’s population based in 20 different locations worldwide. It has an annual revenue of EUR 2 billion serving 325 million TV homes around the world, with 156 million in Europe alone. SES has more than 7500 TV channels on satellite, of which 2,495 are HD channels and 34 Ultra HD Channels (UHD). SES provides satellite communication services to broadcasters, internet providers, fixed and mobile network operators.

“33% of SES channels are now in HD and SES supports 50 Pay TV and free to

air platforms, providing services to more than 120 video on demand (VOD) platforms, managing the playout of more than 440 channels,” said Anna-Karin Modigh, Vice President, Marketing Communications for Nordic, Baltic and Eastern Europe at SES. As of 2016, 70% of European Satellite TV homes receive their TV channels from SES, and 78% of European Satellite HDTV homes also receive their TV channels by SES, as illustrated in a study introduced by Ricardo Topham, Senior Market and Research analyst at SES. “Satellite is the leading reception mode,” he said, going on to discuss the research findings of the European market, with 35% belonging to satellite reception, 14% to IPTV, 26% to cable and 26% to terrestrial. “The research shows that HDTV has almost doubled in five years (20122016), reaching 51,4 million homes in 2016, with 58% of European homes watching HD,” Topham added.

While revealing the results of Georgian TV market research, it was highlighted that SES serves almost half a million homes in the country, with 28% of Georgian Satellite homes receiving their TV channels from SES and 34% of Georgian HD homes also receiving TV channels by SES. For the 1,09 million homes covered in Georgia’s satellite reception, 13% is for cable, 16% for IPTV and 24% for terrestrial.

The company representatives announced that SES’s technical reach increased to 455,000 TV homes, making a 5% increase compared to last year, while SES’s direct-to-home reach (DTH)

grew by 141,000 homes in one year (a 21% increase).

It was also noted that SES provides services to approximately 124,000 homes in Georgia who are MagtiSat TV subscribers. The results of the satellite monitor study show that the number of homes receiving HD channels through satellite increased by 158,000 homes, an 11% growth as compared to last year. SES is said to now be serving 34% of satellite HD homes in Georgia (54,000 homes), a 54% growth y-o-y.

The satellite monitor study illustrates that Ultra HD/4K screens are rising in popularity in Georgia: in 2015, 27% of the Georgian population was aware of UHD, while only 9% owned it; in 2016, 37% of the Georgian population is already

aware of the UHD and 15% owns it.

“Despite the many different services we have and the diverse solutions we offer, we work very, very closely with our customers, developing solutions together, and I think that is why we are successful,” Modigh told GEORGIA TODAY. “When we first came to Georgia, we were approached by Magticom which had the idea to start the DTH platform as an additional service to the telephone services that already existed,” she added.

“We had many meetings and found that there was no existing platform, no uplink that we could use, and no encryption system in place, so there were number of things that had to be solved and we helped them do so. We helped them with

uplink from Stockholm, via fiber; eventually assisting them to build their own uplink, and we helped them with the platform and roll out. We also trained the installers, sending a trainer to Tbilisi to make sure that they install dishes correctly to ensure a really good signal. I believe this is one of our successes: the way we work, and that’s why we continue to develop services together with our customers.”

“Georgia tends to pick up very quickly when it comes to new techniques,” Modigh told us. “We see this quite often in countries that were not very developed from the start; they want to go straight to the top level. Georgia is typical in this regard. Its growing quickly when it comes to adapting new techniques and adjusting. Obviously, satellites do play an important role in Georgia and Georgia is developing very quickly in buying the latest TV screens.”

The next step is Ultra HD channels and 4K. And it seems that live sports and movies are among the main drivers pushing people to choose HD nowadays.

“The satellite industry is playing a huge role today, depending on the different kinds of services that satellite has. Often, you think it’s only broadcasting, but there are so many other services such as those offered in parts of the world with underdeveloped landlines for data collection - we have a lot of possibilities to help fix landlines via satellite as a gap solution.

People want to be connected no matter where they are, on a cruise ship or on an aircraft. Satellite is definitely here to stay and we’re growing,” Modigh concludes.

10

SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY

APRIL 28 - MAY 1, 2017

Worm or What?

BY TONY HANMER

W

ould you believe that the title of my article for this week is the name of a town in Georgia? No? Try this: ask a Georgian what “Chia tu ra” means, the initial “Ch” being the same Georgian consonant as the first one in “Adjara”.

My thanks to the TLG volunteer stationed in Chiatura who first pointed this out to me! It joins my healthy list of amusing or amazing Georgian place names.

My wife and I recently revisited Chiatura for the first time together since we stopped there on our honeymoon nearly 8 years ago. She has relatives there, and the mother of one of them, her aunt, recently died. So, leave the barn denizens with a thankfully very obliging neighbor, and off we drove into the sunrise for a five-hour trip.

Chiatura is (in)famous for manganese mining, and for the blame this gets for any kind of ill health in the vicinity. We actually stayed, this time as before, in the village of JvariEtseri (one of the many “something-Etseris” in Georgia, as opposed to ours in Upper Svaneti, the only Etseri in the country spelt with the EASY “ts” as opposed to the harder, aspirated one. Another potentially useless fact for you).

The funeral feast was the only part of our two days spent in the big town itself, and on the way, I happened to see something which no one had bothered to point out to me before, one of the ecclesiastical wonders of Georgia. Enough of a wonder, indeed, that my photo of it on Facebook prompted one of my friends to remark on the usefulness of Photoshop. Another FB friend quickly corrected him with a Wikipedia link showing that the improbable stone finger pointing up at the sky with a chapel even more improbably built right on its top is… all too real. This is the Katskhi Pillar church. See and believe. The roots of the current rebuilt church are a 9th-10th century hermitage; it was first mentioned in print in the 18th century; and it was first actually documented as being climbed only in 1944.

The morning after the night before was easy for me, as I’m not a hard drinker in any case and don’t have even a drop when I’m driving, as I was. The family put us up next door, and I was asked to be tamada (toastmaster) at breakfast, which featured only delicious leftovers from the previous evening. I seem to

have pulled it off, judging by the general reaction; I have been well trained and am also much experienced in the Art of the Georgian Feast, although there is always room for further education in this hugely complex subject.

Then our host took us for a walk to a small nearby man-made lake, spring-fed, the reflections in which giving me examples of one of my favorite subjects to photograph. Another one for me is “nature reclaiming manufacture”, in other words the chaotically ordered processes of decay that rust, cracked paint and the like display to my fractally-trained corneas. I am always on the lookout for such things, and Georgian villages rarely disappoint. It’s all in the eye of the beholder.

We returned to the most unwelcome sight of yet more snow, the nth time since “spring” officially began that our green hills have been whitened to the depth of eight inches or so before re-greening,

causing no end of confusion for the keen to graze bovines. In our absence, prolonged by a day due to my brand new rule of “any drive of more than four hours for an overnight shall become two overnights”, another unexpected event. A neighbor of nearly 80 years’ age had inspected our pregnant cow just before we left and assured us that a calf would absolutely not be forthcoming for the next few days. Guess what. Mother and son are doing fine, thanks.

Tony Hanmer has lived in Georgia since 1999, in Svaneti since 2007, and been a weekly writer for GT since early 2011. He runs the “Svaneti Renaissance” Facebook group, now with over 1350 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

Magic Perfume Baiser Fou – Exclusively at Ici Paris

BY THEA MORRISON

C

osmetic chain Ici Paris has introduced a new fragrance: Baiser Fou of Cartier.

Cartier initiated the collection of perfumes inspired by kisses in 2011, with Baiser Vole. The name means "Stolen Kiss" and the composition is based on the essence of the rare and elegant lily flower.

The new fragrance, Baiser Fou, or "Crazy Kiss," came out in March 2017, and focuses on another flower: the orchid.

Orchids aren’t known for being particularly fragrant or even having the ability to yield a fragrant oil, so all orchid fragrances are a construction. Baiser Fou is exactly that—a fantasy flower.

Described as a "mischievous and feminine soliflor whose delicious accents

evoke the aroma of kisses with lipstick," Baiser Fou was developed by the in-house perfumer Mathilde Laurent, who chose orchids as the main ingredient.

Like most Cartier fragrances, this one aims at lovers of unique and luxury compositions. It was conceived as a passionate and intense aroma of sweet and powdery orchids, reminiscent of the scent of lipstick.

The bottle is transparent with gold accents. Its gold stopper is adorned with

an intense ruby top that features the name of the perfume.

Ici Paris marketing and PR Department Head Khatia Shamugia said at the launch that Cartier has always been a popular brand in Georgia.

“This new fragrance is something special. Floral, passionate and distinctive,” she added.

Baiser Fou is available in 30ml, 50ml and 75ml Eau de Parfum sizes.

SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY APRIL 28 - MAY 1, 2017

11

Ambassador to the UK Adopt a Tree for $5: Restore Georgia’s Named Diplomat of the Year Borjomi Forest Campaign

G

BY NINO GUGUNISHVILI

B

orjomi National Park is one of the largest in Europe, with a variety of unique plants and rare trees.

Agadgine.ge is a new campaign initiated by the Business Information Agency (BIA) and Treepex Startup aimed at restoring the areas of Borjomi Forest severely burned during the 2008 August War. A 950 hectare territory consisting of pine and leafy forest was damaged, with 250 hectares being completely destroyed.

Over the years, the ecological situation has become increasing difficult as the damaged areas are not renewing themselves naturally, leading to the risk of landslides and floods. The local population has lost social benefits and economic revenues from the forest and the air quality has also worsened considerably, causing a threat to the health of individuals living and holidaying in the area.

The only hope is human intervention.

The first-of-its-kind in Georgia campaign offers both individuals and companies the chance to adopt trees, which will be planted and cared for during the first five years of their lives.

Companies choosing to contribute to the restoration of an area of forest will have that area named after the company.

The restored area and number of trees within will be clearly visible on a map which will also display the company's logo. The map can then be integrated with the company's own website and social media platform, clearly displaying the CSR policy of the donor company.

Individuals can also buy a tree and

Burned Forest of Borjomi: "During the war between Russia and Georgia, in August 2008, the territory of Borjomi National Park was bombed by Russian aircraft several times, which caused a forest fire. This photo was shot a couple of months later, spots of new grass burst through the ashes. Nika Tsiklauri

name it and have it mapped.

Further, a calculator will count the amount of emissions absorbed by the trees planted, and a certificate proving tree planting and forest restoration will be given to donors.

At time of going to press, 3524 of the planned 750,000 trees have been adopted.

The “deadline” for this massive restoration is August 8 this year- the anniversary of the war that so damaged the area.

One eager participant in forest restoration this year is PASHA Bank.

“In 2016, we decided that in 2017 PASHA Bank would actively participate in green projects, and we’ve made a number of serious steps in that direction,” said Anano Korkia, Marketing Manager, PASHA Bank. “One of the first things we

did was to plant 2017 Georgian pine trees in Borjomi-Kharagauli Park, towards the rehabilitation of the burned forest. It was a symbolic New Year gift for our partners. This project was important both in terms of rehabilitation works and in terms of raising awareness about the problem. We hope that more private sector representatives will join this generous initiative!”

The website is currently only in Georgian but there are plans to get it translated into English soon. That said, with a little help from a Georgian speaker, it is very easy to fill in your personal/company details and adopt a tree, so get supporting Georgia’s forest rehabilitation today!

Go to: aghadgine.ge/ka

eorgia’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Tamar Beruchashvili, was named Diplomat of the year from Eurasia at Tata DIPLOMAT Magazine 2017 annual Awards Ceremony.

The event was held on Monday April 24, at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower in London and was attended by 250 guests, including Heads of Mission accredited to the Court of St James, senior diplomats and corporate guests from over 100 countries.

The 9th award ceremony recognizes the outstanding work and achievements of London’s diplomatic community, who are trying to better their nations’ wellbeing. DIPLOMAT magazine identified 10 categories that recognize different levels of diplomacy, and winners were nominated by their peers.

This achievement by the Ambassador of Georgia has received many commendations online.

Responses on Twitter: Tamar Beruchashvili Happy & honored 2receive @LondnDIPLOMAT @TataEurope #DiplomatAwards2017 from #Eurasia. THY 4recognizing my work!

Georgia in UK Ambassador of #Georgia Tamar Beruchashvili receiving the @LondnDIPLOMAT @TataEurope award #DiplomatAwards2017 Congrats to all the #DiplomatAwards2017 winners. @LondnDIPLOMAT @TataEurope Diplomat Magazine @TataEurope 2017 Diplomat of the Yr from #Eurasia Amb of #Georgia @tberuch @GeoEmbLondon #DiplomatAwards2017Presented by @ShepherdsLondon George Zurabashvili It gives me great pleasure to join w/ your friends in congratulating you on receiving the award, I am honored knowing you that long. Congratulations!

Kaha Imnadze Great Ambassador and great person!

Well deserved honor! @tberuch proud and honored to have known you for so long and be friends with!

Irakli Koplatadze Proud of you! Congatulations madam ambassador! Good example for all of us Judith Gough Gilocavt/congratulations @tberuch on your well deserved award! Georgia's Ambassador to the U.K. rightly recognised for her work Sarah Abbott The wonderful Georgian ambassador to the UK has been given the 'Best Diplomat' award by her peers!

Slovenia in UK Congratulations to all the winners of #DiplomatAwards2017 by @LondnDIPLOMAT@TataEurope hosted by @ BBCJLandale Teimuraz Janjalia Congratulations 2 Ambassador Beruchashvili @tberuch for receiving @ LondnDIPLOMAT@TataEurope award #DiplomatAwards2017 We are proud of her!

Tata Europe Congrats to all the #DiplomatAwards2017 winners. The awards for diplomats, voted for by diplomats! @LondnDIPLOMAT Maldives Embassy Heartiest congratulations to the winners of the Tata Diplomatic Award for 2017 @LondnDIPLOMAT #DiplomatAwards2017 Euripides Evriviades Amb of #Georgia @tberuch is voted by peers as Diplomat of the Year from Eurasia. Well deserved congrats. #DiplomatAwards2017 @LondnDIPLOMAT Mahvash Siddiqui Heartiest congrats to @tberuch @ RehakLubomir on being London's iconic diplomats of the year. Thx @StirDpIntGrad 4 supporting diplomatic corps

12

SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY

APRIL 28 - MAY 1, 2017

Save the Date for Viviana

BY KATIE RUTH DAVIES

E

rtad Siketistvis (Let’s Do Good Together) is a charity foundation created two years ago by a small group of young Georgian tenors, sopranos, mezzos, baritones, basses and instrumentalists: Zura Iashvili, Levan Abutidze, Philipe Gachava and Irakli Murjikneli, who aim to use their talent to raise money for some of Georgia’s most needy.

Their last event raised just GEL 350 for a single mother and her daughter living in abject poverty, though the Tbilisi event itself is said to have been exceptional: the National Parliamentary Library main hall packed full of opera lovers there to listen to Georgian opera singers, interns and Tbilisi Music Conservatory students ready to let their talent raise some money.

The next event is set for Friday May 12 at Kutaisi Opera House and will see the joint performances of Tbilisi and Kutaisi opera soloists, interns, and stu-

dents, with an orchestra conducted by Revaz Javakhishvili.

The total raised funds will be delivered to the family of one-year-old girl Viviana Kviria, who needs to go to Turkey for treatment for an oxygen deficiency problem. She has already had pneumonia seven times in her short life and Georgian doctors are unable to correctly diagnose her.

She is currently in an intensive care unit. USD 15,000 is needed to send her to Turkey for medical care. The Georgian Ministry of Health has allocated only GEL 2430.

Her mother, Marita Vardzelashvili, is a Kutaisi opera orchestra violinist.

If you cannot attend but wish to donate, you can use the VTB Bank account: GE61VT1000002064644506(Marita[Maia] Vardzelashvili) or Bank of Georgia: GE06BG0000000992110300 (Shota Kviria) WHERE: Kutaisi Opera House, Tsminda Nino 13, Kutaisi City WHEN: May 12, 7PM

Georgian-German Year Opens at Tbilisi City Assembly

BY MAKA LOMADZE

O

Little Viviana needs to go to Turkey for treatment for an oxygen deficiency problem

n April 21, the Tbilisi City Assembly hosted the official opening ceremony of the Georgian-German year. The historic building, which dates back 200 years, symbolized the bilateral relations that also count two centuries.

With the slogan ‘Future Heritage: Georgian-German Year 2017,’ under the patronage of the foreign affairs ministries of the two countries, together with the date of 200 years since the arrival of the first German colonists in Georgia, the two countries are marking the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

Notably, 2018 will be a centennial since Germany recognized Georgia’s first independence back in 1918 and will also see Georgia presented at the Frankfurt International Book Fair with the status of Guest of Honor.

Many organizations are involved in marking this anniversary year, which highlights the diversity that exists in the bilateral relations. Cultural events, theatrical performances, concerts, exhibitions and literary soirees will be held, as well as business-forums and projects

10 Galaktion Street

of development, economy, education and sports. The year of celebration spotlights the strong relations between Germany and Georgia, especially between their civil societies.

The opening ceremony at Tbilisi City Assembly was accompanied by the exhibition ‘Future Heritage – 200 Years: Georgian-German Stories’ which showcased material from a web-archive created by the Georgian organization Sovlab (Soviet Laboratory), with the financial support of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Georgian Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection. The aim of the web-archive is to protect and popularize documentaries and historic sources depicting the history of Georgian-German relations.

“This jubilee celebration denotes a very high level in our relations, as well as in cooperation in political, economic, cultural and other spheres,” said H.E. Heike Peitsch, Ambassador of Germany to Georgia. “I am sure those numerous events that take place this year will boost our relations even further”.

“2017 is the year of friendship between Germany and Georgia,” said Mikheil Janelidze, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. “Following the restoration of independence, large-scale invest-

ments were realized as an aid in the process of Georgia’s becoming a democratic state and approximating the European family. German aid towards Georgia surpasses EUR 800 million. Our cooperation in the fields of security, economy, trade and business is ongoing and German investments are increasing. We already have 350 German companies on the Georgian market successfully fulfilling their business goals. More importantly, these companies employ Georgians. Together with investments, they bring know-how and technologies that are so vital for the development of our economy. Our relations are also deepening in the fields of culture and education: Goethe Institute, namely, Daad, has given out 1100 scholarships for Georgian students and scholars, presenting a unique opportunity to strengthen our educational system”.

“Georgian-German Year is very important for the bilateral relations between the two countries,” said Professor KlausDieter Lehmann, President of Goethe Institute. “We cooperate in many spheres, yet the collaboration between civil societies is of utmost importance, as well as between artists, journalists and representatives of other spheres, who can learn a lot from each other and cooperate successfully”.

Tel: (995 32) 2 45 08 08 E-mail: info@peoplescafe.ge

CULTURE

GEORGIA TODAY APRIL 21 - 24, 2017

13

15th Season of Tbilisi Fashion Week Shows Off Latest Fashion Trends

BY THEA MORRISON

T

he 15th season of Tbilisi Fashion Week (TFW), which lasted from April 19 to April 23, successfully concluded in the capital of Georgia.

This year’s season was opened at Wine Factory N1/Tbili Sio, where SOLO presented an exhibition and performance featuring famous Georgian actress and fashion icon, Sopiko Chiaureli.

The 2017 TFW featured a mix of Georgian designers and newcomers who presented the latest trends in their collections. The festival included 21 events in total and was supported by the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Culture and Tbilisi City Hall.

Guests saw the autumn/winter collections of Georgian designers: ELENNY, MIA, Laboratory the Window, ETHERE ACCESOIRE, Atelier 27, MARTA, Giorgi Tatanashvili, and LIKAFORLIKA. Foreign designers and brands taking part included Lara Quint and SAYYA (Urkaine), ZLATOSTUDIO (Russia), SONCESS (Armenia), and ZDDZ (UK), presented in the Ernst & Young Tbilisi office on April 23.

This season also kicked off the project TALK, in collaboration with Marketer.ge.

The participants of the event took part in the Red Nose Day fundraiser. Moreover, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Solidarity Fund, in order to encourage Georgian designers to become even more involved in charitable causes.

With the support of Georgia’s National Tourism Administration (GNTA), Tbilisi

Fashion Week 2017 was attended by a number of international media representatives including Vogue Italia, Elle Russia, Officiel Ukraine, and British Vogue, who were taken to enjoy the sights and cultural monuments of the capital.

The Enterprise Development Agency hosted buyers: Harvey Nichols HONG

KONG, RIJOUX STORE Tel-Aviv, Concept Store PORTA 9 Russia, Al Duca D’acosta VENICE, United Legend Strasbourg, and Joseph Store London, to familiarize them with Georgian designers.

Prior to the opening of the TFW, a special showroom was opened in the main atrium of Tbilisi Mall, general

sponsor of Tbilisi Fashion Week.

The showroom featured the collections of designers: Salio Abuseridze, Moko, Mimosa, Shavdia, Art Salon Lika, Workshop Besiki 22, M.G.N.T. Style, No One, Co.Mode, Sopo Iosebidze, Atelier 27, Zedadan, Person, Atelier 22, Anishko, Avazaki, Makrateli, Lovoa, Medamoda,

Lunda Story, Mamy Bag, Katrin, Lazeti and Levanto.

TFW is considered one of the main fashion events in the Caucasus, supporting the development of the local fashion industry, introducing new faces to the industry and promoting the export of Georgian fashion pieces abroad.

14

CULTURE

GEORGIA TODAY

APRIL 28 - MAY 1, 2017

WHAT’S ON IN TBILISI THEATER

TBILISI ZAKARIA PALIASHVILI OPERA AND BALLET THEATER Address: 25 Rustaveli Ave. Telephone: 2 99 04 56 April 29,30 DON QUIXOTE State Ballet of Georgia The classical ballet in three-acts

By Ludwig Minkus Start time: 19:00 Ticket: 10-50 GEL May 1 WORLD STARS UNITED FOR LOVE Composer, Conductor & PianistEzio Bosso, World star- Carmen Giannattasio, Pianist- Oliver Poole, World star- Nino Surguladze Start time: 20:30 Ticket: 30-100 GEL May 4 CARMEN Irina Aleksidze, George Oniani, Kakhaber Tetvadze, Irina Taboridze, Givi Gigineishvili, Giorgi Tsamalashvili, Ira IosebidzeMamaladze, Elene Janjalia, Aleksandre Dekanoidze, Irakli Mujiri Tbilisi State Opera and Ballet Theater chorus, ballet dancers, orchestra.

Conductor- Zaza Azmaiparashvili Stage Director- Levan Tsuladze Choreographer- Gia Margania Start time: 19:00 Ticket: 15-80 GEL GABRIADZE THEATER Address: 13 Shavtelis Str. Telephone: 2 98 65 93 April 28 RAMONA Rezo Gabriadze Directed by Rezo Gabriadze English Subtitles Start time: 20:00 Ticket: 10, 15, 20 GEL May 2, 3 THE AUTUMN OF MY SPRING Rezo Gabriadze Directed by Rezo Gabriadze English Subtitles Start time: 20:00 Ticket: 10, 15, 20 GEL

April 29, 30, May 4 MARSHAL DE FANTIE’S DIAMOND Rezo Gabriadze Directed by Rezo Gabriadze English Subtitles Start time: 20:00 Ticket: 10, 15, 20 GEL MOVEMENT THEATER Address: 182, Aghmashenebeli Ave., Mushthaid park Telephone: 599 555 260 April 28 THE TEMPEST William Shakespeare Directed by Ioseb Bakuradze Start time: 20:00 Ticket: 15 GEL April 29, 30 DON JUAN Directed by Kakha Bakuradze Start time: 20:00 Ticket: 15 GEL GRIBOEDOVI THEATER Address: 2 Rustaveli Ave. Telephone: 2 93 43 36 April 28, 29, 30, May 5, 6 ALGERIA Premiere Directed by Avtandil Varsimashvili Language: Russian Start time: 18:00 Ticket: 10 GEL TBILISI VASO ABASHIDZE MUSIC AND DRAMA STATE THEATER Address: 182 D.Agmashenebeli Ave. Telephone: 2 34 80 90 www.musictheatre.ge April 28 DIVORCE Giorgi Eristavi Directed by Davit Doiashvili Musical Comedy Start time: 19:00 Ticket: From 8 GEL ROYAL DISTRICT THEATER Address: 10 Abesadze St. Telephone: 2 99 61 71 May 1, 2 WOMEN OF TROY Directed by Data Tavadze Documentary Language: Georgian English Subtitles Start time: 20:00 Ticket: 10 GEL

GEORGIAN STATE PANTOMIME THEATER Address: 37 Rustaveli Ave. Telephone: 2 99 63 14 April 29 HOST AND GUEST Vazha Pshavela Directed by Amiran Shalikashvili Start time: 20:00 Ticket: 12 GEL TBILISI NODAR DUMBADZE STATE CENTRAL CHILDREN'S THEATRE Address: 99/1 Agmashenebeli Ave. Telephone: 2 95 39 27 April 30 THE PRINCESS, FROG, HANSEL AND GRETEL Directed by Dimitri Khvtisiashvili Language: Russian Main Hall Start time: 12:00 Ticket: 7, 10 GEL

(Info Above) Start time: 22:00 Ticket: 13-14 GEL COLOSSAL Directed by Nacho Vigalondo Cast: Anne Hathaway, Jason Sudeikis, Austin Stowell Genre: Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi Language: Russian Start time: 19:15, 22:30 Ticket: 13-14 GEL MUSEUM

GEORGIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM SIMON JANASHIA MUSEUM Address: 4 Rustaveli Ave. Telephone: 2 99 80 22, 2 93 48 21 www.museum.ge PERMANENT EXHIBITION: GEORGIAN ARCHAEOLOGY FROM 8TH MILLENNIUM B.C. TO 4TH CENTURY A.D

CINEMA

AMIRANI CINEMA Address: 36 Kostava Str. Telephone: 2 99 99 55 www.kinoafisha.ge Every Wednesday ticket price: 5 Lari April 28- May 2 THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS 8 Directed by F. Gary Gray Cast: Charlize Theron, Dwayne Johnson, Vin Diesel Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller Language: English Start time: 16:15 Language: Russian Start time: 22:15 Ticket: 10-14 GEL THE CIRCLE Directed by James Ponsoldt Cast: Emma Watson, Tom Hanks, John Boyega Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller Language: Russian Start time: 22:10 Ticket: 13-14 GEL RUSTAVELI CINEMA Address: 5 Rustaveli Ave. Telephone: 2 55 50 00 www.kinoafisha.ge Every Wednesday ticket: 5 GEL April 28- May 2 THE CIRCLE

EXHIBITION OF GEORGIAN WEAPONRY NUMISMATIC TREASURY THE TESTAMENT OF DAVID THE BUILDER AND THE NEW EXHIBITS OF MEDIEVAL TREASURY September 27 (2016) – September 22 (2017) EXHIBITION STONE AGE GEORGIA MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS Address: 1 Gudiashvili Str. March 6 – August 30 EXHIBITION MASTERPIECES FROM THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS COLLECTION MUSEUM OF SOVIET OCCUPATION Address: 3 Sh. Rustaveli Ave. PERMANENT EXHIBITION MOMA TBILISI Address: 27 Rustaveli Ave. Telephone: 2 98 60 30 April 1-30 SALOME RIGVAVA’S PERSONAL EXHIBITION

GALLERY

THE NATIONAL GALLERY Address: 11 Rustaveli Ave. www.museum.ge GEORGIAN PAINTERS PERMANENT EXHIBITION April 12-30 THE EXHIBITION "GERMANS IN GEORGIA– ART, ARCHITECTURE, SCIENCE" NATIONAL LIBRARY OF GEORGIA Address: 7 L. Gudiashvili Str. April 28, 29 PHOTOEXHIBITION ‘ANOTHER GEORGIA’ See photos taken by travelers and climbers of ‘Tetnuldi’ Club, Archil Gegenava, Giorgi Enukidze and Giorgi Janelidze, in Iran over 12 days. Exhibition dedicated to Georgian spars refugee 400 years anniversary.

GALLERY CONTAINE April 28-30 EXHIBITION ‘DIGITAL MIRROR’ Artists: Tilda George, Guram Tsibakhashvili MTATSMINDA PARK April 30 ART & CRAFT FAIR Exhibition and sale of handmade items Time:12:00 – 19:00 FABRIKA Address: 8 Ninoshvili Str. April 20-30 Project ArtBeat presents MAKA BATIASHVILI’S SOLO EXHIBITION at its Moving Gallery.

All the presented drawings were created during 2015-17.

MUSIC

DJANSUG KAKHIDZE TBILISI CENTER FOR MUSIC & CULTURE Address: 125/127 Agmashenebeli Ave. Telephone: 295 01 19 April 29 CONCERT OF THE MUSIC OF JOHN WILLIAMS In celebration of 25 years of US diplomatic relations with the Republic of Georgia, the Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra will perform songs from Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, Superman, Schindler’s List and more.

Start time: 19:00 Ticket: From 15 GEL TBILISI CONCERT HALL Address: 1 Melikishvili St. Telephone: 2 99 00 99 April 30 BIG-BAND 20TH ANNIVERSARY Start time: 19:30 Ticket: 10-15 GEL MOVEMENT THEATER Address: 182 Agmashenebeli Ave., Mushtaiti Park Telephone: 599 07 50 61 April 28 JAZZ AT MT RESO KIKNADZE QUINTET Free Admission Start time: 21:00 TBILISI STATE CONSERVATOIRE Address: 8 Griboedov St. Telephone: 2 93 46 24 May 2 DAVID DARBINIAN SOLO CONCERT Program: R. Schuman- Drei Romanzen Op.94 F. Poulenc- Clarinet Sonata F. Danzi- Wind Quintet No2 g-moll W. A. Mozart- Clarinet and String Quintet A-dur K.581 P. Tchaikovsky- Old French song M. Glinka- Wedding song from the opera "Ivan Susanin" Start time: 15:00

CULTURE

GEORGIA TODAY APRIL 28 - MAY 1, 2017

Georgian National Museum Hosts Latin America & Caribbean Film-Screening

BY MAKA LOMADZE

O

n April 24, the Latin American and Caribbean Film Festival was opened at the Georgian National Museum.

Khatuna Totladze, Deputy Foreign Minister, and Gustavo Slauvinen, Deputy Foreign Minister of Argentina, opened the occasion. The event is dedicated to the 25th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations.

The counterparts emphasized the importance of said bilateral relations, with the Argentinian delegation, headed by Slauvinen, also in Georgia to conduct bilateral political consultations. Following the speeches of the two deputy foreign ministers, the film ‘The Wind Journey’ was shown.

Directed by Colombian Ciro Guerra and screened as part of the official selection of the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. The story follows a musician on a quest in the Colombian Caribbean to recover a musical instrument that, according to local legend, has been cursed by the Devil.

Last month, the Georgian National Museum hosted a four-day screening of documentary and fiction films from Colombia within its week-long celebration of the country’s culture and history.

The festival of Latin American Films will take place on April 29-30 in the auditorium of the Georgian National Museum. Entrance is free.

The program for the festival will open with Argentinian writer and director Sebastian Borensztein’s 2011 comedy Chinese Take-Away, the highest gross-

The Latin American and Caribbean Film Festival will also host local students of Spanish Language and Cinema Art. Diplomatic corps accredited in Georgia and film critics are also invited to the occasion.

WHERE: Georgian National Museum Auditorium, 1.

Purtseladze Str. Tbilisi, Georgia.

WHEN: April 29-30

ing film among non-United States productions in Argentina upon release. Following an Argentinian store owner and a Chinese visitor to the country, the film presents the two protagonists’ efforts to share their experiences without knowing each other’s language.

Films will be shown in original languages with English subtitles.

April 29: Argentina: ‘Chinese Take-Away,’ directed by Sebastian Borensztein. 93 min.

Starts at 11:00 Colombia: ‘The Wind Journey,’ directed by Ciro Guerra. 117 min.

Starts at 13:00 Ecuador: ‘The Dirty Game,’ directed by Frank Bonilla. 60 min.

Starts at 15:00 Cuba: ‘Dancing with Margot,’ directed by Arturo Santana. 105 min.

Starts at 17:00 Guatemala: ‘Where the Sun was Born,’ directed

by Elias Jimenes. 84 min.

Starts at 19:00 April 30: Brazil: ‘The House of Sand’, directed by Fernando Molnar. 76 min.

Starts at 11:00 Honduras: ‘Eleven Cipots,’ directed by Tomas Chi. 76 min.

Starts at 13:00 Mexico: ‘The Dream of Mara Akam,’ directed by

PUBLISHER & GM

George Sharashidze COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT

Commercial Director: Iva Merabishvili Marketing Manager: Mariam Giorgadze

GEORGIA TODAY

Federico Cecchetti. 90 min.

Starts at 15:00 Panama: ‘Get Out if you Can,’ directed by Ricardo Aguillar Navarro, Manuel Rodriguez. 97 min.

Starts at 17:00 Jamaica: ‘Songs of Redemption’ directed by Miquel Galofre, Amanda Sans. 78 min.

Starts at 17:00

15

EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT:

Editor-In-Chief: Katie Ruth Davies

Journalists: Tony Hanmer, Zaza Jgarkava, Maka Bibilashvili, Dimitri Dolaberidze, Maka Lomadze, Tim Ogden, Joseph Larsen, Vazha Tavberidze, Nugzar B. Ruhadze, Nino Gugunishvili, Thea Morrison Photographer: Irakli Dolidze

Website Manager: Tamzin Whitewood Website Copy-Editor: Gabrielle Guerrier Layout: Misha Mchedlishvili Webmaster: Sergey Gevenov Circulation Managers: David Kerdikashvili, David Djandjgava

ADDRESS

1 Melikishvili Str. Tbilisi, 0179, Georgia Tel.: +995 32 229 59 19 E: info@georgiatoday.ge F: GeorgiaToday ADVERTISING & SUBSCRIPTION

+995 579 25 22 25 E-mail: marketing@ georgiatoday.ge

Reproducing material, photos and advertisements without prior editorial permission is strictly forbidden.

The author is responsible for all material. Rights of authors are preserved. The newspaper is registered in Mtatsminda district court.

Reg. # 06/4-309