Issue #1316

Issue no: 1316

• OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2021 • PUBLISHED WEEKLY

PRICE: GEL 2.50

In this week’s issue...

Corona Updates: Epidemiological Situation Improved, Vaccination Rate still Low NEWS PAGE 2

First Svaneti Int’l Film Festival Announces Lineup NEWS PAGE 3

The US’s Necessary Rival: China POLITICS PAGE 5

FOCUS ON ISRAELI WEEK

Israeli Week highlights investment, education, literary and business PAGE opportunities in Georgia.

10

Concern in Georgia as Reports Spread of EU Plan to Suspend Georgia’s Visa-Free Agreement

BY TEAM GT

POLITICS PAGE 6

Carrefour Named Partner and Sponsor of Season Six of MasterChef BUSINESS PAGE 8

2021 Niko Ketskhoveli School Awards Winners Announced SOCIETY PAGE 9

Rugby Union Vice President on the Present & Future of Georgian Rugby

O

n Wednesday afternoon, news spread like wildfire that the European Union is to consider abolishing the visa-free regime for Georgia on October 13.

The report came from EUobserver, a non-profit, independent online newspaper established in Brussels in 2000. Their claimed goal is to “report on how decisions are made in the European Union, giving people the possibility of making their voices heard within the European institution” in a “relentless quest for transparency and accountability.”

“Unlawful residency and unfounded asylum claims from some western Balkan states, plus Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine, is triggering discussions on suspending visa-free travel to the EU,” EUobserver reported this week. The agency says they became aware of this through the contents of an EU internal report dated September 27.

According to EUobserver, in the document, Germany took umbrage with Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. It also faulted Albania and Serbia

The Underlying Dangers of Division

SPORTS PAGE 11 CULTURE PAGE 11 Prepared for Georgia Today Business by

Markets As of 27ͲSepͲ2021

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INDICES

Image source: EUNeighbours

as among the top 10 problem countries.

The report notes that the number of asylum seekers from Georgia has increased by 51% in

the last three months compared to the same period in 2019.

Continued on page 4

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2

NEWS

GEORGIA TODAY

OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2021

Corona Updates: Epidemiological Situation Improved, Vaccination Rate still Low

BY ANA DUMBADZE

H

ead of the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) Amiran Gamkrelidze stated this week that the epidemiological situation has improved in Georgia, however, “it does not allow us to relax.”

Health officials, including Gamkrelidze, remain concerned due to the low vaccination rate and skeptical approach among the population towards the vaccines.

The NCDC Head noted that the country has 600,000 doses of the Pfizer jab left, but demand for it is low.

The statistics show that the average vaccination rate in September topped 20,000 per day when healthcare managers expected it to be over 30,000. In the last few days, the average daily vaccination rate has been in the range of 12-14,000 per day.

THE RESTRICTIONS Due to the improved epidemiological situation, the in-person education process will resume at schools and universities from October 4, the Interagency Coordination Council decided on Tuesday. It will be up to the parents of school students whether they wish their children to go back to school or continue learning online, as teachers must be prepared to satisfy both demands.

The education process has been ongoing remotely from September 15.

Kindergartens and children’s entertainment centers will also be allowed to reopen on October 4.

THE STATISTICS Georgia recorded 2185 coronavirus cases, 2010 recoveries, and 40 deaths on Tuesday, as a result of 31,216 tests performed.

Tbilisi recorded the highest number of 584 Covid-19 cases, followed by the Kakheti region with 413 cases, and the Imereti region with 392 cases.

The numbers dropped to 1929 new

Image source: Reginfo

cases, 1914 recoveries, and 33 deaths on Wednesday, with 32,522 tests conducted.

Tbilisi recorded the highest number of 659 Covid-19 cases, followed by the Imereti region with 363 cases and the Kakheti region with 286 cases.

Georgia reported 1743 coronavirus cases, 2266 recoveries, and 29 deaths on Thursday, with 36,047 tests conducted.

Tbilisi recorded 571 Covid-19 cases in 24 hours, followed by Imereti with 315 cases,

and the Kakheti with 262 cases. A total of 36,047 tests were conducted in the 24 hours prior throughout the country.

The daily test-positivity rate stands at 4.84%, down from 6.04% over the past 14 days.

Georgia’s total case tally since February 2020 reached 613,012, among which 585,071 people recovered and 8946 lost their lives.

52 people are currently in quarantine,

4223 Covid-19 patients are hospitalized, and 734 asymptomatic and mild symptom patients are in government-assigned facilities.

THE GLOBAL SITUATION The total number of people infected with coronavirus worldwide since the start of the pandemic has exceeded 234 million, according to Worldometers.

Based on the same statistics, Covid-19

has killed more than 4.78 million people worldwide to date. The number of people recovered from the virus exceeds 210.8 million. There are currently 18.3 million active cases of the infection worldwide.

The largest number of coronavirus infections, 44.1 million cases, has been confirmed by the United States, followed

by India with more than 33.7 million cases, Brazil, the United Kingdom and Russia.

Saakashvili to Return to Tea Tsulukiani Appoints Nino Georgia on October 2 Salukvadze as Director of

Georgian Sports Museum

BY KETEVAN SKHIRTLADZE

T

BY KETEVAN SKHIRTLADZE

F

ormer President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili posted a photo of his planned KyivTbilisi flight on his Facebook page. The flight is scheduled for October 2.

Mikheil Saakashvili is to return to Georgia with his mother, Giuli Alasania.

“The fate of Georgia will be decided, the

issue of saving or not saving Georgia is decided, and of course, I got a ticket, as I said, for the evening of October 2, to be with you in Tbilisi and defend your will, express your will, and take part in saving Georgia with you,” Saakashvili wrote.

The former president has been sentenced to imprisonment in Georgia due to connection with the case of Sandro Girgvliani and the beating of MP Valeri Gelashvili.

Local self-government elections will be held in Georgia on October 2.

he Minister of Culture, Tea Tsulukiani, appointed Nino Salukvadze as Director of the new Georgian Sports Museum.

Nino Salukvadze is an Olympic medalwinning shooter and European champion who holds numerous titles and records. Salukvadze is the only female athlete in the history of the Olympic Games to compete in a ninth Olympic Games.

The purpose of the new museum is to exhibit cups, medals, and other examples of victories in Georgian sports, achievements that should be on show for sports fans and the athletes themselves.

Tsulukiani noted that work has started in order to give the Sports Museum a suitable exhibition hall and this process will be led by the famous athlete Nino

Salukvadze together with the Ministry.

“Nino Salukvadze is a legend of Georgian sports, a person who knows best the price of victory, and she will take the best care of the treasures of Georgian sports,” the Minister said.

On the order of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs of Georgia, on April 19, 2020, four museums/groups of museums were established on the basis of the Georgian National Museum, one of which is the Sports Museum.

NEWS

GEORGIA TODAY OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2021

Construction of Car Bridge between University St and Bagebi Begins

Source of photo: 1tv.ge

BY KETEVAN SKHIRTLADZE

C

onstruction of a bridge connecting University Street and Bagebi settlement is underway. Mayor of the capital, Kakha Kaladze announced the construction of the bridge will last two years and will be completed by 2023.

“The road bridge connecting University Street and Bagebi settlement will be built next to the existing pedestrian bridge. The bridge will be about half a kilometer long and four-lane. As part of this project, two important junctions will be constructed

on University Street and the Bagebi-Tskneti Road, as a result of which the traffic jams we have today on Tamarashvili Street, as well as from Tskneti to Chavchavadze, will be freed-up and traffic will flow more easily,” Kaladze said.

The mayor noted that this bridge will be one of the most distinctive, and will be adapted for everyone, both for vehicles, as well as for pedestrians and bicycles.

“There is no sidewalk on Bagebi Road, the road is narrow, it is impossible to move, it is impossible to pull over. All this will be fixed, as will Cholokashvili Street, which is in the worst condition. This street will be fully rehabilitated, including underground,” Kaladze said.

3

First Svaneti Int’l Film Festival Announces Lineup

T

wenty titles have been selected for the short film competition of the first edition of the Georgian Svaneti International Film Festival, which is to take place live from 3 to 7 October in Mestia and Ushguli.

The festival was due to take place 25-29 August 2021, however, it was rescheduled due to the deterioration of the pandemic situation in the region.

The Svaneti IFF is organized by director Mariam Khatchvani and Teimuraz Chkhvimiani.

The festival will become an integral part of world film festivals and will host guests from different countries of the world.

International Short Film Competition: I Am Afraid to Forget Your Face (Egypt, France, Qatar, Belgium) Directed by Sumeh Alaa Beyond the Threshold (Armenia) Directed by Anginesh Isanias A Sister and a Brother (Georgia, Belgium) Directed by Jaro Minne Atrapaluz (Costa Rica, Mexico) Directed by Kim Tores Funfair (Iran, Canada) Directed by Kim Tores Orphans of the City (Belgium) Directed by Bulent Ozturk 23 (Georgia) Directed by Giga Gabriel Jobava 12 K. Marx Street (Georgia) Directed by Irine Jordania Morning Elsewhere (Singapore) Directed by Han Feng Yu The Star (Israel, USA) Directed by Nadav Lapid North Pole (Macedonia, Serbia) Directed by Marija Apcevska Swimmer (Sweden) Directed by Jonata Etzler Before We Leave (Georgia) Directed by Elene Tsagareishvili On Memory (Singapore) Directed by Liao Jiekai Accamora (Italy) Directed by Emanuela Muzzupappa

Fatherland (Georgia) Directed by George Sikharulidze The Last Matador (Finland, Czech Republic) Directed by Kateriina Lillqvist An Hour (Georgia) Directed by George Tavartkiladze A Scarecrow (Nepal) Directed by Rajesh Prasad Khatri August Sky (Brazil) Directed by Jasmin Tenuchi Industry Projects: The Real Beings Directed by Vakhtang Jajanidze Apria Directed by Rati Oneli I Greta Directed by Miranda Namicheishvili Tear Gas Directed by Uta Beria The Burden Directed by Ana Iosava Kakhaberi Directed by Giorgi Getiashvili Between Two Walls Directed by Shalva Shengeli City Noise Directed by Papuna Mosidze Only One Tear Directed by George Varsimashvili Disposable Directed by Luka Beradze Son Directed by Tengo Asitahsvili.

The festival will be covered by renowned foreign film platforms, and journalists from Variety & Film News Europe will be invited to contribute several articles to the festival.

Supporters of the festival are: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the Georgian National Film Center, General Sponsor Hotel GISTOLA, the Bank of Georgia, Teliani Valley, Badagi, All Print, Albomi travel club, and the Mestia Municipality.

Mikheil Lomtadze Named Best CEO Are you looking for the best space at Kazakhstan Growth Forum for office or commercial activities?

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Rent - from $15/sq.m.

Image: Forbes Georgia

BY ANA DUMBADZE

G

eorgian billionaire and philanthropist Mikheil Lomtadze has been named the best CEO at the Kazakhstan Growth Forum.

Mikheil Lomtadze, a Georgian entrepreneur, was once again in the spotlight at the awards ceremony at the Kazakhstan Growth Forum, which annually names the best companies in Kazakhstan and their leaders – he was recognized as the best CEO of the year. It should be noted that in addition, the company he founded also received two awards: Kaspi was recognized as the “Transformer of the Year” for creating a renewed customer experience, and the company’s entry to the London Stock Exchange was named “Main Deal of the Year.”

The best companies and leaders are selected annually by the Board of Experts of the Kazakhstan

Growth Forum.

500 Kazakh companies participated in this year’s competition.

“Thank you very much for this decision of the jury. On behalf of the Kaspi.kz team, we thank each and every one of our customers for using our services and inspiring us with the need for constant updates and innovations. We even promise to amaze Kazakhs even more with innovative services that can change our lives for the better. Let’s show the world together that it is possible to establish and develop innovative technology companies in Kazakhstan as well, ”said Mikheil Lomtadze, the founder of Kaspi.

It should be noted that Mikheil Lomtadze has been the laureate of prestigious Kazakh business awards many times before. In April of this year, according to the CEO Survey, conducted by the large consulting company PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Mikheil Lomtadze was named the best CEO for the third time in a row.

Contact us: 577 57 69 77

4

POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY

OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2021

In Run-up to Local Elections, Media Research Registers Mounting Tensions

D

eep partisan divisions have defined the electoral media environment in Georgia throughout all recent elections. Findings of the media monitoring research, released Thursday by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), show that tensions between media camps have only increased between the parliamentary elections in 2020 and the local elections in 2021.

In the pre-election monitoring period (July through September 2021), polarization was pronounced across all sectors of the national and, to a lesser degree, regional and local media. Some of the media outlets, which were relatively balanced last year, are now showing clear signs of political preference.

Political divisions on television were most evident in July when homophobic pogroms and violent attacks on journalists dominated the media agenda.

Although all national televisions closely followed the events, most of them manipulated their audiences by spreading political bias and negatively portraying political forces they did not favor. Facebook pages of the national televisions mirrored this trend by backing certain political forces and demeaning others.

Regional and local televisions were more focused on covering national news than local developments but failed to provide their audiences with high-quality information. News programmes were irregular and, in some cases, had to be suspended for several weeks for techni-

cal reasons.

Polarization and political bias have increased on national radios, a traditionally balanced and neutral media sector.

Regional radios, though less biased in their reporting, did not provide critical analysis of the events and often used unverified information. Both national and regional radios tried to follow journalistic standards and refrained from discriminatory or abusive language.

As in previous years, unverified sources of information and offensive language remained an issue in national print media.

In contrast to that, regional and local newspapers offered a relatively impartial account of events and a diversity of opinions.

The situation was different in the digital media sector. National publications were less polarized and more informative and balanced, while regional and local digital media outlets lent to political favoritism and used untrustworthy information sources. However, compared to television, political pressures and polarization were notably less evident across the entire digital media sector.

Compared to the 2020 electoral cycle, fewer cases of gender-discriminatory language were registered during the monitoring period across all media sectors.

The EU and UNDP media monitoring also studied how political players communicate with their constituencies on social media. The research focused on the contents of Facebook pages of political parties, politicians, mayors’ offices

Image source: un.org

and public agencies, as well as open Facebook groups. Over 500 social media resources were monitored in total. Findings show that in the pre-election period, Facebook pages of the municipalities and mayors’ offices refrained from unethical political propaganda and electoral confrontations. Politicians and political parties used their Facebook pages to spread critical information about political opponents but, in most cases, stayed within the ethical frames of an election campaign. Although electoral news reached open Facebook groups and social media pages of the state agencies, their traction on these channels was relatively low.

As in 2020, the EU and UNDP commissioned specialized research on media coverage of the role of foreign actors in Georgian elections. In the pre-election monitoring period, the EU, Russian Federation (RF) and the United States of America (USA) were mentioned most frequently, with the EU and the USA portrayed in a positive light across all media sectors. The media agenda was dominated by political developments, including the so-called ‘Charles Michel agreement,’ the situation in Afghanistan, and Georgia’s bilateral relations with Belarus and Ukraine. Depending on their editorial preferences, media outlets would either interpret these develop-

ments as examples of Georgia’s foreign policy success or, on the contrary, as proofs of the government’s anti-Western stance.

“The media landscape mirrors polarization in Georgian society, which becomes especially evident at the time of elections,” said Evija Kotan, Deputy Head of Political Section at the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia. “Media research serves as a critical tool for journalists, politicians and the public in fulfilling their civic duties during elections.”

“Voters place their trust in the media to make an informed choice at the ballot boxes,” said Anna Chernyshova, UNDP Deputy Head in Georgia. “The Georgian media can be praised for featuring a wide range of opinions and party options.

However, political bias, unethical reporting and unverified sources of information remain a problem in many parts of the media.”

The EU-funded monitoring of media coverage of local elections in Georgia is implemented by UNDP in partnership with three Georgian civil society organizations: the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics, Internews Georgia and CRRC-Georgia. This year, it covers 54 media outlets (27 national and 27 regional).

Media research will continue throughout the electoral cycle, covering the election campaigns, election day and a post-election period (from July 2021 through March 2022). All reports are available on the website: mediamonitor. ge

Concern in Georgia as Reports Spread of EU Plan to Suspend Georgia’s Visa-Free Agreement Continued from page 1 “’In case of little or no improvement by third countries, COM [European Commission] should, in our view, emphasize that triggering the Visa Suspension Mechanism is a real option,’ says the German delegation in the document,” EUobserver claimed.

The media outlet added that France was also unhappy with Albania and Georgia and “remains wary of the Serbs,” while “the Czech Republic said it has seen a high number of unfounded asylum claims from Georgian, Moldovan, and Ukrainian nationals.”

The Netherlands is the first and only EU state so far to have asked for a visafree suspension. But its request against Albania in 2019 was rejected by the European Commission.

The EU introduced visa-free travel for Montenegro, Serbia and northern Macedonia in 2009, with Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina added to the list in 2010. Later, in 2014, the EU approved visa-free travel for citizens of Moldova, and in 2017 for citizens of Georgia and Ukraine.

The last time such a concern was raised about Georgia losing its visa-free rights was in June 2019.

The visa-free regime took effect for Georgia with the European Union in March 2017, and within two years, some EU member states were expressing concerns that Georgian citizens were misusing it, with France, Austria, Germany and Sweden in particular stressing an increased number of asylum seekers from Georgia, even after it was placed by several states on the list of safe countries.

Back in 2019, Jelger Groeneveld, Dutch Liberal party D66, Board Member of the International Cooperation Division, told the Georgian Institute of Politics that,

Image source: mythdetector.ge

“Most crucial is that Georgia maintains full cooperation on the readmission of nationals, an important key point in the assessment to invoke the suspension mechanism. Currently, Georgia’s visa waiver to Schengen is not in immediate danger, mostly based on this high level of readmission and cooperation in crimefighting efforts,” he said.

Alexandra Stiglmayer, Senior Analyst

and Secretary-General of the European Stability Initiative, an independent thinktank that has worked on EU visa liberalization since 2008, said at time of the 2019 concerns that she did not believe the EU would suspend visa-free travel with Georgia.

“First, it would have a huge negative impact on EU-Georgia relations. Second, deep down, member states know that

they themselves can reduce the number of unfounded asylum claims,’ she said.

[But] “getting to suspension is not easy.

It requires the agreement of the European Commission and a majority of all member states, following an examination of various factors, such as the number of affected member states, not many in Georgia’s case, and the overall impact on the migratory situation in the EU,

which is limited,” she told GIP. “The information that the EU is considering suspension of the visa-free regime for Georgia is a lie: Georgia is fulfilling its obligations and no suspension mechanism will be activated in relation to Georgia,” Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Davit Zalkaliani announced Wednesday, adding that the latest visa liberalization report actually highly assesses Georgia's implementation of visa liberalization.

“I want to reassure everyone, and also disappoint the people who took up this story. It is unbelievable when [our political] opponents are happy about a failure of the country and I want to disappoint them and tell them that this story is a lie. The [EUobserver] article does not specifically talk about Georgia, it concerns Moldova and the Eastern Balkans.

The number of asylum seekers increased from those countries, but, on the contrary, the number of asylum seekers from Georgia to the EU has decreased by 75%.

So this is a very big lie, nothing is at risk, everything is very good,” Zalkaliani said.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also denied the reports that Germany is demanding the EU consider suspending the visa-free travel regime for Georgia, Ukraine and the Balkans, calling the information "fake."

“Reading this news was just as unexpected for me as it was for everyone else.

I asked in Berlin and at the Federal Interior Ministry, and found out that this was fake news,” said the German President, whose comments were translated and spread by the Georgian Foreign Ministry's press service.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry says the statement was made by Frank-Walter Steinmeier at a press conference after meeting with Moldovan President Maia Sandu in response to the news published

by EUobserver.

POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2021

5

The US’s Necessary Rival: China

BY EMIL AVDALIANI

S

ince the 1990s, the US has had trouble determining what its position in the world should be. The end of the Soviet Union propelled anti-imperialist thinking and the need to return to normalcy. The US compounded those fears about its position, presenting as if it needed a rival to revitalize itself and prove once again that its presence was needed on the global stage. China could now play the role of that necessary rival.

It will be a short and simple story. The US, in a long and arduous Cold War with the Soviet Union, served as a security guarantor for smaller liberal countries.

The latter put up with the occasional excesses of American power. Its preponderance was often irritating, but it did not cause structural failures within the liberal internationalism. The fear of being gobbled up by the rival communist ideology and being overrun by the Soviet military power served as a glue for the America-led alliances and various structures, be they NATO or the financial bodies of the epoch.

Much has changed since the 1990s.

Motivators, such as the threat of communism, for the smooth working and cohesion of international liberalism, have disappeared. Yet, the outside, globalized order, by extreme pace of inclusion of new members, has lost the efficiency the system was characterized with. Thence come various theories contending the decline of the US global clout and the liberal order overall. To this should be added the rise of contenders.

China and to a lesser degree Russia, are primary challengers, and there is no doubt about that. But both are necessary rivals, China in particular. Surprisingly, without such a large and competitive contender, the hope for a successfully continuous liberal order with its various treaties, bargains and alliances, would

be futile.

China appeared at a crucial time, with liberal internationalism experiencing a crisis and seeking motivators to persevere. The Russian threat is not big enough to unanimously unite the Westerners and America-allied Asian democracies.

But China is. It represents a challenge even not so much directly militarily as ideological, as it helps many states across the globe, those who held America in contempt for its unipolarity, to rebalance and use China to increase their bargaining position.

This also means that we live in a transitory period, when talks about China’s imminent victory over the US seem unscrupulous, as do the upbeat sentiments in the collective West arguing that the China challenge is of short-term significance. In short, both states are testing each other and gearing up for stiffer competition, which by no means indicates that a direct military clash will take place. This, however, does not preclude a proxy war in third countries, primarily across the Indo-Pacific region.

China-US competition will also increase the pace of regionalization of the international system. Some might even argue that the emergence of spheres of influence might be taking place.

The China challenge is fundamental for other reasons too. Firstly, unlike the Soviet Union, China operates from within the order upheld by the US. It makes it difficult for Washington to build an immediate coalition against Beijing, as too many blowbacks, both economic and purely geopolitical, are likely to follow for America itself and its allies. But “operating from within” also makes China vulnerable, as it has to adhere to rules when pressured collectively and consistently.

The China challenge is also about something greater. It has shown it can harness modernity. What was deemed as an asset peculiar only to the West, because progress was considered a direct result of liberal norms and vice-versa,

Image source: eetasia.com

is now being mastered by illiberal China.

An anachronism for Westerners, normalcy for the Chinese.

Illiberal states headed by China are now building an illiberal movement – illiberalism, which is being elevated to the level of a new ideology. Surprisingly, this is also a boon for the US, for its motivations and its ability to restructure the world order, lest it loses influence because of its inactivity or pursuit of unipolarity. Casting the competition from a rival in ideological terms is an important component for motivating America’s resolve. This happened in the Cold War, and unfolded again in the Bush era when the crusade against terrorism was announced.

Though often denigrated as unstable and seen as a stage in the evolution towards liberal-democratic ordnance, modern illiberalism with trappings of modern technologies is more resilient and might even be a longer term challenge than crude communism. Failure to deliver on its promises killed the communist dream; failure to deliver in

authoritarianism might not bring down the order as quickly as some would think.

It is essentially the rise of counterenlightenment considered as a return to the normalcy in human and state relations when primacy of state is back and democratic bickering is thought to be more time-consuming.

Nevertheless, the China challenge – the necessary one – will help the US keep and restructure its alliance system.

Threats to the US in Eurasia will persist and even increase. As this unfolds so will the logic of alliance building. Eventually the powerful China will help mend trans-Atlantic ties. It could even be argued that in the longer term, a certain rapprochement with Russia might take place.

This will be short of luring Moscow into a fully blown alliance directed against the Chinese, but it is also what the Kremlin will salute as it would allow the Russians be more manoeuvrable in their foreign policy – after all, with the fixation on the West now gone, no-one in the Kremlin wants a new geopolitical fixation on China.

America’s failures are often exaggerated. The superpower could lose a war.

It could signal a trend, but so far the US, despite losing wars and resistance from within its alliance structures, has managed to preserve its omnipotence. Surely this position of America causes jealousies, attempts at balancing by other powers, and even outright hostility, but the scholarly trends towards describing America’s power as decidedly declining could be as incorrect as stating unchanged the continuity of Washington’s geopolitical stature. With China appearing as a competitor, the US could revitalize its pursuit of liberal order. The latter might expand, as in the 1990s, but the consolidation in the lands of democracies is what is likely to follow. For the US to operate in the manner of unipolarity would be more damaging than when it faces rivals. China could make the US operate within the boundaries of the liberal order as much as it did in the Cold War era. This brings respect from its democratic peers and shows the necessity to work with Washington.

“Peace, Stability, Prosperity” - Georgian PM Meets with President of Azerbaijan to Boost Georgia’s Role as Regional Mediator

The Armenian PM on a visit to Tbilisi on September 8. Source: 1TV

BY TEAM GT

O

n Wednesday, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili paid a visit to Azerbaijan and was hosted

by President Ilham Aliyev.

A meeting of the Intergovernmental Economic Commission chaired by the prime ministers of Georgia and the Republic of Azerbaijan was held, after which memorandums of cooperation were signed.

The Georgian delegation, led by the Prime Minister, included Deputy Prime

Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Davit Zalkaliani, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Natia Turnava, and Head of the Government Administration Ilia Darchiashvili.

The Georgian PM spoke about President Aliyev on Imedi TV prior to his visit, noting the two countries’ good relations.

“We have a good relationship and, most importantly, we have trust. When there is trust between countries and leaders, I think all issues can be resolved. I have a similar relationship with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and I plan to visit Armenia in the near future.

I will do as much as possible to play a

useful role between the two countries.”

The visit of Prime Minister Garibashvili to the Republic of Azerbaijan began with a meeting with President Ilham Aliyev, where they emphasized the issue of strategic partnership and active political dialogue between the two countries, as well as intensive trade and economic cooperation.

“Our relations are beneficial not only for our nations, but for the region as a whole," Aliyev told Garibashvili. “The statistics show we have made significant progress in terms of economic and trade turnover. Georgia's positive investment environment and economic reforms are very promising for us, thanks to which many social and economic problems have been solved.”

The Georgian Prime Minister noted that Georgia is interested in strengthening bilateral political, economic, cultural, and other ties with Azerbaijan, as well as peace and stability in the region, which will ensure economic development for all three countries.

“Our interests include peace and stability in the region, which ensures strong economic development. This is my second visit to Azerbaijan this year. Next, we will discuss issues related to our future plans. I am sure that this meeting will be very fruitful," Garibashvili said.

On September 27, the Georgian PM announced plans for Georgia to serve as a mediator between Armenia and Azerbaijan following on from last year’s Second Nagorno-Karabakh War. “We offer mediation to our brotherly states, our Azerbaijani and Armenian brothers,” he said. “We set a really rare precedent in June when our country successfully conducted a peacekeeping

operation through mediation, the release of 15 detained Armenian soldiers through negotiations and mediation, as well as handing over maps of territories mined

by Armenia to Azerbaijan. There has not been a similar precedent for 30 years where Georgia mediated between two countries, our neighbors, and was able to do so successfully,” Garibashvili said.

The PM noted that the initiative is connected with the continuation of this process at a higher level, adding that he is offering this mediation platform to the Azerbaijanis and Armenians in Tbilisi.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan last visited Tbilisi on September 8, at which time the PM stated: “The Kara-

PM Garibashvili in Baku this week

bakh War was certainly a real challenge for our region, but now that I have become familiar with the Prime Minister’s new vision, I believe that this challenge can be transformed into a new opportunity, an opportunity that will bring prosperity to Armenia and the Armenian people. I would also like to say that the stability of Armenia is very important for us, both politically and economically, and it is directly related to the stability of our country and the region in general. Therefore, I would like to put our common regional goal in three words – it is peace, stability, and prosperity, which unites all three countries of the region,” he said.

6

POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY

OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2021

The Underlying Dangers of Division to take action, the extreme elements begin to make their moves. From the installation of special facilities to deal with the target group, to the armament of paramilitary and “special” teams, the build up to the executive step takes place.

Displacement of those targeted is often initiated at this stage, moving people into places where they can be easily monitored and controlled. This is typically done in the open due to the feeling of security and imperviousness to the rule of law.

In most cases, this is the last stage at which real protection can be offered.

Whether through foreign military or diplomatic intervention, this is the last chance for a true atrocity to be prevented.

However, this is also dependent on the political will of the foreign nations involved and the status of the connection between the national leadership members.

7. EXTERMINATION

Protesters in Tbilisi march in the center of the city against European Union integration as well as the involvement of concurrent Tbilisi Pride demonstrators Photo by Irakli Gedenidze/Reuters

OP-ED BY MICHAEL GODWIN

T

he concept of “Us versus Them” is something that has been a part of humanity since the infancy of our species. It could easily be argued that it was a piece of the proverbial mother that taught us the idea of self-preservation and unity among the “tribe” of either family or simply likeminded people. Perhaps it even guided us into our ascent to being the dominant species on the planet. However, in the modern era, this concept has been abused to such an extent that we are seen doing horrible things to our own countrymen and brethren.

This takes multiple forms; from refusal of entry across a nation's borders to persecution and ultimately mass murder of a group of people. Any division is part of a “Divide and Conquer” strategy, even if those involved don't realize it. If allowed to persist and develop, this often leads to much more tragic endings, one of which is genocide.

Genocide is an exceptionally strong word. First termed in 1944 as the Allied Forces discovered the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime, it quickly became used in legal terms during postwar war crime trials. In 1946, the United Nations General Assembly made genocide a crime punishable under international law. However, such atrocities are not uncommon in the modern world.

Some do not elevate to the horrific level seen in Nazi-controlled Germany, Soviet Russia, or Communist China. Some have yet to be seen.

Dr. Gregory H. Stanton, the president of Genocide Watch, defined genocide very specifically by saying; “Genocide is a process that develops in eight stages that are predictable, but not inexorable.

At each stage, preventive measures can stop it. It is not a linear process, but, logically, the later stages must be preceded by the earlier stages. Logically, the prior stages continue to operate throughout the process.”

Each stage is heavily rooted in the government-people relationship and the modern concept of democracy operating under the consent of the governed.

The very concept of public officials working at the behest and betterment of the people is something that is relatively new in the broader concept of civilizations. Over time, the execution of this system has seemingly gone awry from its written ideals.

Most identify the first six stages of this list as not truly genocide. They are merely identifiers, and as Dr. Stanton noted, are

simply warning signs of what could become reality. In addition, these steps are not mutually exclusive, but rather can occur either independently or concurrently. These eight steps have proven to be evident throughout history.

1. CLASSIFICATION The first stage is the labeling of the “desirables” and “undesirables”. Both terms are completely subjective to the views of the individual and are formulated on the information they are given about other members of their society.

Much of this is based upon political ideology, but other classification initiatives include the religious and the non-religious, vaccinated and unvaccinated, and foreigner and local.

The simple solution to this is the willingness to focus on commonalities rather than highlighting the differences. However, this is easier said than done, as the ideologies one pre-possesses become a part of the individual with enough indoctrination. Just as one who wields a sword accepts that the weapon is now an extension of themselves and their will, one who accepts an ideology allows it to become a part of themselves as well. The combination of this extension and the classification of another allows them to extend that reach to the perceived undesirables.

society, as not only “outsiders” but as a “disease” or a “poison” to that said society.

Many times, these people are associated with already dehumanized groups.

Linking the opposing people with communism, nazism, racism, facism, or any of the other litany of “-ist” or “ism” terms only helps with the distancing and dehumanizing effect. Once this is done, the effect of violent acts committed becomes much easier and far more acceptable to the populace inflicting the behavior.

4. ORGANIZATION The exclusion and discrimination of another group becomes systematic during this phase. In the past, the formalization of the persecution of those labeled as undesirables has even taken a bureaucratic model. Nazi Germany had an extremely rigorous and administrative method to the killing of their victims, as did the regimentation and conduct of the Interahamwe in the Rwandan genocide.

This organization is typically a legal power, represented in political bodies.

This lends some semblance of authenticity to their push for the further persecution of the aforementioned “undesirables,” and protects the central government from responsibility. Their vision is then pushed out to schools,

Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs), and foreign partners, to even further paint the image that they are in favor of purging the “undesirables” from their country.

5. POLARIZATION Using extremist entities in each sect as a platform from which to justify further violence and oppression is the next step.

As factions separate even farther during the previous stages, those on the far fringes of each one will begin to lash out. Those that do not align to these radical subgroups are pressed to either affirm their allegiance or be labeled as a dissenter and therefore a supporter of the opposite side.

In addition, some of those extremist organizations don't use traditional force of arms to accomplish their goals: they are able to, using the previously mentioned organization stage, weaponize government organizations to enforce their agenda. At this time, the protection of the targeted groups and other perceived opposition is required, not only by law enforcement entities, but also by the courts.

6. PREPARATION Once each side has been polarized and the target group is dehumanized in the eyes of the majority that they are willing

2. SYMBOLIZATION The application of a name or symbol to something foreign has been a part of human nature for a long time. However, the application of the names or symbols when applied to another group based solely on the inalienable characteristics of that group or their non-violent ideologies creates a sense of discrimination against that group.

This symbolization can take form in multiple ways. Historically, it has come in the form of dress styles, required identification devices, or even their being moved to reside in a different location away from the remainder of society. In the modern age, this has advanced to social media, with labeling and tagging of those deemed to be a part of various groups, organizations or having a certain ideology. A large part of this is the use of symbolism as a way to dehumanize that group.

3. DEHUMANIZATION This stage involves the removal of humanity of those opposite to one’s own group.

Complete removal of the idea that these people are even possessive of human identity and rights is accomplished during this stage. With classification and symbolization, dehumanization separates those individuals targeted to be removed from what is perceived to be “normal”

Painting by Robert Sutz depicting the genocidal killings in Rwanda

This is an instrumental step that makes genocide what it is, particularly in a legal sense. From Hitler to Stalin, Mao to Pol Pot, this is what separates a desperate situation from a national disaster. The deaths in numbers exacted by the aforementioned individuals is a key testament to the importance of the building blocks above to ensure that this phase meets their goals.

With government support, the military and the paramilitary forces previously created will deploy to carry out this step.

At this point, the only means with which to curtail the violence is through immediate deployment of an overwhelming foreign joint task force, typically consisting of NATO or UN military components.

By drawing the local armed forces away from the genocide and creating safe corridors for escape, the foundation for a return to stability can begin.

Any control that the government is given can all too easily be weaponized against the people. It is of vital importance that the people stay vigilant to not let social, political, religious, or cultural differences hand this power away. While the world has matured in its handling of such scenarios, it still remains in effect in some of its dark recesses. China and Myanmar still remain violators of these conventions.

It is not ultimately the sole responsibility of the people on the ground that commit the crimes. It truly is the concept of “Us versus Them” that is sown by the leadership, be it government or otherwise, that must be combated at first sight.

Unity is sometimes too strong a word, but a sense of mere kinship and cohabitation is all that is required to thwart those that would seek to weaponized our natural differences.

BUSINESS

GEORGIA TODAY OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2021

7

ISET GDP Forecast | Inflation Hurts Georgia’s GDP Forecast, Recovery of Remittances & Real Exchange Rate Appreciation Make Positive Impact amounted to 473.9%. Overall, recovered numbers of visitors and tourists, along with a moderate increase in touristic spending has made a small positive contribution to the growth forecast.

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT In addition, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Georgia amounted to 234.2 million USD in the second quarter of 2021 (the lowest inflow since 2014), which is 2.6% higher than the adjusted data from Q2 2021. According to Geostat, FDI experienced slight increase in such sectors as health and social work, manufacturing, energy, hotels and restaurants, real estate, finance and, other sectors, while FDI decreased in all the other sectors (the largest decline was observable in agriculture, transports and communication, mining, and construction sectors).

The recent trends in FDI are not taken into consideration in our model yet.

INFLATION

BY DAVIT KESHELAVA AND YASYA BABYCH

I

SET-PI has updated its real GDP growth forecast for the third and fourth quarters of 2021. Here are the highlights of this month’s release:

HIGHLIGHTS • Recently, Geostat has released the preliminary estimate of real GDP growth for the second quarter of 2021, which now stands at 29.9%.

• The real GDP growth rate reached 9.9% year-on-year in July 2021. Consequently, the estimated real GDP for the first seven months of 2021 amounted to 12.2%.

• ISET-PI’s forecast of real GDP growth for the third quarter of 2021 stands at 19.7%. The second estimate for the fourth quarter growth forecast stands at 22.7%.

• Based on July’s data, we expect annual growth in 2021 to be 16.7%. This number is most likely overestimated by the model at the current point in time. This is because the nature of the shock (a transitory lockdown event and difficult epidemiological situation) in the last three quarters of 2020 and correspondingly abnormally high GDP growth (base effect, increased external demand and higher commodity prices) in the second quarter of 2021, had not had relevant analogues in the Georgian data. However, the accuracy of annual growth forecast is expected to improve significantly once the third quarter data becomes available.

• In addition, the National Bank of Georgia revised its expectation for real GDP growth up from 4% to 8.5% in 2020.

According to the Monetary Policy Report, among the reasons behind the predic-

tion’s upward revision are recovery in external demand (expected improvement in exports of goods, a slightly slower increase in imports of goods and the gradual recovery of tourism exports), fiscal stimulus and credit growth.

GDP GROWTH BY SECTOR IN Q2 The Georgian statistics office, Geostat, has released its preliminary estimate of the GDP growth for the second quarter of 2021 (based on VAT taxpayers’ turnover data). The estimated growth in Q2 is 29.9%. According to Geostat, the following sectors had the largest positive contribution to the annual real GDP growth in this period: Arts, entertainment and recreation (133.6% growth yearly), accommodation and food service activities (75.5% yearly), information and communication (56.2% yearly), wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycle (53.9% yearly), water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities (49.8% yearly), transportation and storage (47% yearly), financial and insurance activities (45.5% yearly), human health and social work activities (43.4% yearly), manufacturing (42.3% yearly); construction (36.9% yearly). While the agriculture, forestry and fishing (-2.3% growth yearly), and education (-1.4% yearly) were the only sectors that shrunk in Q2.

Variables behind the Q3 and Q4 GDP growth forecast:

NATIONAL AND FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS IN COMMERCIAL BANKS This group of variables experienced notable monthly and yearly changes in July, positively contributing to Q3 and Q4 forecasts. The largest yearly increase was observed in Current Account and

National Currency Demand Deposits – a 20.1% and 18.8% increase relative to the same month of the previous year, respectively. The National Currency Total Deposits increased by 16.9% yearon-year. The growth was relatively moderate in the case of Foreign Currency Deposits in commercial banks. As a result, deposit dollarization was reduced by 0.1 ppts to 60.2%. Indeed, an increase in National Currency Deposits-related variables had a positive contribution to the GDP growth projection.

MERCHANDISE TRADE In July, Georgia’s exports increased by a 42.4% yearly. This trend was mainly driven by an increase in the export of ferro-alleys, natural grape wines, mineral waters and other fruits to Russia; alongside with the export/re-export of motor cars, telephones and cattle to Azerbaijan; alcoholic beverages and husks to Armenia; export of ferrous scrap, garment and semi-carbon steel to Turkey; export/reexport of motor cars, telephones and copper scrap to Ukraine, and re-export of copper and precious metals to China.

In contrast, Georgian re-export of motor cars to UAE experienced annual decline.

During this period, the import of goods increased by 17.2%, driven by a increase in import of petroleum and fuel products from Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan (mostly due to a significant annual increase of crude oil prices on the international marke - 73.8% in July); Among other positively affected imports were: carbon steel and Portland cement from Azerbaijan; carbon steel rolling mills and telephones from Ukraine; petroleum and fuel products from Bulgaria; motor cars from Germany; polymers and ceramic tiles from Iran; copper ores and concentrates from Serbia and Chile; computing machines and their blocks from Hong

Kong; and immune serums and hormones from China. In contrast, Georgian imports of motor cars from USA; and copper ores and concentrates from Brazil. Consequently, the trade deficit increased by 2% yearly, and amounted to 462.1 million USD. Overall, trade related variables still had a positive contribution to the GDP growth forecast.

MONEY INFLOW After a significant slowdown in money inflows in the beginning of the previous year, remittances were on the path of recovery. In July, remittances increased by 10.4% yearly. The main contributors to this increase were Italy (by 18.8% YoY, contribution 2.8 ppts), Kazakhstan (by 251.5% YoY, contribution 1.9 ppts), USA (by 13.7% YoY, contribution 1.6 ppts), Germany (by 43.4% YoY, contribution 1.6 ppts), Israel (by 14.4% YoY, contribution 1.1 ppts), Kyrgyzstan (by 187.5% YoY, contribution 0.6 ppts), Azerbaijan (by 11.8% YoY, contribution 0.4 ppts), and Tajikistan (by 306.1% YoY, contribution 0.4 ppts). While Ukraine (by -24.9% YoY, contribution -1.3 ppts), Turkey (by -20.7% YoY, contribution -1.2 ppts), Russia (by -0.7% YoY, contribution -0.2 ppts), and Armenia (by -11% YoY, contribution -0.1 ppts) had negative contribution to the annual growth figure. Overall, the recovery of remittances flows made a positive contribution to the Q3 and Q4 growth forecast.

TOURISM INFLOW Tourism arrivals and receipts only partially recovered in July of 2021 after a sharp decline in 2020. In July, the number of international visitors increased by 403.7% yearly (which is still only 23.6% of the same measure in 2019), while the growth in tourist numbers (visitors who spent 24 hours or more in Georgia)

In July, the annual inflation of consumer prices amounted to 11.9%, which is notably higher than the targeted 3%. Approximately 4.1 percentage points of CPI inflation were related to higher food prices, which increased 14.1% annually (this was driven by the hike in food prices worldwide). Furthermore, increased oil prices made a notable positive contribution (2.1 ppts) to the annual inflation measure. The latter trend is mostly a reflection of significantly increased oil prices on the global market (Euro Brent Spot Price (COP) increased by 73.8% yearly). Meanwhile, the measure of core inflation amounted to 6.3%. Due to higher annual inflation rate compared to the targeted 3% and risks of emerging inflationary expectations, National Bank of Georgia (NBG) increased Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) by 0.5 ppt in August 2021 and maintained this measure on the same level (10%) in September 2021. This had a negative impact on the annual real GDP growth. Overall, CPI related variables had a slight negative contribution to the GDP forecast.

EXCHANGE RATE In July, the Georgian lari real exchange rate appreciated in both yearly and monthly terms against all main trading currencies. The Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER) appreciated by 2.4% and 5.3% monthly and yearly respectively.

Appreciation of the REER is typically associated with domestic export goods losing competitiveness on the foreign markets, but it also translates into less pressure on the prices of imported goods.

Overall, REER-related variables had a small positive contribution to the real GDP growth projections.

Our forecasting model is based on the Leading Economic Indicator (LEI) methodology developed by the New Economic School, Moscow, Russia. We have constructed a dynamic model of the Georgian economy, which assumes that all economic variables, including GDP itself, are driven by a small number of factors that can be extracted from the data well before the GDP growth estimates are published. For each quarter, ISET-PI produces five consecutive monthly forecasts (or “vintages”), which increase in precision as time passes. Our first forecast (the 1st vintage) is available around five months before the end of the quarter in question. The last forecast (the 5th vintage) is published in the first month of the next quarter.

8

BUSINESS

GEORGIA TODAY

OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2021

Carrefour Named Partner and Sponsor of Season Six of MasterChef

M

asterChef, one of the most highly-rated entertainment shows in the Georgian TV space, started its latest season with great enthusiasm. In this exciting journey, its trustworthy partner and the general sponsor is once again Carrefour, a leading hypermarket and supermarket chain owned and operated

by Majid Al Futtaim in Georgia.

Following the successful fifth season, the sixth season of MasterChef has launched on the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB), with a new episode releas-

ing every Sunday at 10 pm.

An important focal point for MasterChef ’s competing contestants is undoubtedly the guarantee that every single ingredient provided to prepare their distinguished dishes is of the highest quality. This is easily achievable since all the products provided are from Carrefour, which is already the favourite brand of many local customers.

In addition to providing contestants with high-quality and freshly sourced products, Carrefour will also be assisting participants in preparing visually attractive, delicious and unique dishes

in their quest to be recognized as the MasterChef champion.

Carrefour actively and continuously supports local farmers and suppliers in providing customers with fresh and healthy local products daily. As such, many of the products provided by Carrefour to the MasterChef contestants are also sourced locally and delivered straight from partner farms.

During the new season, a Carrefour stand will be placed in the MasterChef studio to showcase the brand’s wide variety of high-quality products and ingredients, allowing the audience to learn more about its products, which are always available at affordable prices.

Carrefour Georgia prides itself in offering its communities a vast assortment of up to 40,000 items across its stores countrywide. While providing these fresh products at unbeatable prices, Carrefour also offers customers private label products.

The current partnership and collaboration between MasterChef and Carrefour offer loyal MasterChef fans to gain more knowledge about different types of ingredients and how they can be used to create a variety of inspirational recipes. Fans can learn how to create these dishes by watching and learning from the young and talented professional chefs.

All the above activities are brought to

customers by MasterChef and Carrefour, to serve the goal of further diversifying and developing the outstanding and

well-known Georgian cuisine, already a favourite amongst both locals and foreign visitors of the country.

Georgian natural sweet. I would love to see this done with other juices as well.

Note to self: Try it!

Lali’s family are fine, untouched as yet

by The Virus, thank goodness, but it has been up and down their street, which is also suffering from a major lack of young people and families. Covid is now starting to get personal for both my wife and me, as we know people who have not only caught it, but died too. We join the ranks of the afflicted. At least we have both got vaccinated and are only receiving guests to stay in similar condition, and only masked people into the shop.

We can’t control much about this thing, but there are some things we can.

Returning to Upper Svaneti, we saw that new snow had come while the trees

lower than it had not even got close to finishing their color turns. Snow had come all through our village, too, and already melted, but it is a portent that once again we have changed seasons.

Now, our own rtveli awaits: plums, pears, pumpkins, beets and potatoes. Georgia rewards the diligent!

SOCIETY

Rtveli Means Harvest

BLOG BY TONY HANMER

T

he advantage of having inlaws at the other end of Georgia from where my wife and I live is the change of location we make several times a year. This September, taking advantage of online schooling being doable anywhere, we made a short trip to Leliani, Kakheti, from our home in Etseri, Svaneti. It was the grape rtveli.

Every trip into or out of Upper Svaneti entails an automatic movement through one season. Now, as snow was coming and going on the mountaintops around us in Svaneti, and leaves were returning to their un-chlorophyllated colors and the cold was settling in, our journey down saw us shedding an outer layer of clothing, opening the car windows, and relishing the relative warmth of the low-

lands. From mid-fall to late summer!

I would not risk this trip on public transport at the moment, with too many people still ignoring or defying the rule to mask up for whatever reason. But driving just the two of us, with almost no other human contact at all on the way, it became a minimized risk.

Being able to bypass both Kutaisi and Tbilisi thanks to the new roads sped things up considerably, and we made the crossing in less than 9 hours. This will improve much more in future, when the bottleneck of the Rikoti Pass is doubled in road-width by the huge Chinese project now going on there. Plus, the crosscountry highway with its 110 km/h speeds and two lanes in each direction is still being extended, farther each time we use it. Now, if they could just get the BOVINES off that highway: hitting one at speed would leave both animal and vehicle very badly off.

The main grape harvest, which is such

an important event in the calendar of Kakheti, had already largely happened, but our family left us a few vines of a sweet white variety to pick and take with us. I also crashed the very end of some neighbors’ rtveli, and took a few photos for the memory. Other things in season in the very fertile province included walnuts, apples, apricots, persimmons, plums sweet and sour, pears, cherries sweet and sour (black and white), tobacco, long cornelian cherries, hazelnuts, figs (not pigs, as my wife called them once!), peaches, strawberries, cantaloupes, watermelons, honeydews, quinces… and much more. No wonder the legend calls Georgia the land God was keeping for himself!

I used the garlic press instead of a small hammer to shell some hazelnuts, and my wife and her sister had time to make churchkhela for me, the nuts needlethreaded into strings and dipped into flour-thickened grape juice, a favorite

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

SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2021

9

2021 Niko Ketskhoveli School Awards Winners Announced

BY ANA DUMBADZE

O

n September 28, “Green Consumer Day,” the winners of the nationwide school competition Niko Ketskhoveli School Awards were revealed. The final event hosted

by CENN was held at Rooms Hotel in a semi-online format.

All throughout the year the participant schools have been carrying out important social and environmental activities in their communities.

For the past few years the focus has been on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Finalist schools were identified during semi-finals, which were held online and saw the participation of 150 schools.

“It’s been 7 years since CENN, in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture, and the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports and the Parliament of Georgia, with financial assistance from the Austrian Development Cooperation, started organizing the annual Niko Ketskhoveli School Award,” said Nana Janashia, CENN Executive Director, told us at the final awards ceremony. “During

this period, we’ve worked with more than 1000 schools. This year, as per tradition, the involvement of schools was very high.

“The main aim of the contest is to promote a sense of solidarity and tolerance towards nature among the youth. This year’s main topic was the UN’s SDGs. Out of 400 schools at the initial stage, 150 most successful schools were selected, and then 31 schools were identified as finalists. Today, three winners were chosen out of these 31. This is not a one-day contest: these schools have been implementing various activities aimed at protecting the environment throughout the whole year, changing the situation for the better in their regions. These young generations bring progress and development to the regions across Georgia, as SDGs not only include protecting the environment, but also other important directions, such as quality education, protecting the rights of minorities, economic improvement, overcoming poverty, etc.

“Apart from the fact that the winners will receive various prizes and recognition from the jury, this is also recognition of their teachers, as the sustainability of this project is very much dependent on teachers. There are also internship opportunities available to these youth, and

Batumi to Host ‘World Travel Awards’ in 2023

BY KETEVAN SKHIRTLADZE

O

ne of the most authoritative awarding ceremonies, the World Travel Awards, is to be held in Batumi in 2023.

Adjara will host the European Gala, an event known as the “World Tourism Oscar,” which will see leading companies of the global tourism industry, hotels, travel agencies, representatives of business and state organizations, as well as international media, coming to

Batumi within the framework of the event.

“Holding the World Tourism Awards in Batumi is a serious statement on the world tourist map that Batumi is a reliable, interesting, and diverse tourist destination. Of course, it is also a unique opportunity to introduce the investmenttourism opportunities of our region to more than a million people involved in the tourism industry and representatives of more than 190 countries. At the same time, it is a dignified and proud restart of tourism after the pandemic,” said Tinatin Zoidze, head of the Adjara Tourism Department.

often, schoolchildren participating in the Niko Ketskhoveli Award become employees of CENN, or receive recommendations from us to be employed in other relevant agencies, which makes us happy and proud,” she noted.

At the final stage of the school contest, the participating schools presented the changes that they had introduced during the year either in big towns or small mountain villages, in response to global challenges.

The jury, comprised of representatives of governmental, international and research organizations, selected 3 winners out of 31 participating schools.

Notably, this year, for the first time, two schools received the third award due to an equal number of points.

The winners were as follows: First Award: Gvimriani Public School (Kakheti region) Second Award: Kitskhi Public School (Imereti region); Third Award: 9th Public School (Rustavi) and 2nd Public School (Sachkhere, Imereti region) The winners were awarded the following prizes: First place winner - GEL 8000 grant for the school’s eco club Second place winner - GEL 6000 grant for the school’s eco club Third place winners - GEL 4000 grant each for the school’s eco-clubs Despite the fact that, due to COVID regulations, the event was held in a hybrid format and participant schoolchildren joined it online, via Zoom, their excitement at hearing the winners was a joy to see, giving hope that such progressive minded youth will definitely continue working together to create a better, European and “greener” future for Georgia.

Opening remarks were made by Iuri Nozadze, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia; Lali Kalandadze, Head of the General Education Management and Development Department of the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia; Thomas Mühlmann, Ambassador of Austria to Georgia; Sabine Machl, UN Resident Coordinator in Georgia; and

Mikheil Sokhadze, FAO local office representative.

Apart from important grants prizes for the eco-clubs to implement future projects, the jury members gave recommendations and advice to the contestants for more success in the future.

Furthermore, competition partners announced their chosen eco-clubs and awarded them special prizes.

The chosen eco-clubs of FAO were: 1st place – Letsitskhvaie Public School, and 2nd place – Badiauri Public School.

Both schools will be awarded projectors, and Letsitskhvaie Public School eco-club members will be awarded smartphones.

The Ministry of Education and Science named 10 finalist eco-clubs as their nominees: Tbilisi #51 Public School, Ikalto Public School, Dzveli Anaga Public School, Rustavi #9 Public School, Abkhazia #10 Public School, Rukhi Public School, Kitskhi Public School, Ninotsminda #1 Public School, Sachkhere #2 Public School, and Gvimriani Public School.

The top three schools of the second stage of the competition, Tbilisi 51 School, Ikalto and Dzveli Anaga School, will

biodiversity: Chakvinji Public School, Gumbati Public School, Kharagauli #2 Public School, Koreti Public School, Otobaia #1 public school, Kekhijvari Public School, and Lapanaantkari Public School.

In addition, Ninotsminda and Lapanaantkari Public School’s eco clubs will be offered a zoo education tour.

At the end of the awards ceremony, CENN offered its special thanks to its distinguished partners in this important work: Austrian Development Cooperation for their continuous support, and jury members Karlo Amirgulashvili, Head of Biodiversity and Forest Department of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia (MEPA); Natia Iordanishvili, Deputy Head at National Forestry Agency; Irma Bochorishvili, Head of Research and Education Department Tbilisi Zoo; Tamar Aladasvhili, Director of Environmental Education and Information Center; Marine Mosulishvili, Professor, Iliauni State University; Tamta Grigolia, General Education Management and Development Department, MES; and Nino Gogokhia - Representative of Georgian Youth at the UN. The school environmental contest Niko

receive computer technology vouchers, while the seven other nominees will receive book vouchers.

Karlo Amirgulashvili, long-standing jury member, revealed the nominated school of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture as Ninotsminda #1 Public School. The selected eco-speaker was Esail Igitain, the leader of the Ninotsminda #1 public team, whose prize is the chance to be Minister of Environmental Protection for a day.

The National Forest Agency’s nominee was Dzveli Anaga School, whose ecoclub will be awarded a Microscope for the eco-club laboratory.

The Green Award by the Environmental Education center was awarded to Nana Verulashvili, a teacher of the Tbilisi 51 Public School.

The center also revealed its favorite eco-speaker as Shota Zviadadze, the Kitskhi Public School leader. He will participate in a two-month program at the center.

Further, Tbilisi Zoo awarded the following schools educational materials on

Ketskhoveli School Awards has been organized by CENN since 2015 with financial contribution from the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC).

Niko Ketskhoveli was distinguished Georgian botanist, writer and public figure, one of the founders of the Botanical School in Georgia, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, one of the founders and academician of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences, and two-time winner of the Shota Rustaveli National Award. By establishing an award in his name, CENN aimed at impressing and encouraging future generations with his valuable work, which was successfully achieved.

“The Ketskhoveli Awards unite us!” was the main slogan heard at the 2021 awards ceremony, which also well describes the main principle of the entire contest.

Preparation for Niko Ketskhoveli Awards 2022 has already started, with the main topic “Green Economy,” and the contest awaits new participants with innovative ideas on this important issue.

10

SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY

OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2021

Israeli Week: Involvement from Israel and Europe

I

n accordance with pandemicrelated regulations, Israeli Week opened in Tbilisi. The organizer of the Week is the Israeli House, which invited three delegations of a total of 120 people, consisting of parliamentarians, businessmen and public figures, to Tbilisi. Local Jewish organizations will participate in the Israeli Week.

Israeli Week started with the Israeli guests planting trees in Varketili, at the Georgia-Israel Friendship Park. Revaz Sokhadze, a majoritarian MP, and Itsik Moshe, head of the Israeli House, were there to help. This is the fourth activity of the Israeli House in Varketili. The previous one was attended by the Minister of Labor from Israel, Itzik Shmuli.

The guests got to enjoy a 30-meter portrait of Anne Frank with GeorgianIsraeli flags painted on the wall of a residential building.

Co-Chair of the Israel-Georgia Parliamentary Friendship Group at the Knesset, David Bitan, thanked MP Sokhadze for arranging the Israel-Georgia Friendship Alley. He also thanked Israeli House for "such activities and for strengthening ties between the two countries." According to Bitan, opening a friendship park and creating a portrait of Anne Frank in one of the biggest districts in the city is “the best message that a great friendship con-

nects the two countries. At the same time, the memory of the people who fell victim to human crimes is immortalized in Georgia.” The Israeli parliamentarian noted that Israeli House is a “role model” in its activities, and similar activities should be carried out in other countries too.

Haim Katz, a member of the Knesset for Likud, one of the largest political parties, recalled the words of Anne Frank: "I want to live after my death," and noted that he is the son of an Auschwitz survivor. His personal goal, he said, is to immortalize the memory of the victims and survivors of this great tragedy. The newly opened park is a sign of sincere friendship.

According to the president of The Israel-Georgia Chamber of Business and the head of the “Israeli House”, Itsik Moshe, The action is considered mutually important, as it connects cities, businessmen and representatives of a friendly country. This is the second grand event dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust and the Georgian Schindlers. Last year, the Israeli House opened a memorial to the victims of the first Holocaust in Oni. This year, a portrait of Anne Frank was painted in Tbilisi, where a corner in memory of the victims of the Holocaust and Georgian Schindlers will be arranged in the Georgian-Israeli Friendship Park.

The Israel-Georgia Business Forum opened on September 30 at the Biltmore Hotel. In the hall, an exhibition of Jewish cultural heritage was organized together with the European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage (AEPJ) and seven member countries. Jewish Cultural Route, officially represented by the “Israeli House”, within Council of Europe and with the support of the Ministry of Culture of Georgia, has been operating for five years.

In parallel, the Tenth Annual Consultative Forum on Cultural Routes was held in Kutaisi on September 29-October 1. Israeli House is participating in it as a representative of the Jewish Cultural Route in Georgia, together with the Ministry of Culture.

The Tbilisi business forum was opened by the European Alliance (EAI) with a letter of thanks from around 100 European parliamentarians directed to Israeli House and the Government of Georgia for their support to Israel at the Durban Conference. Israeli parliamentarians participating in the forum also thanked Georgia.

In his speech, Itsik Moshe spoke about the decisions of the Durban Conference in 2012 and 2021 and noted that the 2012 Durban Resolution 67/19 - along with Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, was also supported by Georgia. This year, Georgia took a pro-Israel position with these countries, along with the United States, the Czech Republic and leading European countries.

At the beginning of the forum, Moshe noted that the Israel-Georgia Chamber of Business is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. According to former Israeli Minister of Economy, Amir Peretz, the Business Chamber has become a major bridge in economic relations between Israel and Georgia. Itsik Moshe spoke about the relations between the two countries and noted that it needs a gentle attitude. This is well understood by those who put energy into these relationships. According to Moshe, “on one hand we strengthen ties, and with the other hand we take care of solving the problems of existing investors with the same energy.”

Three successful projects were pre-

sented at the business forum. Specifically, an agreement was signed with the international management of WYNDHAM leader for the exclusive and leading brand COLLECTION’s entry to the Georgian market and the construction of three hotels, one of which is already under construction, with the support of the TBC bank, in the center of Tbilisi.

Georgian Kosher products were presented - wine and processed products which are exported to the USA and Israel.

The third presentation was about recently completed tourist infrastructure in the tourist town of Tsalka - Dashbashi.

The last 32 years of Israeli-Georgian relations were also discussed at the forum. A presentation of the book ‘Zionism Against All Odds’ published by the “Israeli House” was held.

According to Knesset member, former head of the coalition Miki Zohar, the topic of the meetings was diverse, starting with economics, and ending with cultural relations and education. "We are studying the potential of a friendly country, which will help us to deepen future ties," – the parliamentarian stated.

The Israeli guests took part in the open-

ing of the Israeli Room at Grigol Robakidze University, one of the leading higher education institutions in the country.

Itsik Moshe introduced the working methodology of the “Israeli House” to the members of the delegation, spoke about the prospects of opening the organization's representation in 100 countries, and the development of bilateral tourism. The head of the “Israeli House” handed over to the Israeli delegation a project that envisages the growth of tourism from Georgia and post-Soviet countries to Israel and the unimpeded entry of the citizens of these countries.

During the Israeli Week, the GeorgianIsraeli Chamber of Business will prepare an analysis of the last 25 years in business relations. The conclusion will be presented to both parties. Asked how timely such meetings are, Moshe noted that Georgia-Israel are two historical and emotionally-connected countries.

“We lost two years because of the pandemic, and now every day of delay is a day lost in important work. So the timing for getting things done is always a factor!”

firmly stuck in my mind.

I am an old-timer of a time when men and women lived together only after they had gotten officially married. I also remember that we kids and youngsters would jump to our feet when a grownup entered the room. Not only had we never seen pride parades, we didn’t even have any idea that we were supposed to

consider and honor people of differing views and models of behavior.

Ours was a time when people met without the help of online match-makers. Who would think of shrinks then?! Our only compass in life used to be what our parents and grandparents instilled in our young brains, often based on biblical precepts and conventional wisdom. As my fellow curmudgeon would put it, “we were before gay-rights, computer-dating, dual careers, daycare centers, and group therapy, our lives were governed by the Ten Commandments, good judgment and common sense, and serving your country was a privilege. We thought fast food was what people ate during Lent, having a meaningful relationship meant getting along with your parents, siblings and cousins, draft dodgers were people who closed their front doors when the evening breeze started, time-sharing meant time the family spent together in the evenings and weekends, we’d never heard of FM radios, electric typewriters or guys wearing earrings. In our day, pizza, McDonald's, and instant coffee were unheard of, gasoline was peanuts, grass was mowed, coke was a cold drink, pot was something your mother cooked in, and rock music was your grandmother's lullaby, aids were helpers in the principal's office, chip meant a piece of wood, hardware was found in a hardware store, and software wasn't even a word, and we were the last generation to actually believe that a lady needed a husband to have a baby. No wonder people call us old and confused, and say there is a generation gap.” And that’s how old I am.

How Old Am I? T OP-ED BY NUGZAR B. RUHADZE

he other day, I came across a great narrative about a person’s age, which I have tailored to my own life story.

Hopefully, my innocuous plagiarism is going to be kindly forgiven for the price of the fun I have managed to cook and serve to my wonderful reader, having slightly doctored my fellow old man’s storyline.

I love to talk to kids and share some of my life experiences with them. They are real pests, with a million funny questions that are not always a piece of cake to answer. What they normally want to hear from me is how it was back in the “good old days”. For instance, how we managed without a cell phone or computer; how people fell in or out of love; or how I react today to events that were unthinkable in my youth.

To justify my tale and make it sound more believable, I am usually compelled to resort to reassertion of facts that actually took place, starting from my salad years up until present. For instance: I was in my fourth year at primary school when I first watched TV, and in the tenth grade when I first saw with wide-open mouth and eyes a copying machine, throwing out copies of my classmate’s textbook for me. It was in my infancy that my mom exposed my tender skin to the newlyintroduced anti-infection shots. At the age of ten, I got my first sight of a refrigerator, where my mother kept food for

Image source: lifebeforeinternet.com

later use. Contact lenses came later, but credit cards arrived when I was already quite a man. When I first pulled out a ballpoint pen from my pocket in fifth grade, there was almost a classroom upheaval in front of the infuriated teacher (who also wanted to see the miracle). I was already a solid man when I got my first cold from an air conditioner. A dish-

washer came into my life long after my first child’s birth, and it took me quite a while to get used to its services. Until I was a little over fifty, I had never considered buying a clothes dryer. The fresh laundry, hanging on the rope with wooden clips and propped up with a long twoended stick, swaying back and forth, is an image of my childhood that is still

SPORTS

GEORGIA TODAY OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2021

11

Rugby Union Vice President on the Present & Future of Georgian Rugby

Ioseb Tkemaladze, Georgian Rugby Union President welcomes PM of Georgia

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

BY ANA DUMBADZE

A

s we Georgians say, “Rugby is our game,” and this well expresses the nation’s deep love and appreciation of the sport. And it should come as no surprise, considering the numerous happy moments and important achievements on the international arena that rugby has brought to Georgia.

On hearing of some new initiatives the Georgian Rugby Union has in store to promote a healthy, happy lifestyle among children and youth, to further develop women’s rugby, and in terms of CSR, GEORGIA TODAY went to meet Nikoloz Alavidze, Vice President of Georgian Rugby Union, to find out more.

We started by asking him about the condition of the Head Coach of the Georgian National Rugby team, Levan Maisashvili, which has been a recent worry for loyal fans of rugby. The VP told us that Levan, who was infected with coronavirus and was treated in South Africa for over 2 months, has recovered, and is now in Georgia with his family. “We’ll soon be seeing him back on the pitch,” he said.

We then turn to the current situation, in particular, certain problems related to the election process of the President of the Rugby Union at the beginning of the year. Alavidze informs us the situation has been resolved, everyone is calm again, and the Georgian Rugby Union remains open and ready for joint discussions and consultations with all rugbyinterested persons. “Important successes achieved in quite a short period of time

have helped the Union to reach even bigger audiences and remain transparent and available to them,” he adds.

“Another challenge was related to finances, considering the economic situation in the country,” he notes. “This has also been solved thanks to backing from the Georgian government and World Rugby, now we are opened for sponsors.”

He adds that, again, thanks to the active collaboration between the Rugby Union and the Georgian Government, the Georgian Rugby Union now has very impressive and exciting future plans.

Alavidze notes that special emphasis has been put on raising healthy future generations and maximally promoting healthy lifestyles.

“With this in mind, we identified 45 regions in Georgia, and over 100 locations within them, in which to construct new sports infrastructure and develop the rugby spirit and encourage a healthy lifestyle countrywide. This has been possible thanks to cooperation between the state and private sector, in particular, charity fund Cartu, which is involved in the process of financing this important project. The project will give children a chance to play rugby or other sports, and will go a long way to promoting a healthy lifestyle in the country,” he says.

“The infrastructure will be very much in line with the standards of World Rugby.

In the post-COVID reality, promoting a healthy lifestyle becomes of a vital importance. Based on the statistics provided

by UNICEF, among the 900 thousand kids in Georgia, only 20% have physical access to sports infrastructure, while the remaining 80% have no access to sporting activities, which is a big challenge for the country,” he says.

Nikoloz Alavidze, Vice President of Georgian Rugby Union

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“To help our future generations, we decided to address this challenge. We’ll be investing heavily in the training of coaches and the development of intellectual infrastructure in the regions. We’re discussing actively, both with our foreign and local partners, how to bring more expertise, knowledge and practice in working with kids to Georgia,” Alavidze tells us. “The main aim is to improve and further increase the popularity of rugby itself.

Although it’s already one of the most popular games in the country, we have to maintain this and build on it, for which we have a very clear and ambitious plan.”

Tell us about this plan.

We’re going to construct 100 pitches, but we also have plans with a very strong accent on kids’ development. The idea of promoting rugby among children is for them to have fun, to learn how to play.

There are also many important values that rugby carries. We want to share these values with kids. For this, we’re working very actively with World Rugby and other stakeholders to gain more international expertise in this direction. We’re also getting local businesses involved, encouraging them to contribute and play their role in this process, because we, Georgians, really love this game: it is more than just a sport to us.

(Unfortunately), Rugby is the only team sport from Georgia that has been represented at the World Cup since 2003. The Rugby World Cup is the 3rd most popular team sporting event after World Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup, and gives Georgia an opportunity to present itself on the global stage; to present not only our rugby game and spirit, but the country itself; to show our investment potential, business environment, culture, tourism, etc.

All these sentiments give us even more enthusiasm to bring up healthy new generations for the better and healthier future of Georgia.

Tell us what’s new in the Rugby Union.

First, we all are united under our new President, Mr. Ioseb Tkemaladze who is coming to Rugby from business, is very result oriented, visionary businesslike person with superior skills to push all the necessary reforms. Noteworthy news within the Rugby Union of Georgia includes the formation of the new board and supervisory council of the Union, which has been reformed and is now represented by and connected to such renowned names as Mamuka Gorgodze, who is a world star of rugby,

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

retired, but very active both in Georgia and Internationally; Chairman of the Board Davit Kacharava, who played over 100 games with the Georgian National Team; and other members, all of whom are a guarantee for the strategic activities and progress which will be executed by this new management.

In addition, I would underline as a major achievements within this short period, creation of the new and efficient management structure, formation of so long awaited professional Franchise team “Black Lion”, that will take participation in two very interesting tournaments of Rugby Europe’s Super Cup and South African Currie Cup”.

When implementing such reforms, what we have done during these past five or so months, we’re very much resultoriented, the main message is to stay united, because rugby is a team game, and we remain open to everybody to achieve bigger results together and to promote healthy lifestyles among future generations in this country.

And the Rugby Union has a focus on the development of Women’s Rugby too, right?

Yes. The Georgian National Rugby team, the Lelos, wants to raise awareness for gender equality. For this, they wore UN Women-branded shirts against South Africa in July 2021.

With this move, declining offers from traditional sponsors, the Lelos hoped to raise awareness for gender equality by having the UN Women logo on their jerseys as they faced the world champions in South Africa.

Georgian rugby players have a longstanding partnership with UN Women.

The cooperation promotes the participation of men in the fight against violence

against women and girls.

Georgian rugby players have dedicated several international matches to the movement to end violence against women, including the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign and the UN Women global solidarity movement for gender equality, HeForShe. They also meet with local men and boys in Georgia to discuss the imperative of stopping violence against women and girls.

Many may still not know that apart from successful male rugby players, the Georgian Rugby Union also cares a lot about the development of women’s rugby.

As such, we spare no efforts to develop this sport among women. To do so, the Union has significantly increased financing for the 7-member women’s rugby team.

It is also noteworthy that well-known Georgian director Gela Babluani will soon make a series of films about Georgian rugby, depicting the path it has traveled over the years, and the hard work dedicated people put into its development, which today makes the Georgian people so proud. The series will also be available internationally to let the world know that Georgia has many exciting traditions, opportunities and talented people beyond its delicious cuisine, beautiful nature, and dance.

As a bonus, we are having a great news for our supporters as we will be playing official test match against France National Team in Bordeaux, on November 14th.

This match is twice as much important to us, as we share a great friendship and relationship with French rugby, for over past 30 years. We are thrilled and excited to this opportunity that will benefit to further development of Georgian Rugby.

PM of Georgia meets Georgian Rugby Legend Mamuka Gorgodze

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