Issue #1325

Issue no: 1325

• DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2021 • PUBLISHED WEEKLY

PRICE: GEL 2.50

In this week’s issue...

The Potential in Georgian and Cypriot Naval Cooperation NEWS PAGE 2

FOCUS ON EXPLORING THE CAUCASUS

Web portal GoCaucasus opens up the region, boosting tourism and the potential of eco businesses

PAGE 7

Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Tbilisi Celebrates UAE Golden Jubilee POLITICS PAGE 5

Carrefour’s Expansion Continues: New Hypermarket Opens in Rustavi BUSINESS PAGE 6

Way to Home: Caritas Czech Republic Supports Deinstitutionalization Process in Georgia SOCIETY PAGE 8

Corona Updates: ‘Green Passports’ Introduced, New Omicron Strain Threatens the World

SOCIETY PAGE 10

Solomon Arts Gallery Presents: Jemal Khutsishvili, the Adherent of Niko Pirosmani

BY ANA DUMBADZE

F

rom December 1, “Green Passports” have come into force in Georgia.

Based on the decision of the Coordination Council, citizens are now able to enter different facilities only if they are carrying physical or digital green passports. This requirement applies only to visitors and not to the people working there.

“Green” status is granted to those fully vaccinated, those who have passed a 72-hour-validity PCR or 24-hour-validity antigen test, and those who have recovered from coronavirus. Green Passports are required of all citizens over 18.

“Green Passport only” admission applies to the following: eateries, restaurants, cafes, and bars (both outdoor and indoor), cinemas, theaters, opera houses, museums, concert halls, entertainment centers, casinos and gambling sites, spa centers, fitness clubs, hotels, and aerial lifts in winter resorts.

In entertainment centers for children, Green Passports are mandatory for all citizens aged over 18.

The institution is responsible if it allows a person with non-green status into the facility.

Continued on page 2

"Digital Natives" - Exhibition of Contemporary Art at TBC Concept Flagship

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

Markets As of 29ͲNovͲ2021

BONDS

w/w

m/m

STOCKS

Price

w/w

m/m

100.33 (YTM 3.94%)

Ͳ0,9%

Ͳ1,1%

Bank of Georgia (BGEO LN)

GBP 15.64

Ͳ5,7%

+3,0%

GEBGG 07/23

106.42 (YTM 2.03%)

+0,4%

Ͳ0,1%

Georgia Capital (CGEO LN)

GBP 6.48

Ͳ1,8%

+7,3%

TBC Bank Group (TBCG LN)

GBP 15.74

+0,9%

+0,3%

GEOCAP 03/24

102.99 (YTM 4.72%)

+0,1%

Ͳ0,1%

SILNET 04/24

107.51 (YTM 7.43%)

Ͳ0,1%

Ͳ0,6%

TBC 06/24

106.39 (YTM 3.12%)

Ͳ0,0%

Ͳ0,6%

GGU 07/25

106.42 (YTM 5.78%)

Ͳ0,2%

Ͳ0,1%

CURRENCIES

Price

w/w

m/m

GEL / USD

3,1000

Ͳ0,4%

Ͳ1,8%

GEL / EUR

3,5007

+0,1%

Ͳ4,1%

COMMODITIES

Price

w/w

m/m

GEL / GBP

4,1277

Ͳ1,0%

Ͳ4,6%

Crude Oil, Brent (US$/bbl)

73,44

Ͳ7,9%

Ͳ13,0%

GEL / CHF

3,3580

+0,7%

Ͳ2,8%

1 784,60

Ͳ1,1%

+0,1%

Price

w/w

m/m

Gold Spot (US$/OZ)

INDICES

GEL / RUB

0,0416

+0,2%

Ͳ6,7%

GEL / TRY

0,2418

Ͳ11,5%

Ͳ26,4%

GEL / AZN

1,8238

Ͳ0,4%

Ͳ2,0%

FTSE 100

7 109,95

Ͳ2,0%

Ͳ1,8%

GEL / AMD

0,0064

Ͳ2,3%

Ͳ3,4%

FTSE 250

22 756,33

Ͳ2,9%

Ͳ1,5%

GEL / UAH

0,1135

Ͳ2,4%

Ͳ5,5% +2,4%

DAX

15 280,86

Ͳ5,2%

Ͳ2,6%

EUR / USD

0,8855

Ͳ0,5%

DOW JONES

35 135,94

Ͳ1,4%

Ͳ1,9%

GBP / USD

0,7511

+0,6%

+2,8%

NASDAQ

15 782,83

Ͳ0,5%

+1,8%

CHF / USD

0,9232

Ͳ1,0%

+0,8%

184,57

+0,4%

Ͳ11,5%

RUB / USD

74,5980

Ͳ0,3%

+5,2%

12,8196 +12,6%

+33,4%

MSCI EM EE

Ͳ3,4%

Ͳ3,6%

SP 500

4 655,27

Ͳ0,6%

+1,1%

AZN / USD

MSCI FM

2 643,64

Ͳ0,7%

Ͳ3,6%

AMD / USD

MSCI EM

Image source: Netgazeti

Price

GRAIL 07/28

1 218,99

TRY / USD

1,6998

+0,0%

+0,2%

485,7400

+2,0%

+1,6%

2

NEWS

GEORGIA TODAY

DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2021

Get Ahead of the New Year Rush: Corona Updates: ‘Green Passports’ Introduced, Check Out the USAID-Georgia New Omicron Strain Threatens the World Beneficiary Entrepreneur Product Continued from page 1 In case of violation of the rule, the Exhibition This Weekend sanction is 10,000 GEL for a legal entity and 2000 GEL for an individual entrepreneur. In case of recurrence of the offense, the facility will be sealed.

Also from December 1, restaurants had their hourly restrictions lifted, and the number of spectators allowed in cinemas, theaters, and operas was increased from 30 to 50%.

THE STATISTICS

A

USAID-Georgia New Year Exhibition-Sale of beneficiary entrepreneurs' products is to be held on December 5 at Dedaena Park, Tbilisi. More than 90 young and professional entrepreneurs from Tbilisi, as well as from different regions of the country, will take part. The exhibition is open to all those who are interested in Georgian products and support business development.

The exhibition will be visited by US Ambassador Kelly Degnan and USAID Georgia Mission Director Peter Wiebler, alongside representatives of USAID programs and guests from various international and local organizations. At the exhibition, visitors will be able to meet entrepreneurs, check out their products, and shop for gifts ahead of the New Year holidays. Entertainers, face painters and actors will be there to keep both younger and older guests entertained.

The exhibition is being organized by the USAID Georgia programs: USAID YES - Georgia, USAID Economic Security, and USAID Agriculture Programs.

Entrepreneurs participating in the event will offer guests handmade accessories,

jewelry, leather and felt products, agricultural products (honey, churchkhela, dried fruit, dairy products, etc.), Georgian wine, paintings, decorations, clothes, shoes, toys, herbs, bags, self-care, and cosmetics.

The exhibition, which will start at 14:00 and last until 20:00, will be held in full compliance with the Covid-19 regulations.

The exhibition aims to promote the professional growth of entrepreneurs, deepen business relations, and introduce businesses and their products to the public. In addition, the event aims to raise public awareness about USAID-Georgia's mission and activities in Georgia.

And be sure not to miss out on your chance to discover more about USAIDGeorgia’s programs at the event: USAID YES-Georgia (a support program for youth and women entrepreneurs), its Economic Security Program, and its Agriculture Program.

Georgia reported 5050 coronavirus cases, 4214 recoveries, and 80 deaths on Tuesday. Tbilisi recorded the highest number of 1821 Covid-19 cases, followed by the Imereti region with 865 cases, and the Kakheti region with 317 cases.

Georgia reported 4,459 coronavirus cases, 3957 recoveries, and 65 deaths on Wednesday. Tbilisi recorded 1740 of those cases, followed by Imereti with 843 cases, and Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti with 358 cases.

Georgia reported 3731 coronavirus cases, 4295 recoveries, and 72 deaths on Thursday.

The daily test-positivity rate stands at 7.37%.

Georgia’s total case tally reached 853,833, among which 796,453 people recovered and 12,191 died.

As of Thursday, 2,197,83 people had received a coronavirus vaccine.

OMICRON Health officials around the world are sounding the alarm on a “heavily mutated” coronavirus variant which emerged in South Africa.

The World Health Organization announced it had designated the new strain a “variant of concern” and named it Omicron after the 15th letter of the Greek alphabet.

“Omicron’s emergence is another reminder that although many of us might think we are done with Covid-19, it is not done with us,” said the WHO’s Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

WHO says there’s no evidence to suggest that symptoms linked to Omicron are different from those caused by the

other variants, however, like all coronavirus variants, Omicron may be capable of causing severe illness or death, particularly among vulnerable populations.

In connection with the spread of the new strain of coronavirus, the Georgian government set new travel rules for certain countries.

Any person, regardless of their citizenship, who has a travel history to the following countries in the last 14 days will be subject to 14-day isolation in the quarantine area when entering Georgia: • South Africa • Botswana • Zimbabwe • Namibia • Lesotho • Eswatini (Swaziland) • Mozambique • Malawi After completing the 14-day quarantine, individuals will undergo PCR testing. In the case of Georgian citizens, quarantine hotel and PCR-test costs are covered by the state, while in the case of foreign citizens – by themselves.

RESTRICTIONS IN OTHER COUNTRIES Following the WHO announcement, the US began restricting travel from South

Africa and several other countries Monday.

So far, more than 30 countries around the world, among them Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Russia, United Kingdom, and the US, have instituted new travel restrictions for international visitors in response to Omicron. Most restrictions target southern Africa.

Three countries, Japan, Israel and Morocco, have issued complete international travel bans since Friday.

The epidemiological situation in The Netherlands and other European countries has been difficult, with Omicron only adding to the unrest. It has led to the Dutch government deciding that hospitality facilities and cultural venues - cafes, museums or cinemas - will be closed from 5PM for the next three weeks.

Restrictions have also been tightened in the UK: wearing face masks in public transport and shops became mandatory to prevent the spread of the new strain, and those arriving in the country have to undergo PCR tests.

The UK's health minister noted that the regulations serve to maintain the progress the country has made in fighting the virus, and to ensure that citizens, along with their families, celebrate Christmas peacefully.

The Potential in Georgian and Cypriot Naval Cooperation

Head of the Georgian Maritime Transport Agency Tamar Ioseliani held a meeting with Deputy Minister of Shipping of Cyprus Vassilios Demetriades. Source: Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia

BY MICHAEL GODWIN

G

eorgia recognizes that it can learn from Cyprus, which walked the same road towards its accession to the EU… One might think that Cyprus is a small country, not one that might decide the fate of the EU. But for Georgia, it is very symbolic because Cyprus has already walked the path we are on today. Cyprus achieved its result

in 2004 and knows that path. – said President Salome Zurabishvili.

When viewing the broader intergovernmental relationship terrain of Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea nations, Georgia and Cyprus do not often make large waves. In the shadow of larger regional players such as Turkey and Russia, Cyprus maintains a low profile.

However, the connection between both Georgia and Cyprus made headlines when the former made an overt escalation of diplomatic ties.

Georgian President Salome Zurabish-

vili paid her first official visit to the island nation of Cyprus in early November. At the same time, the Georgian Maritime Transport Agency also engaged their Cypriot counterparts in a new discussion on partnerships. This culminated in a new Joint Maritime Committee agreement.

The agreement is angled at expanding the education and training of their maritime assets, sharing techniques and procedures in the fields of research, and innovative new methods of interlinking maritime industries to create maritime clusters.

These maritime clusters consist of various entities, both private and public, that operate in close cohesion to develop the maritime and naval fields of a nation.

Cyprus, since its independence in 1960, has rapidly grown its standardization measures as well as expansion of its ports. In addition, Cyprus has commissioned multiple naval patrol vessels from other EU member states, thus expanding its defensive naval capabilities.

This EU membership is something the Georgian President made significant note of during her visit, stating that Cyprus is not far ahead of the position that Georgia finds itself in today; the pursuit of EU member ascension. Since joining the EU in 2004, Cyprus has adopted many of the now-standard European economic and political customs.

While these trade, technology, and general maritime partnerships are the first ripples in a wave of new development, the national security implications run under this current of cohesion.

Cyprus and Georgia are of surprising similarity in terms of technology, research

and development, and operational capabilities and restraints.

From the outset, Cyprus was forced to rapidly develop its security infrastructure. Internal strife and invasion plagued the country during the 1960s and 1970s.

In the Turkish invasion of 1974, the majority of the naval vessels of the Cypriot Navy were sunk in an almost mirror image to the Georgian Navy in the 2008 Russian invasion.

In another kindred image between these two nations and their naval component, Cyprus also has no large capital or significant warships. Despite their location as a key strategic island in the Eastern Mediterranean, they have yet to expand from coastal patrol and littoral tactical vessels. Nonetheless, they have repeatedly purchased quality ships from EU partners such as Italy, Spain, and France.

The new collaboration and sharing of relevant maritime data stands to allow both nations to operate with unusual effectiveness despite their small size.

Manufacturing procedures, new technologies, and shared experience as a naval underdog in combat situations all make these two nations ripe for increased partnership.

This partnership needs to bring the two nations and their fledgling naval forces into the spotlight of European and American support programs. With so many capable warships being retired, Georgia and Cyprus make excellent candidates as recipients for these vessels.

The Cypriot navy, similar to the Georgian, is too small to be of effective use for NATO or other operations.

Being composed of Offshore Patrol

Vessels (OPV), Fast Patrol Boats (FPB), and Fast Attack Crafts (FAC), their combat efficacy is somewhat limited. Faced with larger threats, these craft are incapable of properly defending the coast.

As such, the relationship between these two nations must evolve into a combined effort to acquire modern warships and achieve naval relevance.

The requirement for these nations to arm themselves accordingly will not go unheeded, as European and American partners continue their investment in these nations. The practicality of keeping these two in the NATO fold are key to ensuring the security of Central Asia as well as potentially stymieing Russian advancement. Georgia and Cyprus, paired and in similar predicaments, are the sabre’s edge in maritime trade, security, and defense.

Cypriot and European navy vessels maneuver in formation during an exercise in 2020. Source: Cyprus Ministry of Defense

NEWS

GEORGIA TODAY DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2021

3

Our Infirm & Irrational Ex OP-ED BY NUGZAR B. RUHADZE

H

istory has its ways and means to judge personalities and their exploits.

Often, those judgments materialize after centuries have passed from the days of their glory, but in our accelerated times, the postgrandeur evaluations might arrive earlier than we expect them to. This is exactly the case with the third chief executive of Georgia whose entrance into big politics was marked with revolutionary alterations in the country. He found himself at the helm of the nation right out of the blue, having taken over the government of the country literally overnight. He was extremely popular, and the nation wanted him to be out there for all of us to make life better after the corruptive stagnation of the previous regime. And, indeed, he did his modernizing job, refurbishing the governing apparatus and reorganizing law enforcement so quickly and dexterously that he acquired the reputation of the most notable reformer of the post-soviet era.

He turned himself into the real talk of Europe, if not the world, as a leader with synergetic capabilities and qualification that deserved to be emulated by others.

To maintain his power and fame, the only thing he had to do in the aftermath of that outstanding personal accomplishment was to keep up the good job, remain calm and balanced, and to carry on making the impression that he was the best among peers.

To the greatest chagrin of his fanatically dedicated team and his strongly faithful supporters, the leader of the nation failed to do so. Something didn’t work in his grandiose plan to change

the country. Most of the ensuing analytical conclusions would corroborate that the self-centered Ex over-abused his power, thus becoming totally immersed and lost in his ambitious and erroneously concocted invincibility, stumbling over his unforgivable blunders and, finally, being overwhelmed by a huge wave of his own people’s fury over his malice and cruelty towards his massively punished subjects.

The old splendor kept him afloat for quite a while, trotting the world and doing high-ranking jobs every now and again, but the dream of being a comeback kid never left his soul and mind.

He talked profusely worldwide and made a lot of waves wherever he went, but all his efforts were stillborn and vain. He needed his roots back and his formidable influence over a new generation of Georgians.

Years passed and nothing of the sort happened, and, in politically motivated spiritual desperation, the stray but not repentant prodigal son, crossed the border of his homeland, clandestinely and unlawfully. Apprehension and imprisonment followed, but he persistently continued playing the tough and obstinate political oppositional leader, resorting to hunger strike and to writing Lenin-style politicized missives to instruct and inspire his fellow fighters.

One of the most vivid samples of his letter-writing activity from penitentiary is his epistle, submitted to POLITICO Magazine through his lawyers, starting with these words: “I am writing from the country where I once served as president. I was arrested on charges I believe to be politically motivated.”

After managing to get the convict moved from the isolation ward to a wellequipped infirmary, the opposition now endeavor has turned into an effort to

have him recognized as a political prisoner, conducive to his eventual liberation. Nobody on the Ex’s side would ever utter even a word about his guilt before the Georgian people, for which he is currently doing time. Trying to wipe from our collective mind every piece of his erstwhile wrongdoings, the opposition continues lionizing its ‘unfairly’ incarcerated leader, sporadi-

cally commenting on his sickness, irrationality and negative emotionality, all caused by his mistreatment in detention.

The Ex is indeed irrational at times.

Suffice it to remember how he talked to his convoy details, fervidly pouring all his rage and resentment on absolutely innocent men who were just doing their law-enforcing job, for which they get paid, and have nothing to do with the

Ex’s political misfortune. This is just one brief episode of the man’s irrationality, saying nothing of his recent model of behavior in the courtroom, where he desperately wanted to look not like a prisoner, but very presidential. The meaninglessness of his absurdly vigorous fans and defenders, who are killing themselves to see him out and free, is just another story to deliberate on.

Le Gateau / Patisserie 42 Irakli Abashidze str./ 2471515 24 Al. Kazbegi ave./ 2470007 25 Pekini ave./ 2474455 Facebook: Legato Instagram: Legateau_Georgia Mail: legateau.ge@gmail.com

4

POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY

DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2021

European Policy Center’s Amanda Paul on Georgia’s European Perspectives INTERVIEW BY VAZHA TAVBERIDZE

A

s the Associated Trio of the Eastern Partnership, represented by the Georgian, Ukrainian and Moldovan prime ministers, made its first joint pilgrimage to Brussels this week to meet the top officials ahead of the upcoming EaP summit on December 15, GEORGIA TODAY sat down with the European Policy Center's Senior Policy Analyst Amanda Paul to discuss the European perspectives of the three countries, with particular onus on Georgia.

THE UPCOMING EAP SUMMIT WILL BE HELD IN DECEMBER. WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THE EASTERN PARTNERSHIP COUNTRIES? I don’t honestly expect there’s going to be an amazing announcement or great breakthrough at the EAP summit. I think it’s going to be more a continuation of goals that have already been laid down by the EU for the Eastern Partnership countries.

This is going to be disappointing for some countries, specifically the Associated Trio, who would like to see more differentiating in terms of their relations with the EU.

WHO HAS THE MORAL HIGH GROUND IN THIS CASE – THE EU OR THE EASTERN PARTNERSHIP TRIO? DO WE HAVE THE GROUNDS TO DEMAND MORE? It’s always good for ask for more, isn’t it? It gives these countries something to aim for, but at the same time, I do believe that there is still work to be done on basic things in all of these countries in terms of important political and economic reforms, fighting corruption, strengthening rule of law and

so on. Obviously, in some of the countries, including Georgia, there has been some worrying backtracking in terms of democracy. There is an ongoing political crisis in Georgia that doesn’t seem set to be resolved anytime soon.

dent Saakashvili. There are concerns about political justice as well. None of this reflects well on Georgia, and I think it is a shame, because it runs contrary to all the good things that have been done by many people in Georgia over the last years.

HOW DAMAGING DO YOU THINK SUCH CRISES IN THE THREE COUNTRIES COULD BE FOR THE EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE IN GENERAL, AND FOR DEEPER INTEGRATION?

YOU MENTIONED IT’S ALWAYS GOOD TO ASK FOR MORE. DO YOU THINK THAT PERHAPS GEORGIA DOESN’T REALISTICALLY EXPECT ITS APPLICATION TO BE SUCCESSFUL, BUT MIGHT BE AIMING FOR SOME SORT OF CONSOLATION PRICE?

All the crises are damaging to different extents.

Moldova, which used to have a crisis on almost a yearly basis, is now in a good position, with a reformist parliament, government and president.

Ukraine is moving ahead. The most worrying case these days is actually Georgia. Georgia’s image has been seriously damaged by the events that happened this year, by this political polarization, and now the protests and the situation with former President Mikheil Saakashvili. It’s all deeply concerning.

AND YET GEORGIA IS PLANNING ON SUBMITTING AN OFFICIAL MEMBERSHIP BID IN 2024. WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON THAT – WHAT SHOULD GEORGIA EXPECT? Georgia is very ambitious and has always been so.

And, let’s be fair to Georgia, it has achieved a lot since the beginning of the Eastern Partnership. It has regularly been flagged as a leading country in the group. But honestly, I think submitting an application in 2024 is not a very realistic thing to do based on the situation in the country, based on what still needs to be done. Georgia needs to strengthen the independence of the judiciary, to fight against corruption; they need to have a less confrontational approach between the different political parties. You have to be able to make a compromise, and Georgia hasn’t learned the art of compromise, that is evident from the two leading political parties and what happened with the Michel Agreement- the fact it was ditched by the ruling party doesn’t look good. Also bad is the fact that it is so unclear what is going on with Former Presi-

I think we also need to remember that it’s unrealistic based on internal developments in the EU. The EU is not currently looking for new members, and we can see at the moment that even when it comes to the Western Balkans’ membership perspectives, there is a resistance to making substantial progress. It’s just not the best time to submit a membership application. If Georgia was a perfect country, met all of the criteria, had no problems, then it could maybe try, but I think we need to have caution here, because otherwise it is not going to get a particularly nice response to the application from the side of the EU. At the same time, I think there is a need for the EU to continue to incentivize the countries of the Eastern Partnership to continue with their reform processes. It’s disappointing that the EU is not able to give a clear membership perspective or give a clear green light that one day they are going to be members of the EU, but this is not going to change for the foreseeable future. Simply put, the hard work needs to be done at home.

YET, EVEN IF GEORGIA WAS REALLY PERFECT, THERE IS STILL THE RUSSIAN FACTOR. WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THE KREMLIN ON DECISION MAKING IN BRUSSELS WHEN IT COMES TO GEORGIA’S EURO-ATLANTIC ASPIRATIONS? There’s a difference here between NATO and the EU, because NATO gave Georgia an explicit promise that it could be a member, and it’s very clear that Georgia has gone far beyond the criteria that was put down, doing more for membership than other countries which have already joined. Yes, I believe Russia has had some sort of veto in this process, I mean, nobody in NATO will ever agree with it, but I think it’s clear as water that the Russian objection has been taken into consideration.

But in the EU, the situation is slightly different because of the fact that they have not promised membership, they just committed to closer integration in different sectors, closer relationships with the EU politically and economically. Of course, even if Georgia was a perfect country, this Russia question would still be there. For the EU as for NATO, Russia represents a significant security threat, both traditional and hybrid. So, the question that always comes up is, is it worth it for our own security to bring countries into the club that already have serious security problems with Russia?

As for Russia, they view this as threat to their

own existence, which is one of the reasons President Putin always pushes back against it, always accuses the EU of trying to force these countries into what he calls a “sphere of influence.” It is not the case, but this is the paranoia that Russia has, going back centuries. It’s about being encircled, and the need to have a sort of a buffer zone between themselves and the West.

Unfortunately, I don’t see there is going to be much of a change, if any, in Russia’s approach or its strategic objectives in this region. Putin’s objective is for these countries to be failed states that don’t have any chance of becoming part of Europe.

He doesn’t want democratic, successful countries in his neighborhood.

IS THE RECENT, SEEMINGLY IRREVERSIBLE SPLIT BETWEEN MOSCOW AND NATO GOING TO HAVE ANY TANGIBLE IMPACT ON NATO-ASPIRANT COUNTRIES GEORGIA AND UKRAINE? It doesn’t make life any easier, does it? The less dialogue there is between NATO and Russia, the more difficult it can make things. It can lead to more misunderstandings or bad communication, but, obviously, it’s a very difficult relationship to manage, with zero trust from both sides. As I said, Russia still represents a serious threat to NATO, and this is why there is still such a huge NATO presence deployed on that flank, and it’s a challenge that still needs to be overcome. That said, the challenge of Russia has reduced somewhat of late, affected by the increasing challenge coming from China, which has increased its importance on NATO’s agenda.

NORD STREAM 2 IS ALLEGEDLY COMPLETED AND IS SET TO START FUNCTIONING SOON. WHAT IS THE RESPONSE FROM AND IMPACT ON THE WEST? IS THERE ANY FAILSAFE MECHANISM FOR RUSSIA NOT TO USE IT TO INCREASE ITS DE FACTO VETO POWER EVEN FURTHER? In my opinion, the whole Nord Stream 2 pipeline was a serious mistake made by Germany, because it will obviously increase the EU’s reliance on [Russian] gas. That said, the EU doesn’t have a common energy policy, which is problematic. But still, the EU has managed to reduce the leverage that Russia has on it in terms of gas since the 2006 and 2009 crises. It’s more about a price spike and lower gas volumes than it has to do with Russia – Russia just manipulated it as a way to try and get Nord Stream 2 online quicker. For the EU, energy security is as much a priority now as the transition from fossil to green energy is. This will take time, and means looking for energy sources that don’t come from Russia, looking to the Caspian Region and elsewhere.

People are fooling themselves if they think they’re going to be independent from gas, and a substantial amount of that Russian gas, for quite some time yet, because when the EU stopped using coal, this actually increased the need for more gas, and Russia will continue to use that to its own advantage.

Afghan Fallout: Consequences and Repercussions for the Region

BY VICTOR KIPIANI, CHAIRMAN, GEOCASE

T

Tbilisi, Georgia, Alexander Tsurtsumia 14, 0103 032 222 85 28

he withdrawal from Afghanistan has dynamized discussions of the West's alleged retreat from peripheral areas and growing focus on a single core region.

The line that separates those regions of the world in which the West continues to pursue and defend its interests on a must basis from those secondary ones, in which the West could or would intervene on a highly discretionary basis only and if a broader context is served, has shifted westwards and currently lies between the Black and Caspian seas.

This region has not only become a border along which geopolitical interests and influences clash, but also positions itself as the key “safety locker” for the many security challenges originating in the Middle East, South Caucasus and southern flank of Eastern Europe. The role and impact of the Black and Caspian intermarium have indeed never been so meaningful and vital for the emerging Eurasian landscape as they are nowadays.

Besides, it is a new test for the West to prove its resilience, capability and commitments in the new

order that will arguably be premised on the regional proxy systems (the so-called regional hub-andspoke model) of the emerging international order.

It is even more important for the West to increase the direct support it provides to upgrade the capacity of its allies and partners to defend themselves in those regional systems in which the West's presence is not as direct or tangible as some would wish. The Black Sea is clearly such a region, in which Western interests are reflected in Georgia’s regional posture and conduct, national defensive capabilities and unwavering foreign policy.

Indeed, this country finds itself in the cross-hairs of anti-Western and anti-democratic offensives of various types, colors and categories. A successful Western and democratic Georgia would therefore serve as a test of the viability of the principles and values of the Western normative world. These two sides of the matter are nowadays so strongly interconnected as to be inseparable.

Since we mentioned Georgia’s connectedness with Western geopolitics and the West's security architecture, it is also worth noting that, over the years, the country has actively participated in various NATO-led operations in Afghanistan, notably the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Continued on page 5

POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2021

5

Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Tbilisi Celebrates UAE Golden Jubilee

BY MUNIRA ALMARZOOQI, CHARGE D’AFFAIRES OF THE EMBASSY OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES IN TBILISI

O

n the December 2, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the announcement of the unification of the seven Emirates and the establishment of our country.

This occasion marks a sincere reflection of the federation's journey, rich in monumental events and achievements, building on the foundation that was first laid down by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his brothers, the fellow founding fathers. Today, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, follows in their footsteps, leading our nation on its journey towards the future.

Since its foundation, the UAE has followed the principle of promoting security, peace and sustainable development in various parts of the region and the world. Through his vision, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may his soul rest in peace, guided the UAE towards the adoption of a successful and active foreign policy based on balance, moderation, and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, in acknowledgement of the role and responsibility the UAE holds at regional and international levels.

In this letter, I would like to reflect and share most prominent achievements that the country has witnessed.

CULTURAL AND PUBLIC DIPLOMACY: The UAE was built on Sheikh Zayed's foundational values of tolerance, peace, and stability. His guiding strategy was to show friendship towards all cultures and peoples, promote moderate Islam, and work for mutually advantageous cooperation with all nations.

Today, his historical vision is reflected in a thriving and tolerant nation that hosts more than 200 nationalities, has a 93% literacy rate, welcomes over 15 million tourists annually, and is proud of

the fact that 70% of all its university graduates are women.

Moreover, the UAE is home to over 40 churches and other places of worship, as well as numerous world-class centers of education and culture. In effect, the values of tolerance, religious freedom and mutual respect championed by Sheikh Zayed are ingrained in the UAE's DNA.

“THE DAUGHTERS OF THE UAE”: pioneering role of Emirati women in all sectors: Emirati women are an integral part in the most prominent achievements of the UAE, attesting to the considerable role and active presence of the daughters of the UAE in various fields, as they demonstrate the extent of capabilities and competencies that qualify them to lead and manage several key and vital projects in the sectors of advanced science, space, energy and health. Their role was embodied in the arrival of the “Hope Probe” to the orbit of planet Mars, the beginning of the successful and safe operation of the first reactor at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, in addition to their success and leadership in efforts to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic locally and globally.

SMART ATTESTATION AND THE FUTURE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: The accelerating surge of business in the UAE has grown conspicuous despite the global pandemic challenges. This stems from the UAE government’s recent orientations to further openness to the world, a return to normal life and attracting talent and business within strategic decisions aimed at enabling the country to elevate its ranking and score in the ease of doing business indicator, particularly after it ranked first regionally and fourth globally in the 2020 Entrepreneurship Index according to the report issued by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor GEM - NECI, in addition to the indicators of the best and safest destinations for citizens and residents.

ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY: The UAE has an impressive track record of attracting Foreign Direct Investment

(FDI) through favorable tax regulations, developed infrastructure, and minimizing barriers to establishing a business.

The UAE continually demonstrates its determination to provide the best possible regulatory environment for investments. The 2018 FDI Law opens up numerous economic sectors for 100% foreign ownership. This new framework supports investments that build regional and global value through production chains focused on advanced and highvalue industries.

HUMANITARIAN DIPLOMACY: Over the course of a 50-year journey, the UAE has worked to activate its humanitarian role in reducing poverty on a global scale, and helping needy countries and societies, until it became a symbol of goodness and giving. UAE foreign aid has multiplied more than 187 times, with a total value of more than 322 billion dirhams.

Since the beginning of 2020, the Covid19 pandemic has had unprecedented health, economic and social repercus-

sions worldwide, and has had a more severe impact on developing countries.

The UAE has taken urgent steps to help the affected countries to contain the spread of the virus, sending supplies, medical supplies and field hospitals to hundreds of fraternal and friendly countries to help them combat and contain the consequences of the pandemic.

POST- PANDEMIC DIPLOMACY, AMBITION AND HOPE IN THE FUTURE: Believing in the importance of the voice of youth, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC) Youth Council was allocated a permanent seat in various committees and task forces in the Ministry. They work to develop and foster quality of life and create a positive working environment in the MFAIC. The Council has worked since its establishment to enhance the lives of young people by encouraging the adoption of a healthy lifestyle, promoting good mental health, adopting positive thinking as

a basic value, building life skills, as well as honing and developing the skills, abilities and competencies of the Ministry’s youth, and demonstrating the role and efforts of the UAE in empowering young people and embracing their aspirations and hopes, and advancing diplomatic work based on knowledge and innovation to achieve excellence in foreign policy.

UAE EMBASSY IN GEORGIA: On this historic occasion, on behalf of Emirati people I would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to the friendly people and Government of Georgia for their hospitality and, at the same time, we would like to cherish the level of distinguished bilateral relations between the UAE and Georgia, based on foundations of cooperation and mutual respect, as witnessed by the exchange of high-level visits between the two countries, alongside trade, economic and cultural exchange, which indicates the strength of bilateral relations in various fields.

Afghan Fallout: Consequences and Repercussions for the Region Continued from page 4 the Resolute Support Mission (RSM). In 2012-2014, Georgia had up to 1500 soldiers in Afghanistan: a remarkably clear and tangible demonstration of Tbilisi's commitment to common principles and interests. More recently, we supported the withdrawal of NATO and partner forces from Afghanistan, providing host nation support and full transit facilities through our territory. We have also made significant contributions to various humanitarian aspects of the process. An interagency task force, set up by the Georgian government, provided critical input to ensure the transit of forces and personnel and related support measures. Last but not least, Tbilisi agreed to help several international organizations (e.g. the Asian Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank) to evacuate their staff and provide them with temporary accommodation in Georgia.

The controversy in Afghanistan has added to the regional dilemma in the aftermath of the Second Karabakh War, and the United States needs to demonstrate their dedication to pursuing efforts to develop relations with key allies in this geopolitically important region. Specific statements embodied in tangible actions must contribute to shaping Washington's Black Sea strategy concept along very clear lines, particularly as any delay in this pro-

cess would further aggravate the security environment, eventually making any future U-turn quite hypothetical.

What the region needs today is explicit American and more generally Western efforts to deepen trade and economic ties with regionally important nations. In addition to trade and new investments in geopolitically viable opportunities, Georgia also expects a precise roadmap and timeline to NATO membership, or, should the prospect for such membership continue to remain unsure, we clearly need to open discussions with strategic partners on alternative, “compensatory” modalities to upgrade our own security by transforming our strategic partnership into a strategic alliance. Moreover, this transformation must be fast-tracked by innovative, bold and creative leaders at both ends of the process.

Obviously, there are other pragmatic reasons for the West, and especially the Unites States, to deepen cooperation with the countries of the Black Sea and Caspian basins. Abandoning Afghanistan does not mean also abandoning a critical region full of controversies and serious challenges. Among these challenges are the threats posed by various militant networks, be it Jihadists or others, in Afghanistan proper and the wider region, as well as the unpredictability of the new Taliban government. Although the latter has promised to sever its links with various terrorist groups, it remains to be seen

how this promise could be fulfilled. That said, there are of course no assurances that militant groups rooted in and around Afghanistan will stop threatening other countries in the region, or even the United States.

Therefore, some nearby presence of US troops is critical to monitoring, assessing and reacting if and when required.

During the Geneva summit, President Putin took a firm stance against any US presence in Central Asia regardless of the form this may take, e.g. basing drones, deploying anti-terrorism units, etc. The problem is compounded by the logistical difficulties posed by the great distances to be covered by US aviation based in Qatar in order to reach Afghanistan and the wider region. Besides, both Russia and China are opposed to the very principle of any US return to Central Asia. These days, Russia is positioning more as a security guarantor, while China is primarily contributing to the economies of Central Asia. Although it is a noticeable recent trend for China collaborating with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, there is also an uplift in China’s security ties with Afghanistan and Central Asia states.

We must also not forget the characteristic reluctance of Central Asian countries to harbor foreign troops on their territories. Understandably enough, in both their actions and messages, the various governments of Central Asia

US soldiers, part of the NATO- led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), walk west of Kabul, Afghanistan, 2012. Source: AP Photo

have to tread carefully when dealing with the main actors, particularly as the risks for their region are real, even if Russia and even the United States have been exaggerating them for the past 20 years.

All these complexities lead us to the need to identify some other viable options, and I believe that the wider Black Sea region presents us with some feasible opportunities to contribute further to the efforts of the Western coalition to combat international terrorism and extremism. All in all, the Black Sea and Caspian regions are critically important to the greater Eurasian security landscape. In this regard, the US withdrawal from Afghanistan signals the entry into a new stage of the Great Game for Power.

Recent meetings in Moscow between officials from Russia, Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, Iran and India clearly herald

new geopolitical spirals. It could also be predicted that the wider South AsiaCentral Asia-Caucasus region may fall prey to a new wave of terrorism and radicalization. There is an undoubtedly clear appreciation at our end of the need for new bonds to be forged with our allies and partners that better pursue our common interests. There is indeed no real alternative to this unique "winwin" option, and the United States and our other partners clearly need to devote greater efforts to defining and implementing a strategic vision for the Greater Caspian sea region. *An abstract from the speech at 16-17 November 2021 Caspian Security Conference organized by the Caspian Policy Center and the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies (NESA Center) of the U.S. National Defense University

6

BUSINESS

GEORGIA TODAY

DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2021

Carrefour’s Expansion Continues: New Hypermarket Opens in Rustavi

BY ANA DUMBADZE

C

arrefour, owned and operated by Majid Al Futtaim in Georgia, continues its active expansion countrywide, this time by opening

a new hypermarket in Rustavi.

The new store opened its doors to customers on December 2 at Rustavi Mall, next to the Shartava-Lomauri crossing, and now serves customers daily from 9:30 AM to 10:00 PM. Carrefour offers access to a wide variety of high-quality food products and household goods, including fresh fruit and vegetables, Bio

products, baby care, home appliances, household equipment, beauty items, Carrefour private label products, and personal care items.

This is the 57th store to open in the country, and reinforces Carrefour’s position as a trusted partner of communities throughout Georgia. This is easily reflected in Carrefour’s continuous contribution towards the development and prosperity of the Georgian economy as it invests in creating more employment opportunities for locals. The rise in partnerships with Georgian suppliers, farmers and producers not only helps local businesses grow but also introduces an unrivalled shopping experience to residents of different regions of the country, allowing them to enjoy easy access to the highest quality products at affordable prices.

Moreover, the new store provides customers with diverse and advanced services, allowing them to purchase all the necessary items for their homes in one space for maximum comfort. This includes the opportunity to purchase fresh, healthy, and local products daily which are directly sourced from local farms.

Carrefour works to support Georgian farmers and help them promote their products. A recent example of this is the organized “Potato Festival” which took

place at three different Carrefour stores, where 12 varieties of Georgian potatoes were available in a traditional setup and included the most affordable prices. It was yet another chance for Georgian farmers to showcase their products through Carrefour stores.

Supporting local agriculture and economy remains at the forefront of the brand’s activities. Carrefour currently employs more than 2,500 colleagues in Georgia and plans to welcome another 1,200 additional teammates over the next two to three years. This will not only

help increase capacity but also help strengthen ties with suppliers and farmers, which will consequently strengthen Georgia’s agricultural sector.

The first Carrefour hypermarket opened in Tbilisi Mall in 2012 and, since then, its growth has reached very impressive numbers – it now counts 57 stores countrywide. In 2021 alone there have been numerous new store openings countrywide. Despite the pandemic and the challenging time for businesses, the brand did not pause the support it provides the communities it serves.

For the US, it Takes Time to Build an Effective China Strategy

BY EMIL AVDALIANI

T

he US President Joe Biden may have opposite views on nearly all the aspects of foreign policy pursued by Donald Trump, but one area is likely to remain unchanged if not pursued even more vigorously: Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy.

China will remain at the top of the US foreign policy agenda. Trump’s tenure was characterized by a quest to find a long-term strategic solution to counter China’s rise in the Indo-Pacific. Under Trump, a bipartisan consensus within the American political establishment emerged. This was evidenced by numerous reports of a changed attitude toward what Beijing wants to attain.

In a way, Trump continued the Obama administration’s “pivot to Asia.” Obama recognized that Asia was becoming the “world’s political and economic center of gravity.” The shift involved refocusing the US geopolitical thrust from the Middle East to Asia by strengthening alliances and partnerships and increasing the US’ economic presence through the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

Trump changed aspects of Obama’s policy (and exited the TPP), but shared his vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific in which the geographic definition of “Asia” is expanded. Both administrations prioritized strengthening bilateral and multilateral ties with allies and partners to address common threats. In fact, the US Indo-Pacific strategy under Trump was more vocal about China than was Obama’s Strategic Rebalance policy.

Trump’s administration also put a special emphasis on Oceania to an extent that no preceding US administration had ever done. For instance, the National

Image source: Evan Vucci/AP

Security Council now has a director for Oceania Affairs. There were several unprecedented visits in 2019 by the secretaries of state and defense to Micronesia and Palau. A historic summit between the leaders of the Freely Associated States and Trump was held in Washington in 2019.

Under Biden, any changes to the US Indo-Pacific strategy will likely be more style than substance. There will be an emphasis on enhancing relations with the states around China. Biden’s presidency will be crucial, as in the next four years Washington’s grand strategic approach to China will finally crystallize.

As the US Indo-Pacific strategy under Trump was quite chaotic, some degree of thought and appraisal may indeed be in order. Trump’s administration exhibited certain indecisiveness toward China that might have been based in the nature of the US government. For a huge bureaucratic apparatus with numerous agencies, each with its own vision, a certain time span is necessary to gear toward a more protracted competition mode with China.

Unlike non-democratic states, where divisions are hidden from public view and decisions are made without consulting the people, and often without economic considerations, the democratic US traditionally needs much longer to

adjust to new geopolitical realities. This can take years.

But it would be overreaching to claim that Biden’s China policy will be wholly confrontational. As an experienced foreign policy maker, Biden understands that perpetual confrontation with Beijing would be costly and could even be ineffective at a time when a reinvigoration of alliances and a general improvement in the global position of the US is underway.

There could be an attempt to reset relations with China to prevent a total breakdown in bilateral ties. A motivator could be cooperation in areas of global importance for both sides—economic stability, for instance. But it will also be

clear that any rapprochement is unlikely to last long, and the general thrust of Trump’s Indo-Pacific strategy will be further pursued.

This would include doubling down on strengthening alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. In an era of greatpower competition, the US is putting an emphasis on cooperation with maritime rim and island states to contain China’s assertiveness.

Biden also understands that the need for alliances encompasses more than the Indo-Pacific. In fact, to be successful in challenging China, the US will need alliances in other parts of Eurasia. The Indo-Pacific approach under Biden will likely be part of a global approach. China’s assertiveness is not, after all, only about a certain region. It is rather a monumental competition between the two powers all around the globe.

Thence will come the American rapprochement with the European powers.

Approaches to Russia could even be made to limit disagreements and perhaps try to divide the Russia-China partnership. The success of this approach would depend on how much the US is willing to sacrifice in the Russian borderland regions.

Biden’s presidency will in many ways be a defining one, as it will correspond to the period when a long-term US strategy toward China finally takes shape. It will set the stage for a prolonged competition, one the US will not be able to win without the support of a large number of allies scattered across Eurasia. A special emphasis will thus be made by Biden to build strong ties with potential partners and reinvigorate faltering relations with traditional allies.

Emil Avdaliani is a professor at European University and the Director of Middle East Studies at Georgian think-tank, Geocase.

BUSINESS

GEORGIA TODAY DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2021

7

GoCaucasus.today—Promoting Local Businesses and the Natural Beauty of the Caucasus Region

T

he Caucasus region offers spectacular views and compelling activities for the would-be tourist, and GoCaucasus.today makes exploring this region easier than ever.

The website forms part of the Digital Caucasus project, initiated by CENN with the support of the Economic Development, Governance and Enterprise Growth Project (EDGE).

With this backing, the GoCaucasus portal helps guide visitors to the region with a strong emphasis on supporting local infrastructure in a sustainable and eco-friendly way. This helps ensure both the protection and appreciation of the area’s stunning biodiversity as well as the support of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

as a way to encourage tourism via the internet and help SMEs who have been negatively impacted by the pandemic.

Happily for Nazy Dakishvili, owner of Nazy’s Guest House, one of the project beneficiaries from Georgia, the website has already provided a significant amount of business. She shared that it is “thanks to the power of online digital resources” such as the GoCaucasus portal that her business has improved by making it easily discoverable by potential tourists and easily reviewable for recent customers.

Taken together, the work of CENN and the GoCaucasus portal signify a profound investment in the region’s future, so much of which depends on developing tourism in a way that both boosts local economies and protects and highlights the area’s environmental treasures.

SUPPORTING THE GROWTH AND DIGITALIZATION OF SMES

PROMOTING TOURISM IN THE CAUCASUS REGION

One of the fundamental goals of the GoCaucasus portal is to provide digital exposure to businesses in the Caucasus region. David Lelashvili, a Regional Representative for the USAID EDGE project, observes the unfortunate reality that following the COVID-19 pandemic, “domestic and international activities, as well as the purchasing power of the customers in Georgia and other project countries, have significantly decreased.”

As has been the case all over the world, this has led to hard times for many businesses, but particularly SMEs. In response, Lelashvili points to “the massive acceleration of global e-commerce” as a way for the region to encourage both the development of digital skills and promote tourism in the area. To this end, the GoCaucasus website focuses on supporting this acceleration of e-commerce

Indeed, tourism is of fundamental importance for the success of the Caucasus region and the improvement in the quality of life of its inhabitants. The region’s beautiful landscapes and the diversity of activities available to tourists can be broken down into the following categories: rural, adventurous, and green, although many of the categories overlap.

RURAL Spending a day in nature is proven to be beneficial for both physical and mental health, and the Caucasus region offers beautiful opportunities to immerse oneself into nature. For example, there are 27 beautiful national parks in the South Caucasus that allow for immersive nature getaways and an opportunity to appreciate this planet we all share. Tourists can explore the forests of Algeti National Park, the caves and canyons of Imereti, the Alesili Cliffs of Vashlovani National Park, or the mud volcanoes of TakhtiTepha. There is truly a lifetime of natural beauty to be discovered in the Caucasus region.

Another lovely way to appreciate the rural side of the area is by birdwatching.

Georgia itself has more than three hundred bird species! This includes endangered species such as the Caucasian black grouse and the Caucasian snowcock. There’s also the heaviest species of flying birds, the Dalmatian Pelicans, which breed at Lake Kartsakhi in Samtskhe-Javakheti. Whether amateur or expert birdwatchers, tourists are sure to be delighted by the region’s impressive biodiversity.

ADVENTUROUS The Caucasus region is the perfect destination for thrill seekers and adventurers. There is truly a staggering number of exciting activities available to those who love to get outside and get their adrenaline flowing: river rafting, bungee jumping, paragliding, rock climbing, mountain biking, rugged hiking, skiing— the list goes on and on!

Tourists, for example, might visit Georgia in the winter months and delight in one of the many ski resorts, such as Gudauri, Bakuriani, or Mestia. In the spring or summer months, they might enjoy the adventure of river rafting, on 15km of mountainous rivers from Magharoskari to Tvalivi. Alternatively, they might enjoy paragliding as a way to take in the sumptuous mountain vistas of the region and access views that are otherwise quite difficult to see.

GREEN Green or eco-friendly tourism is becoming an increasingly popular choice as

the world begins to recognize our impact on the planet and its inhabitants. The Caucasus region, with some 31.8% covered in protected areas, provides an array of ecotourism options that simultaneously help support local green businesses.

After visiting a national park, tourists can connect with local businesses to sample honeycomb with a professional beekeeper or embark on a wine tasting tour at one of the area’s many vineyards. They can also stay at any number of eco-friendly accommodations, such as Nazy’s Guest House, which sources most of its food through its own organic vegetable garden.

The GoCaucasus portal not only showcases the stunning natural beauty and a myriad of activities that the Caucasus region offers, but also helps would-be tourists connect quickly and easily with local, sustainable SMEs. This is a winwin situation that supports both local economies and the environment.

As a highly functional web portal with an outstanding search filter, GoCaucasus. today truly serves its mission to highlight “providers of tourist services across the Caucasus,” according to Ana Petriashvili, National Coordinator for the Digital Caucasus Project.

Indeed, everyone benefits as the GoCaucasus site helps local SMEs reach a global audience while simultaneously promoting rural, adventurous, and ecotourism activities that help ensure a prosperous future for both people and the planet.

8

SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY

DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2021

Way to Home: Caritas Czech Republic Supports Deinstitutionalization Process in Georgia

BY NINA KOPALEISHVILI

A

lthough the deinstitutionalization process in Georgia began in 2011, it still has not been finished. In 2020, thanks to the financial support from Czech Development Agency, Caritas Czech Republic elaborated a deinstitutionalization strategy and an action plan in close cooperation with the Ministry of Health of Georgia, and took the responsibility to provide communitybased homes and services for persons with disabilities (PWDs) living in two large boarding homes under state care.

WHY DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION MATTERS Every human being has a right to have decent living conditions and to be fully integrated into society. Unfortunately, in Georgia, most persons with disabilities under state care, still live in large boarding institutions where their rights are often violated, and their individual needs and desires are neglected.

At the initiative of the Agency for State Care and Assistance for the Victims of Human Trafficking, Caritas Czech Republic has developed the necessary strategy and action plan for the deinstitutionalization process in Georgia. Our experts of the field, in close cooperation with Czech colleagues and project partners’ representatives, identified the main areas of work, assessed the needs of the target beneficiaries, and prepared relevant legislative initiatives. As a result, at the beginning of 2022, some of the beneficiaries living in large boarding houses in Dusheti and Martkopi, will move to two new family-style homes that are

currently under rehabilitation.

Eventually, the deinstitutionalization process meaning provision of community-based homes and services for persons with disabilities, will change the lives of 112 adults – stepwise, according to their individual needs and will.

IMPORTANCE OF SMALL FAMILY-TYPE HOMES Maia Shishniashvili, the founder of the social inclusion organization Hand in Hand, a chair of the Coalition of Parents' Organizations and Caritas Czech Republic project expert, says that in the process of deinstitutionalization, the so-called alternative service and the “Personcentered” approach are crucial. The cornerstone of the latter is the interests, desires, personal characteristics, and capabilities of an individual. According to her, a service should not dictate a person what is best for him or her, but on the contrary, a service provider should ensure what is necessary for the quality life of an individual, considering their rights and individual wishes: "Years ago, due to my son's condition, I realized that I had to think about his future to enable him to live without me with dignity. Persons with any special needs must stay in a community, just like others. This is a modern, dignified, and correct approach. The service provided by Caritas Czech Republic with the support from Czech Aid will offer beneficiaries an alternative family-type home in which a person is not depersonalized, and he or she lives in a community, just like everyone else.”

status of persons with disabilities, saying that the rights of these people are often violated. Nino Lomjaria states that they do not have proper access to education, employment, and job opportunities. Also, there are frequent incidents of violence between beneficiaries in large institutions.

Meri Maglaperidze, director of the State Care Agency, explains that despite years of efforts by the agency to provide quality services to beneficiaries in such large boarding houses as in Dusheti and Martkopi, it was difficult to achieve the goal: "There is no possibility of individual approach in large institutions. About 70 people live together, which is harmful to each of them. The risks of violence are also increased. Systemic change is necessary because, unfortunately, there are persons with disabilities who do not have the opportunity to live in a family and need family-type care and the home itself. That is the starting point!

This project is an especially valuable achievement for us, and Caritas Czech Republic is one of the most important partners for the agency."

In the light of that, Maglaperidze emphasizes the importance of a new approach to assessing the needs of beneficiaries, which evaluates not only their medical condition, but also their individual interests and desires. Thanks to the collaboration with Caritas Czech Republic, the Agency has been putting this approach into practice. Moreover, Maglaperidze believes that the small family-type homes created within the Caritas Czech Republic project will be a model of what the country should offer to persons with disabilities in the future.

"Despite Caritas Czech Republic's and Czech Aid’s invaluable support, the country has the most important role in the whole process” adds Irine Oboladze,

the representative of the Ombudsman's Office. She explains that the donor contribution to the deinstitutionalization process is not enough unless the country continues the provision of the aboveexplained modern services for persons with disabilities left without families after the project ends.

CARITAS CZECH REPUBLIC ADVOCATES FOR THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES In response to the initiative of the State Care Agency, Caritas Czech Republic implements the project – Way to Home: Development of Adult Alternative Social Services in Georgia, funded by the Czech Development Agency since 2020.

The project includes the creation/ update of a normative framework for the establishment of adult family-type services, development of infrastructure for new services, an effective transformation of beneficiaries, and awareness-raising activities about the importance of deinstitutionalization. In total, 47 beneficiaries of Dusheti and 68 beneficiaries of Martkopi boarding houses, as well as 115 employees of the same facilities will benefit from the project.

"Participating in the deinstitutionalization process is a huge responsibility for Caritas Czech Republic and implies a complex approach. Our project aims not only to support the country in deinstitutionalization process and change the lives of particular people living in large institutions, but aims at social transformation as a whole, with a proper understanding of the issue and values by the general public." – noted Tamar Kurtanidze, Caritas Czech project manager, while adding that "this process requires time, public readiness, change of attitude, and a good understanding that all people have an equal right to be a full member of society, to enjoy equal benefits, and contribute to the development of public life. I would like to thank our donor for funding such a stateimportant project."

ARTIST:GIV AMIRTELI ROLE OF STATE INSTITUTIONS IN DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION

The Public Defender of Georgia often speaks about the importance of the deinstitutionalization process and the legal

ARTIST: GIVI AMIRTELI “Georgian Election 2021”

Acrylic on Canvas 120 X 90 cm Price: GEL 2600

To purchase, please contact +995 599 150 302

IWG plc, Level 4, 2 Leonidze str. Tbilisi, Georgia | +995 32 290 039

10

SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY

DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2021

Take the Long Way Home The big pass between east and west Georgia is still undergoing its Chineserun transformation from 60 km bottleneck to doubled highway, so we won’t be stuck behind fleets of trucks anymore.

Now they are focusing on building embankments edging the many riversides which this project threatens, hopefully to preserve the natural systems coexisting with the engineering megaproject.

A couple more years, I suppose, and there will be a completed highway from Tbilisi to Batumi, with branches to the bigger cities on the way.

Rain obscured the views, and fogged up our windows on this cold day, but I tried some camera-phone shots as we passed through endless villages. Where the roads are being re-laid, such as in Senaki, the old tarmac has been dug up and left on roadsides in hideous broken piles which will take decades if not longer to disintegrate back into the earth. Georgia might be stunningly beautiful, but it also has plenty of less gorgeous sights if that’s what you happen to notice. Same as everywhere in this regard, I realize.

Petrol stop, eating stops, passengers leaving and new ones entering, impromptu postal system collecting and delivering parcels of all sizes on the way. Poor driver getting endless cell phone calls connected with all this, and trying to get us safely from A to B. At least he’s no longer smoking in the van nor drinking moonshine when he stops,

like in the “good old days”.

We begin to ascend from Jvari into Upper Svaneti at last, and eventually the rain turns into the expected snow. Now the mountaintops are graced with this while their lower slopes are still stuck in late autumn’s reds and golds, always a beautiful combination. There are easily a hundred new temporary waterfalls as well on the way, I estimate, pointing to the heavy precipitation which the region has been having in my absence.

My wife has overseen a drop-off of half a ton or so of soft drinks at the junction of our road and the highway, and one of her younger school pupils is guarding this while I add my own bags to it and trudge the 1 km home, then return with the car to load it all up. Home at last, into her arms, wood stove burning, waiting for electricity, which does eventually return as the night closes in. Home.

And…as always at the moment, in Georgia’s current political season, #mishavs means: “It matters to me”!

NIMA BAHREHMAND AND RAMIN ROSHANDAL – THE STATUS OF PIETA

to modern myths related to the institution of virginity.

explores the human relationship with an automated sound system.

At the exhibition "Digital Natives" you will see many interesting works of foreign artists alongside Georgian artists.

Among them is a one-channel video installation by Iranian artists Nima Bahrehmand and Ramin Roshandal, which is shown in the form of an audiovisual collaboration of artists. The creation of the work was due to the decentralized wars in the Middle East region, due to which the locals have to live under the constant supervision of drones and satellites. "For a year, Iranian artists fed artificial intelligence with war photos found in the region depicting drone escapes, and later AI independently produced similar images. "In these photos, the bodies are distorted by a computer and it is difficult to read information about them, but it is easy to read the same anxiety and uncertainty that the decentralized wars in this region brought," said the curator of the exhibition.

BOGOSI SEKHUKHUNI CONSCIOUS ENGINE 2: ABSENTBLACKFATHERBOT

JON RAFMAN - DISASTERS UNDER THE SUN

BLOG BY TONY HANMER

T

itle borrowed from Supertramp’s song of the same name, from their classic album “Breakfast in America”.

Home, from Tbilisi, is always the long way, nearly 500 km to Etseri, Upper Svaneti. If I don’t have a good reason to drive there and back using my own gasguzzling 4x4 Toyota 4Runner, I take the regular marshrutka (minibus) between Mestia and Tbilisi, which is what I did this time. It leaves the capital from a couple of locations: below Samgori Metro and in front of the main Railway Station.

7am start, 8-9 hour journey with two meal stops en route.

I Bolted, most conveniently, to the railway start for 0630, having a bit too much luggage to lug through the city’s Metro.

First passenger for the Mestia van, which might never have happened to me before.

But it’s a slow season now in Georgia, with summer tourism wound up and skiers not yet arriving, and perhaps few local people making the journey.

Almost instantly, a lady in her 50s or 60s appeared selling hot tea, coffee or cocoa, as well as cigarettes, bottled water and snacks. “I get up at 5 am daily to do this,” she announced, “to make ends try to meet.” Other people of similar ages

were also making the rounds, as there would be plenty of alternate destinations across the country starting from here all day long. Everyone just trying to get by.

A street sweeper lady also began her job.

Having heard the hot drink seller’s sad story, I decided to give her 20 GEL as she left, which she refused only for a moment, then took with profuse thanks.

A minute later, she was back to slip a

chocolate bar and a pack of salted bread snacks into my pocket, which I also reluctantly accepted. How many hundreds or thousands of such are there in Tbilisi and elsewhere?

We set off with a nearly full complement of passengers; I’ve done this so many times over the decades, it’s all old hat. But still, each time there are new things I notice.

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

"Digital Natives" - Exhibition of Contemporary Art at TBC Concept Flagship

BY ANA GABISIANI

F

rom October 28 to December 28, TBC Concept Flagship will host an exhibition of international artists, whose works will reflect the impact of the digital age on the work of artists. The title of the exhibition "Digital Natives" is the term of the poet and internet activist John Perry Barlow and unites people who had to adapt to digital technologies in the wake of the development of the information age from an early age. This is an exhibition on the Internet that answers the main question of how artists reflect on existing reality. The works of artists form one large network, which is as eclectic and comprehensive as the Internet itself. According to the curator of the exhibition Nina Kintsurashvili, the works in the exhibition address one specific aspect of the global phenomenon, where artists respond to digital reality both directly and indirectly. The exhibition, the idea of which was sparked by the Covid-19 pandemic period, brings together more than 10 international artists. The works presented at the exhibition, which are located in two different spaces, make the viewer a participant of the digital audiovisual show and present the specifics of the language of the artists in different mediums.

"There is an idea that the Internet is a global phenomenon, but the exhibition questions this notion and tries to highlight the local formations of the Internet, which were influenced by various sociopolitical contexts. For this, I decided to present several artists whose work is interested in the local context, "- said the curator of the exhibition Nina Kintsurashvili. "Very often in the West, when museums and galleries exhibit such works, one feels the admiration for technological innovations and new media.

However, in this case I was interested

in discussing the Internet in a historical context and exploring it not as a technological innovation but as a cultural and social phenomenon.

TBC Concept will introduce you to the works of some of the artists you will meet at the Digital Natives exhibition.

TEZI GABUNIA - SINKING OF THE LOUVRE According to artist Tezi Gabunia, "The sinking of the Louvre" is one of the stages of a big project, which was preceded by works - "Fake Exhibition" and "Enter the Gallery." "The sinking of the Louvre" which was exhibited at the New York Armory Show, was presented at the exhibition as a single-channel video installation in the form of artist's Facebook Live by the agreement between the artist and curator. The video installation also shows the comments of astonished users along with the flooding of the Louvre, who are very confused by the fact of the sinking of the museum. "The new representation of Tezi Gabunia's 'Sinking of the Louvre' arises the question of the Real News VS Fake News phenomenon and information circulating in the online space, where objectivity is overshadowed by sea of information and we have to navigate this reality on a daily basis," said the exhibition curator.

TAMO JUGHELI – “HALF HUMAN, HALF - MACHINE You will also meet the experimental work of Georgian artist Tamo Jugheli within the framework of TBC Concept Exhibition. The young artist, whose main creative practice is related to hand painting, exhibits a work at the exhibition in which the digital image she creates and the hand-drawn painting are synthesized into each other. "The work was created while learning Photoshop, which I have not yet learned because the more times I open the program, the more times I start painting. When this particular work was completed, I saw the moment in the

material world as a painting. I printed the work on canvas and then added oil paint stains to contrast it with the human hand and its traces," says the artist of the work, "Half-human, Half-machine."

KEU MEPARISHVILI INSTITUTE OF VIRGINITY Keu Meparishvili's video installation is presented in the form of a screen on wheels at the exhibition. According to the artist, the work was first created for a group exhibition in Vienna and shows the original version of the video installation in the TBC concept space. The research, which the artist conducted before creating the work, includes anonymous messages from closed Facebook groups where women share their confidential stories with other women. The protagonist of Keu Meparishvili's work is an avatar of the collective experience of women, which illustrates issues related

The exhibition will also feature a 2-channel video installation by South African artist Bogosi Sekhukhuni depicting robotic communications. According to the curator of the exhibition Nina Kintsurashvili, the work of the South African artist emphasizes the inconvenience of communicating on social media. The artist's video installation shows two animated subjects facing each other through different screens. One of the animated subjects of the work is Sekhukhuni himself, while the other is his estranged father. Their communication is based on the letters that 18-year-old Bogosi and his father sent to each other for six years.

TAMAR GURGENIDZE – “HOW WONDERFUL GIRLS YOU ARE” Tamar Gurgenidze's work at first glance reminds us of the compositions that we often come across while looking at old photo albums. Therefore, it is not surprising that the inspiration for creating the work was the photo archive of the artist's grandmother, which is brought to life by Tamar Gurgenidze in three-dimensional videos. "In Tamuna Gurgenidze's work, digital technology becomes a conduit of nostalgy, which the artist uses to reflect human emotions and flow of memories," said the curator of the exhibition.

NIKOLOZ KAPANADZE - IVR N29485 Those who come to the exhibition will definitely remember the work of Nikoloz Kapanadze. His audio-visual work

The work of Canadian artist Jon Rafman will be found in the exhibition space of the TBC Concept Dark Room. The posthuman dystopia shown in the video installation depicts a terrifying image of a future where all humanity is uploaded to a virtual purgatory and endlessly abused.

ANNA K. AND FLORIAN MEISENBERG - COWNTOWN BELLADONNA Georgian artist Anna K. and German artist Florian Meissernerg will present a 2-channel video installation at the exhibition. In the exhibition space, the screens are located next to each other, at a distance of several meters. Both of them show the human eye taken with a micro-lens and a 4K camera, at the depth of which the screen images are reflected.

The moving images, which are generated on the cornea of the eye, depict excerpts from movies and Youtube videos, as well as footage from social media platforms. As the curator of the exhibition says while talking about the work, the video installation by Anna K. and Florian Meisenberg speaks of the organic body as a channel for the flow of information, where the screen represents a microchip that is directly connected to the cornea of the eye.

Within the framework of TBC Concept Exhibition "Digital Natives," there will be a panel discussion with the artists.

The exhibition is open Monday - Saturday, from 10:00 to 20:00, at 7 Marjanishvili street. Attendance is free for all.

Translated by Ana Dumbadze

CULTURE

GEORGIA TODAY DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2021

11

Solomon Arts Gallery Presents: Jemal Khutsishvili, the Adherent of Niko Pirosmani

H

onored Artist of Georgia Jemal Khutsishvili was born in 1938 in Telavi. He graduated from the secondary school there 250-year-old secondary school N1. He continued his art education at the Iakob Nikoladze School in Tbilisi, then at the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts, where he graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts in 1960.

From the very beginning, the painter's work was based on depicting the Georgian, national way of life which has already become ethnography. Then he continued the theme of Niko Pirosmani's work and stylized his manner of performance. In 1966, the artist's works were exhibited at the Georgian National Museum of Art in Tbilisi, at Georgian Gallery, and then in Moscow at the Museum of Oriental Art and three different exhibition spaces. In 1967, French television introduced the works of Jemal Khutsishvili to its viewers.

Georgia, in particular the everyday life of Kakheti and allegorical images depicting the heroes of Georgian legends and fairy tales, had an important place in the works of the artist in this period, as did an ongoing love of the animalistic genre, once again approaching the work of Niko Pirosmani.

Jemal Khutsishvili's painting "Watermelon Vendor," which was painted in1970, combines a realistic and avant-garde artistic manner and echoes the work of the famous Mexican artist Diego Rivera (1886-1957) "Flower Vendor" (1925). The

watermelon vendor is portrayed with a background of watermelons: a Kakhetian peasant holds a watermelon in his hands as the fruit of his labors.

The dark green color of the composition is revived by the peasant's burgundy top and white apron. The traditional Kakhetian black hat, antique handmade shoes and wool socks add even more ethnography and reality to the depicted character, whose shiny, sun-damaged face is portrayed by the artist with great mastery.

The landscapes of Georgia have an important place in Jemal Khutsishvili's work. He created a whole series of landscapes depicting Kakheti, Kartli and Imereti. In addition, the artist uses these landscapes as a background for figurative, symbolic-allegorical compositions.

The painting "abandoned house" is painted in the same style. It depicts the painful problem of migration of rural residents between the 1970s and 1980s.

In addition to oil paints, pastel painting is one of the artist's favorite techniques, which he mastered and often uses in his works. The painting "Aleksevka" is created using this technique, where the rural lands are presented with accuracy.

The artist often paints the historical monuments of Georgia, ethnographic compositions which also have a symbolic and metaphorical meaning. A separate theme in the artist’s work is connected to the saints of the Georgian Church, especially compositions dedicated to St. Nino's life, created according to medieval Georgian icon painting and frescoes.

Khutsishvili's personal exhibitions were organized in 1970-2000 in Tbilisi, Telavi and abroad. His works are kept at the Sh. Amiranashvili Georgian Art Museum, National Gallery of Art, various Georgian museums, Moscow Museum of Oriental Art, Tretyakov Art Gallery in Moskow, and in private collections in Georgia, Russia, the European countries, the USA, and elsewhere.

Jemal Khutsishvili actively continues his creative activity, creating landscapes of his native country, ethnographic compositions, images of urban life of old Tbilisi, which are imbued with warmth and positive emotion.

Winter in the village. 2005

Nikala (Pirosmani) with the Roe Deer. 1980

Landscape in Imereti. 2007

The Watermelon Vendor. 1970

All images shared with the permission of Solomon Arts Gallery.

Find out more at solomonartsgallery.com.

The Abandoned House. 2003

PUBLISHER & GM

George Sharashidze COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT

Commercial Director: Iva Merabishvili Marketing Manager: Natalia Chikvaidze

GEORGIA TODAY

Aleqseevka (village near Tbilisi). 1993

EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT:

Editor-In-Chief: Katie Ruth Davies

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

Website Manager/Editor: Katie Ruth Davies 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

+995 555 00 14 46 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