Issue #1311 by Georgia Today

Issue no: 1311

• AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 • PUBLISHED WEEKLY

PRICE: GEL 2.50

In this week’s issue... Corona Updates: Vaccinations Reach 1 mln in Georgia, Israel Reveals Vaccine Effects Fade Fast NEWS PAGE 2

Isolationism vs. Interventionism POLITICS PAGE 3

Expanding the UAS Program for Georgia’s Military POLITICS PAGE 6

Foreign Policy: Georgia Turns Its Back on the West

FOCUS

POLITICS PAGE 6

ON SOME SWEET NEWS FOR A CHANGE Check out the new bakery and cookie cafe "Qooqy" - new on the market and ready for your visit!

Carrefour Continues to Support the Georgian Economy: First Hypermarket Opens in Imereti BUSINESS PAGE 8

PAGE 7

The Climate Crisis Needs Enhanced International Cooperation OP-ED ARTICLE BY THE AMBASSADOR OF ISRAEL TO GEORGIA, RAN GIDOR

CULTURE PAGE 11

Nina Tibilashvili Wins Silver Medal at Tokyo Paralympic Games SPORTS PAGE 11

oth Georgia and Israel have seen turbulent times recently, with dramatic political, economic and security-related developments almost on a daily basis. However, even those of us not particularly mindful of the climate crisis could not help but be alarmed by what has been happening around us lately. While massive floods in Germany and Western Europe claimed the lives of hundreds, entire villages in China and India were being washed away by heavy rains. Giant hailstones rained down on Italy in the middle of summer, and Britain and Switzerland were surprised by sudden wild and rainy weather. Sardinia, Greece, and Siberia were hit by widespread fires, and in California, temperatures reached unthinkable records of 56 degrees Celsius, leaving residents feeling as though they were sweltering in a real-life oven. Continued on page 9

Georgian Director Tinatin Kajrishvili’s Film Project Wins WORK IN PROGRESS AWARD at Sarajevo Film Fest

CULTURE PAGE 11 Prepared for Georgia Today Business by

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NEWS

GEORGIA TODAY

AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

Corona Updates: Georgia Forges ahead with its Vaccine Program, Israel Cases Reveal the Vaccine Effects Fade Faster than Hoped, Leaving Millions Vulnerable Once More At its Wednesday meeting, the Coordinating Council approved a package of incentives for the vaccination of employees in the private tourism sector, which implies offering travel companies and food facilities various benefits, for example, fully vaccinated guides will have free access to public services, in particular to state museums, protected areas, and rope-ways.

THE RESTRICTIONS

Image source: yalemedicine.org

BY TEAM GT

he past two weeks have seen Georgia suffering around 5000 new cases daily, despite more vaccines being given out and over 330,000 people already fully vaccinated. This has lead the authorities to begin tightening restrictions again. On Tuesday, 5924 new cases of coronavirus were registered in Georgia, 60 people died, and 4777 people recovered. Wednesday brought 5021 new cases of coronavirus, with a similar number reportedly recovering. That day, 58 people died. Following the past months’ trend, the highest number of new cases were detected in the capital Tbilisi- 2,030, followed by Adjara (599), where many have headed for their summer vacation. Imereti reported 598 cases, Kvemo Kartli 333, Shida Kartli 331, Guria 111, Samegrelo - Zemo Svaneti 336, Kakheti 446, Mtskheta-Mtianeti 114, SamtskheJavakheti 90, and Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti 33. On Thursday morning, it was announced that 4128 new cases of coronavirus had been registered in the 24 hours prior, with 79 people losing their lives to the

virus, and 5611 people recovering. A total of 532,171 cases of coronavirus were thus confirmed in Georgia since February 2020, of which 468,917 have recovered and 7028 have died.

THE VACCINE The National Center for Disease Control reported that, as of August 24, a total of 1,010,096 vaccinations had been administered. Over 700,000 people had been vaccinated with at least one dose of the four vaccines available (Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Sinopharm or Sinovac), making up 24.6% of the adult population (on August 23 alone, 30,067 people were vaccinated). Around 11.6% of the adult population of Georgia has received both doses and is considered fully vaccinated. Yet, the Minister of Health of Georgia, Ekaterine Tikaradze, confirmed the deaths of fully vaccinated people in Georgia. "This is a sad fact, but similar cases are being seen elsewhere in the world too. This is no cause for panic, as it is 0.001% of cases: the vaccine does protect us from fatality in the majority of cases. The patients who lost their lives in fighting the virus had developed life-threatening damage caused by already existent chronic diseases, meaning try what they might, the doctors' efforts were in vain," Tikaradze said.

As the new school year approaches, parents of school pupils are increasingly concerned they will be left dealing with last year’s stresses of online study again. "Classroom education may be resumed in schools where 80% of staff gets vaccinated," said Amiran Gamkrelidze, head of the National Center for Disease Control. This news was later confirmed by the Minister of Health, Ekaterine Tikaradze. Gamkrelidze noted that NCDC data from early August showed that 30% of teachers across Georgia had been vaccinated, while the latest survey conducted by the Ministry of Education showed 40%. "We call schools safe if 80% of the teachers and administrative staff who work in the school and have contact with children are vaccinated," said Gamkrelidze, adding that if the situation does not improve, the NCDC will be unable to give the go-ahead for children to return to school. On Wednesday, new restrictions entered into force in the country seeing food facilities having to close to 22:00 instead of 23:00. “Within the framework of the qualification stage of the World Cup, the football match between the Georgian national team and Kosovo, scheduled for September 2 at the Batumi Stadium, will be held without spectators, as will all other allowed sports events,” the authorities announced, adding that the holding of festivals, entertainment and cultural events, concerts and sports competitions, as well as social events, remains forbidden.

Wearing a face mask continues to be mandatory both indoors and out, as is maintaining social distance. The authorities one again called on the population to get vaccinated in order to preserve life and defeat the virus.

MEANWHILE, IN ISRAEL… Israel, which has seen a surge in cases this month, despite boasting 80% of its population age 12+ being vaccinated, one of the highest rates in the world, launched its national vaccination campaign in December 2020. The following six months saw restrictions lifted and citizens returning to crowded norms of partying and religious ceremonies. In June, there were even days of zero new Covid-19 cases there, leading most Israelis to believe the fight against the virus had been won. Two months later, Israel reported nearly 10,000 new cases, close to its worst daily figure recorded at the height of its third wave. More than 350 people died of Covid-19 in the first three weeks of August, and seven public hospitals this week said they have no more space for coronavirus patients. Israel’s public is now bracing itself for another potential lockdown. “I don’t want to frighten you,” coronavirus expert Dr. Salman Zarka told the Israeli parliament this week. “But this is the data. Unfortunately, the numbers

don’t lie.” It is now becoming apparent to experts that the protection expected from the BioNTech/Pfizer two-shot vaccine, which Israel has used almost exclusively, appears to fade over time faster than anticipated, increasing the risk from “breakthrough” infections, leaving those who got the vaccine first, mostly frontline workers, the elderly and the most vulnerable, again at risk from infection and severe illness. At the Sheba Medical Center, the largest in Israel, researchers found that monthly blood tests of medical staff, many of whom got their vaccinations in December, had started to show declining antibody levels by June. “Antibody levels can sometimes decline without having an impact on efficacy, but, at about the same time, Sheba hospitals began to note a rise in elderly, vaccinated people testing positive and seeking care,” said Arnon Afek, a top official at the hospital chain. “It was quite alarming. After around six months, we realised that the level of antibodies in our staff was falling and, across Israel, there was an increase in the number of patients. And this was happening in parallel with the Delta [coronavirus] variant.” What this spells for the global vaccination effort, and it efficacy, is yet to be seen.

Image source: weforum.org

Estonian TV Filming Special ‘Travel to Georgia’ Series BY KETEVAN SKHIRTLADZE

stonian TV company to prepare a series of programs about Georgia, organized by the National Tourism Administration. In order to increase tourist flows from the Baltic States, the National Tourism Administration of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia is hosting a press tour from Estonia. Within the framework of the press tour, the Estonian TV company is preparing a series of special programs called “Travel to Georgia,” the program consists of 10

episodes and will be aired in Estonia in September. The 42-minute program will be dedicated to Georgia’s tourist destinations, sea and mountain resorts, Georgian traditions, culture, and history. The show will also feature adventure, eco, and wine tourism destinations. The 8-member film crew of Estonian TV 3 was in Tbilisi, Kakheti, Imereti, Adjara, Samegrelo, and Svaneti for 2 weeks. Estonian media representatives visited and filmed Sighnaghi, Lagodekhi Protected Area, Kutaisi, Batumi, Mestia, Ushguli, and other tourist places. The press tour was held with the involvement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and the Embassy of Georgia in Estonia.

POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY

AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

Isolationism vs. Interventionism OP-ED BY NUGZAR B. RUHADZE

eeply plunged in and helplessly stuck with another Afghan crisis, the United States of America, the greatest helper and facilitator of all time, today might feel like going back to Washingtonian caution ‘to avoid permanent alliances with foreign nations by steering a neutral course and setting aside violent likes and dislikes of foreign nations’, this ingenious word of warning having served the then young republic for 150 years as an ‘inspiration for American isolationism’. The feeling is made stronger by the botched withdrawal from the war-torn country, the hampered cleanup of backlog and the worsened security situation. This is probably the time of all- American wistful thinking to heroically conclude the danger-ridden getaway like it is done in the Hollywood superhero war movies where the invincible American troops triumphantly wrap up the epic military operation, rescue the endangered men and women, and happily return home with slightly injured bodies and a clean conscience. The current situation in Afghanistan is the consequence of the twenty-year old story of some terrorist, or call him, if you wish, the fighter for the Muslim cause, who gave birth to the painfully memorized 9/11 tragedy. The 3000 victims of that attack were clearly asking for revenge. I was in America at the time, sitting in my office and watching it live on the television in Arlington. I still hear President Bush’s pledge, periodically resounding in my ears – ‘We will prevail.’ And they did: Bin Laden and his associates were taken out as a result of several years of overzealous attempts, having curbed terrorism to a certain extent, costing America twenty years of the country’s life spent in pursuit of the lofty goal, 7000 lives lost in anti-terrorist military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and one trillion dollars of military expenditure. On top of all that, approximately 177,000 national military and police from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraqi, and Syria allies died, starting with the 9/11 attacks and ending with President

Image source: AFP / Jimin Lai

Biden's withdrawal of American troops from the country. Ideally, the much-spoken-about withdrawal should have been a friendly and peaceful kiss-off between the duly appreciated Americans and just as duly appreciative Afghans, who were gullibly expected to duly maintain and protect the best results of the long-sweated American financial, military and enlightening efforts in the name of the democratically developing Afghanistan with all its modern ramifications in every walk of life, involving hundreds of thousands of the Afghan people, especially the young. But, behold, the opposite happened: the country was taken over in a matter of days by the Taliban, the fundamentalist Muslim movement, with zero resistance on the part of the American-trained

Charles Michel: Reforms Are as Needed as Ever, PM: We Are Sticking to the April 19 Agenda

Afghan military personnel, who were expected to fight the Taliban to the last drop of blood if bloodshed was necessary. So it’s done, and there is no way to reverse the runaway gloomy process. Now, the question is if this momentarily metamorphosed socio-political situation in the reinvented Afghanistan might have any impact on our Georgia, provided America changes its image as an international player, making a choice between the current active interventionism and the imaginable passive isolationism. What happens to Georgia is certainly a matter of minor interest to the rest of the world, but the potential model of the Russian and Chinese behavior in the wake of the ongoing Afghan commotion has already instigated a great deal of curiosity worldwide, including Georgia’s politically opposed forces. It is not yet clear

what would happen to the Russian and Chinese geopolitical appetites towards the territories they have long considered as their backyard. One of the most pathetic issues of the withdrawal is the sophisticated weaponry left in Afghanistan by the retreating American soldiers. What will happen to it? Will it rust and rot or be sold to third parties like China, Russia or others? What if it is used against America some bad day in the future? Part of the problem could be the possible loss of faith in the American peace and stability potential. We might as well witness the taking hostage of some of those innocent Americans and the execution of Afghan collaborators. What about the seekers of asylum in skyrocketing numbers? All this is just a presumption which nobody wants to see as something happening in fact.

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n informal meeting was held in Kyiv between the President of the European Council Charles Michel and the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili. Charles Michel responded to the meeting on his Twitter page and wrote that reforms are as needed as ever. “Underlined to Prime Minister Garibashvili that reforms are as needed as ever. The deadline for disbursement of macro-financial assistance is looming and it is time for the Georgian government to demonstrate its commitment to the agreements and notably the reform agenda,” Michel tweeted.

In response, Garibashvili wrote on his Twitter page assuring Charles Michel that Georgia sticks with the agenda outlined in the April 19 Agreement. "Reassured President of the European Council that Georgia remains committed to the reform agenda outlined in the April 19 Agreement. A significant part of these reforms has already been implemented and we are determined to continue working on the remaining important reforms as well," Garibashvili tweeted. Irakli Garibashvili and Charles Michel met on August 23 as part of the Crimean Platform Summit. The Prime Minister participated in the Crimean Platform Summit.

POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY

AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

MEP Rasa Jukneviciene on Trio, EP Prospects and Russia’s Democratic Future INTERVIEW BY VAZHA TAVBERIDZE

ith an ever-growing list of challenges and problems both home and abroad, it seems that the issue of reinventing, or rather re-vitalizing, the Eastern Partnership has tumbled down the agenda of the European Union. This spells nothing but trouble for one half of six EaP counties that still have their sights on eventual membership: Cisinau, Kyiv and Tbilisi recently upped their efforts on the European integration front, establishing a trilateral TRIO format dedicated to the cause. What does the future hold for them, or indeed for the Eastern Partnership as a whole? And what of those that would see to it that there was no European future at all? These were the questions we asked MEP Rasa Jukneviciene in the second edition of the "Messages from Brussels" series, a joint project by the GISP and the European Alliance for Georgia (EAFG) “With the creation of so-called TRIO format, I think it’s safe to group Eastern partnership countries in two distinct groups,” MEP Rasa Jukneviciene tells us. “One is the trio group, with Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova having firmly decided that they want to become part of the European Union, while the other group has different notions regarding the EU integration. Armenia and Azerbaijan, while unwilling to become a member country, still seek cooperation with the EU, while Belarus is a special story: One year ago I would say Minsk was without any perspective for a European future, but then we saw a nation born anew, a nation with the strong will to live in democracy. So sooner or later, of course, I think Belarus will also join Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova. I don't know when it will happen in my lifetime or not. But I am sure it will happen.”

THERE IS UKRAINE, WHICH STILL HAS HUGE CHALLENGES TO OVERCOME. SO WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THOSE THREE FROM TODAY'S PERSPECTIVE? Despite my concerns for Georgia’s turbulent development of late, I’d still say Georgia remains a leader in the region when we speak about democratization, Europeanization of the country, and I think Georgian people remain as willing as ever to stay on or be on the path for a European future. But despite that, I see this political crisis and very, very harsh and very divided political system. Even no ability to agree on the future of Georgia. When the highest decision-making level at the EU comes to help solving your political problems and it ends the way it did, it’s going to cause disappointment and harm Georgia’s Europeans integration prospects, surely. It’s not so easy to convince the majority of the countries in the EU that Georgia is able in future to become a member of the European Union, even without such things happening in Georgia. As for Moldova, it today is, I think, becoming a spiritual leader among the countries, because they have very fresh news on the will of the people, elected leaders are very much pro-European. Ukraine is the most powerful geopolitically among Eastern Partnership countries, because of its size, because of its importance, geography, and that's why, of course, the Russian Federation and Kremlin are making Ukraine a priority target.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ABOUT THIS EU MEMBERSHIP BID THAT GEORGIA IS PREPARING FOR 2024. IT HAS BEEN MET WITH SKEPTICISM AT HOME AND ABROAD. WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON IT?

Yes. Yes, of course, this is now a temporary transition period, a very dark one. But they will overcome this in the future.

Let’s remember it’s a formal application, it's not about granting membership then and there. It’s up to Georgia to make this step forward – I myself would strongly support it if your politicians were able to not only declare that they will ask for membership, but take concrete steps towards getting Georgia closer to Europe, to be an European country internally, stabilize the political system and so on.

WITH THE TRIO MEMBERS, WE'VE SEEN SUCCESS IN MOLDOVA'S CASE, KIND OF A DISAPPOINTMENT IN GEORGE'S CASE, AND THEN

WHAT IS THE CURRENT BRUSSELS APPROACH TO THE EASTERN PARTNERSHIP PLATFORM – IS IT STILL AS RELEVANT AS BEFORE?

THIS DESPITE THE FACT THAT UNDER LUKASHENKO, BELARUS EXCLUDED ITSELF FROM THE PLATFORM.

First of all, I have to remind you that what is being said in Brussels is determined by what political leaders are doing or thinking in Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid or Rome or other capitals, because it is most important to have as many countries as possible understanding the importance of the Eastern Partnership. And there are different opinions: the Baltic states, Poland, Romania, some others are supporters of the Eastern Partnership and are pushing to increase its political weight and importance. Unfortunately, other capitals are not very much behind this idea. It also depends very much on the results of the first waves of enlargement. And I will be frank and open when people somewhere in Berlin see problems with Hungary, in terms of democracy, and ask, do we need more problems in the EU when we speak about new memberships? The second important aspect is that now it's impossible to do everything at once. So the Western Balkans have more support and had before since 2010. If and when the Western Balkans are invited, and this invitation and their integration is successful, it will help the Eastern Partnership to open minds in EU member states about the next steps. But while you wait, you have no luxury to relax you have to be excellent. Even more excellent than we were before membership, I mean, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, because the situation was different at that time, there was less fatigue, it was more emotional, more positive, a more optimistic approach. It also happened at the very beginning of Putin's era in Russia. You sadly are not so lucky.

SPEAKING OF PUTIN, I THINK IT'S HIGH TIME THAT WE DISCUSSED RUSSIA'S ROLE IN EASTERN PARTNERSHIP, HOW THEY ASSESS IT. It's impossible to speak about Eastern Partnership without elaborating on Kremlin interests, because the Kremlin does stand behind the most troubles for these countries. But then again, I would like to underline that I myself, am optimistic. And I still I believe that in my lifetime, I will see a different Russia. I don’t agree with this notion in the West that Russians cannot live in democracy. I think that Russians, especially the young generation, can. And this is very important when we elaborate on the strategy of Russia in the European Union, because if we think that Russia is forever as autocracy, it means that we have to deal with Kremlin as it is, and do nothing at all for

Source: 1TV

the future. But if we have another kind of approach which means that Russia can be different, then we can afford to look for a very different strategy, including the Eastern Partnership, to give opportunity to the countries next to the Russian border.

THERE'S A VIEW THAT THE CURRENT REGIME IS, IN MANY WAYS, LIMITED BY PUTIN’S LIFESPAN AND THEN WHEN HE'S NO LONGER AROUND, IT'S BOUND TO CHANGE. WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON IT? I don’t think Putin is alone in this. In this regime, I see this as a system with Putin on top of the iceberg and many lower level actors, who are also very important. So I think that this pyramid of power, and they will try to keep it as long as possible, even without Putin.

UNTIL WE SEE THIS DIFFERENT RUSSIA, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO INQUIRE JUST TO WHAT EXTENT RUSSIA CAN DETERMINE THINGS IN THE EUROPEAN FUTURE OF THE TRIO? HOW MUCH OF A GAME CHANGER IS THE RUSSIAN FACTOR? Of course, Russia is trying to do everything to oppose democratization processes in the neighborhood, because it's dangerous for the regime and hybrid warfare. Everywhere. In Georgia, its occupied territories act as a factor and leverage, then we have Russian influence in various structures, including, I am sorry to say, the Orthodox Church, but this happens not only in Georgia, in all other orthodox countries. Then

we have the Kremlin using energy as a manipulation tool – with Nord Stream 2 being the latest instrument of the Russian Federation to have more influence. The Russian factor also affects many Western countries and politicians, and the only solution is not to be afraid, because Putin is very happy when he sees that leaders of many countries are afraid of him. And he is using such fear factor, especially in Eastern Partnership. And when we speak about the political will or support in the EU, of course, he is doing everything possible to spread as much fear as possible everywhere. But when we look at Putin's Kremlin influence, or what is happening, whether the Kremlin is winning or is scrambling to postpone its defeat, I think it’s the case of the latter. So maybe there are some victories in this short term period. But look what happened during recent years – Putin lost Ukraine for good. In Moldova he lost the last elections, one he was involved directly, through his proxy Igor Dodon. Any Belarusian understands that without Putin, Lukashenko would not have power in their country. Putin had quite high support in some European Union member countries. Now he lost even those, they are no longer asking for dialogue. In fact, they don't like Putin at all. Putin lost friends, Putin lost support, and it's only because he has nuclear power and only because of that, because of fear, he is on the agenda. It is not possible to keep such a strategy for the long term. There’s no perspective. He is not building Russia, he’s destroying this huge country and his own nation.

Derailing the Railways BY EMIL AVDALIANI

onstructing long-term peace requires genuine political will, prestige and a record of untarnished leadership. When Russia negotiated an agreement in November 2020 following the second Nagorno-Karabakh War, spirits were high for a proposed revival of connectivity and economic cooperation to decrease tensions and ultimately lead to a sustainable peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This in turn should have led to a more prosperous South Caucasus, a region traditionally beset with inter-ethnic troubles. However, the recent skirmishes along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, which killed and wounded soldiers from both sides defy this expectation. Harsh rhetoric prevails and limits the space for diplomatic solutions. This further dims an ever low level of trust between the two warring sides and

projects a more chaotic security environment in the region overall. The net result is the postponement in the revival of Soviet-era railways. Moscow was behind the project which would have allowed it to reach Armenia, Iran and Turkey by circumventing a troubled transit through Georgia. Military calculus was a real motivator. Penetrating the South Caucasus at will has been a major driver behind Russian foreign policy since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Mitigating the blocking power of the Caucasus mountains is at the heart of Russia’s military efforts. In any way, Russian efforts on reviving the railways lines falter, which precludes the long-hoped for direct land connection from Azerbaijan proper to its Nakhchivan exclave, then Turkey. Failure to secure the operation of the corridor means that traditional routes through Georgia are likely to retain their significance. These developments also benefit Iran, which for decades had served as a connection for Azerbaijan to reach

Nakhchivan. It gave a powerful negotiating tool to Tehran, and losing it would limit the Islamic Republic’s fragile position in the South Caucasus. And this underlies deeper deficiencies related to the attempted breakthrough in the conflict resolution. Illiberal methods of peacebuilding spearheaded by Russia fail to produce tangible security results. Primary reasons for this is the geopolitical component of the Russian efforts. Moscow is not genuinely interested in the resolution of the conflict. Geopolitics drive the Kremlin’s thinking. Military and geo-economic considerations prevail over regional security needs. Thence come simmering tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan. But while the tensions persist, the real winner is Russia, which extracts additional benefits from both sides. For instance, unable to resist the Azerbaijani army, the Armenian government is now seriously considering the extension of Russian troop activities along the entire Armenia-Azerbaijan border. There are

already reports on Russian soldiers working on some sections of the border. Armenia’s alleged non-compliance would not be possible without active Russian participation. Russian influence also worries Baku, where political elites, though victorious in the war, nevertheless genuinely, albeit silently, fear the continuous Russian military presence on Azerbaijani soil beyond 2025 when the first term of peacekeeping mission officially ends. It is possible to suggest that Moscow is more interested in sowing protracted discord between Yerevan and Baku, as it would allow the Kremlin to pick up on those benefits which have remained elusive. Tensions are a perfect tool to persuade both Armenia and Azerbaijan on the need to prolong the peacekeepers’ stay, and perhaps even increase the number of the troops. But the downside for Russia’s geopolitical peace-making is that its policies push Azerbaijan further into Turkey’s embrace. Both countries have enjoyed

allied relationship for decades, but it reached a qualitatively new level with the second Nagorno-Karabakh War. To offset Russian influence, Azerbaijan and Turkey signed the Shusha Declaration in June where both sides pledged to defend each other in case of an attack on one of the parties. The more Russia increases its influence, the bigger Turkish willingness will be to support Baku. The age of exclusive Russian geopolitical domination in the South Caucasus is coming to an end, and this could explain why the revival of the railways has failed so far and is likely to do so in the future. Opening the region up does not really advance Russian geopolitical goals, which are better served with Armenia solely connected to Russia via Georgia, and with Azerbaijan not connected by a direct line to Turkey. *Emil Avdaliani is a professor at European University and the Director of Middle East Studies at Georgian think-tank, Geocase.

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

POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY

AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

Expanding the UAS Program for Georgia’s Military

Photo by SFC Michael Guillory/US Army

BY MICHAEL GODWIN

hepastdecadeshavebrought the use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) to the forefront of not only military operations, but search and rescue, surveying, journalism, and even private recreational use. While these systems take on many forms, their importance to national security and defense networks have taken on a new meaning. Commonly referred to as “drones,” these systems gained fame in the conflicts of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria as both an observation platform, and a weapons delivery platform. The missions of these UASs have expanded from their infancy as a small aerial surveillance system fraught with technical issues. Land based and maritime platforms have expanded the roles of these advanced and durable systems. Their virtually undetected application during Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions with military forces have removed the threat posed to deploying small ground reconnaissance teams. The ability to precisely

deliver a variety of air-to-ground munitions with near-pinpoint accuracy further restricts the freedom of movement and operations of hostile non-state actors. In domestic application, they have assisted law enforcement entities in finding and apprehending fugitives that would otherwise have taken months to track. They have assisted surveyors in achieving high-quality imagery of land for development and assessment. Journalists have been able to attain some of the best vantage points during events. Even mining companies have used them underground to explore unsafe or new sections of their projects. However, it is the military usage that has made most of the headlines, with both air and ground UASs, that continue to expand the capability of all UASs. Georgia has not been left out of this race to develop more capable UASs. Recently, one of the nation's aircraft manufacturers revealed the readiness of their T-31 UAS. After a two-year design and production venture, they have developed two variants; a combat version and a surveillance version. The combat variant has been shown to carry four air-to-ground missiles mounted on pylons to the wings and a

24-hour flight time. The surveillance version has a 3-day flight time and carries an exceptionally capable optical payload as well as two fuel tanks mounted to the wings via their own pylons. Designed from the ground up to be a pure military UAS, it has shown an immense advancement in Georgian UAS technologies. Some have postulated that the Georgian rush to develop these systems and the rise of the overall regional importance of UASs was highlighted during the recent conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. Hundreds of videos on social media and other media outlets displayed Azerbaijan applying these airborne systems to devastating effect against Armenian ground units. Using both their own as well as Turkish platforms, their ISR and combat use was cemented as the new normal in warfighting. This is not the first time UASs have been used in the South Caucasus. Georgia used an Israeli UAS platform in the 2008 War to significant effect, despite several being shot down during their mission. Two systems, operated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, were the Elbit Hermes 450 over Abkhazia before Russian Su-27s shot them down to prevent them from revealing the fact that Russian combat troops were operating in the country offensively. Georgia also deployed the Elbit Skylark on surveillance operations during the conflict. More recently, in conjunction with Estonian firm ELI Military Simulations, Georgia has also been producing and using the SWAN III UAS, mostly for border police operations and non-combat uses. So far, the UAS systems used by Georgia require some type of static launching apparatus. They are generally operated by extensively trained pilots, and are not field expendable. These limitations confine their usage to brigade and strategic level commanders, leaving battalion commanders and below vying for them to be allocated to their unit’s operation. The natural answer to this is to get small, man-portable, hand-thrown UASs into the hands of these leaders, even down to the platoon level.

One of the best examples of this is the RQ-11 Raven, used by the United States military. First deployed in 2003 and produced by manufacturer AeroVironment, it saw repeated use in Iraq and Afghanistan as a company or platoon means of attaining relatively short-range ISR. With only a range of approximately 10 kilometers and max speed of 100 kilometers per hour, they had a limited application. Nonetheless, they were able to provide real-time video to leadership in color, infrared, and night-vision modes. This UAS platform greatly expanded the frontline commander’s abilities to gain immediate ISR prior to, during, and in the aftermath of combat operations. Applying this platform to Georgian commanders below the brigade level eliminates the restrictions of having to go to high levels of leadership before getting access to real-time ISR. While not able to carry any munitions, it will enhance the confidence of commanders during operations in the field. The implementation of these systems would come gradually, being issued to the most capable and deployable units first. The field tests and reports from both commanders and the soldiers operating them will become invaluable in planning their further deployment. Because these systems are field expedi-

ent, the combat loss of one system, designed with an internal memory-wiping mechanism, would also remove the threat of losing ISR data to an enemy or being able to trace them to any particular unit. Getting these systems to the field will overall advance the total warfighting and peacekeeping abilities of the Georgian military. In addition to enhancing the individual unit’s ISR and preparedness, it will also accelerate the battlefield decision making process and remove some of the more common errors. The result of this reduces casualties and increases the total lethality of ground units. The existing strategic-level UASs Georgia are important, but having tactical-level ISR is what decides battalion and below operations. With over 32 countries, many of which are NATO countries, using the Raven UAS platform and many more using similar man-portable UASs, it's clear that the use of these small systems provide immense advantages to military leadership. Georgia is, and has, excelled in the use of these systems in their modern history. It’s time for the Georgian military to advance the small units’ leaders abilities in field training, humanitarian aid mission, peacekeeping, and in its inevitable future combat operations.

Source: Inform Napalm

Foreign Policy: Georgia Turns Its Back on the West

eorgian newly appointed Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili takes off his protective facemask before delivering a speech during a parliamentary hearing, prior to the MP's vote to approve the new government, at the Georgian Parliament, in Tbilisi, on February 22, 2021. (Photo by Vano SHLAMOV / AFP) (Photo by VANO SHLAMOV/AFP via Getty Images) The ruling party Georgian Dream appears to be strengthening its ties to Russia and even Belarus, reads the article published at Foreign Policy, written by Ian Kelly, US Ambassador to Georgia from 2015 to 2018, and David J. Kramer, a senior fellow at Florida International University’s Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs. The article notes that for decades, Georgia has been the most pro-Western and pro-American country in the region. Its top foreign-policy priority is to join the European Union and NATO, and it has answered nearly every call from both organizations to serve in peacekeeping and combat missions. “Several dozen Georgians made the ultimate sacrifice while serving side by side with US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition to serving as a security asset for the United States, Georgia is strategically important as the Black Sea outlet of the only economically viable East-West trade route that does not transit Russia or Iran.

Source: Foreign Policy

“Keen to join the Euro-Atlantic community, Georgia has also stood out in its region for having made the most progress toward democracy. That progress is now threatened by the ruling party, Georgian Dream, which seems more intent on seizing all reins of power than on meeting Western standards of governance. It also appears to be strengthening its ties to Russia and even Belarus,” reads the article, thus resonding to the recent

agreement between the state security services of Georgia and Belarus. The authors of the OP-ED note that in 2019, Georgian Dream leaders invited a Russian lawmaker to address the Georgian legislature, leading to outrage and unrest in the streets. It torpedoed two projects that would have increased Georgia’s independence from Russia, one a deep-water port on the Black Sea and the other a new East-West corridor of

fiber optic cable. “Some in Georgian Dream are carrying out what amounts to state capture, concentrating power and wealth in the hands of a small group of elites, at a time when the coronavirus pandemic is raging in the country and hurting the economy, with GDP dropping by 6.2 percent last year. Georgia has recorded a half million cases and more than 6,500 dead, a positivity rate of 10.4 percent, and only seven percent of the population is fully vaccinated,” they point out. “Borrowing a page from the playbook of illiberal regimes like those in Moscow and Minsk, Tbilisi has also begun lashing out at the West. In late 2019, Facebook removed fake accounts, all traced to Georgian Dream, that expressed antiWestern sentiments, some of which were specifically anti-American. More recently, websites and social media accounts linked to Georgian Dream have launched unprecedented attacks on the U.S. ambassador in Tbilisi and her European colleagues any time they have voiced criticism of Georgian Dream or the government, in an effort to silence such criticism,” reads the article. Due to high public interest, the Georgian State Security Service has also responded to the mentioned agreement with Belarus, saying: “Cooperation Agreement between the State Security Service of Georgia and The State Security Committee of the Republic of Belarus“ was signed in 2016.

Following the signing of the Agreement, the Government of Georgia made all the steps within the respective terms to ensure entry into force of the document, while the Republic of Belarus put the document signed in 2016 into force in August of the current year and made this information available via media. “The Agreement intents on cooperation between the parties in the fields of fight against terrorism, corruption as well as other international and transnational organized crimes committed against state security. “The state, in accordance to its interests, voluntarily exchanges the information in the direction of fight against crime, hence, this Agreement does not oblige the parties to carry out an act which is against their state interests. “The State Security Service of Georgia has got law-enforcement cooperation of the similar type with multiple partner countries worldwide, including with the United States of America, the UK, France, Lithuania and other NATO and EUmember countries. “Disinformation campaign launched in relation to this matter reaffirms that the State Security Service of Georgia is being deliberately discredited. Using of the international agreement in the process of campaign to discredit security and law-enforcement agencies of the country, raise particular concern since it may damage Georgia’s state interests.”

BUSINESS

GEORGIA TODAY

AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

'QooQy Bakery' – a Unique Experience of Tasty

INTERVIEW BY KETEVAN SKHIRTLADZE

e love sweets and we love coffee. There are a lot of others who love this combination too, and this was the inspiration behind creating a brand that would offer the best quality cookies to customers, - said Nikoloz Gvaberidze, co-founder of QooQy Bakery, in an interview with GEORGIA TODAY. QooQy Bakery is a bakery/shop founded in 2020, the main theme of which is cookies. The shop is located at 7 VajaPshavela Avenue, and you can also get those delicious cookies online, too! "We saw a niche in the market: no brands specifically specialized in offering fresh cookies to customers, so, we decided to be the first. The idea was born

at the end of 2020 and within seven months, we had already opened our first bakery/shop and started to establish our place in the Georgian market. Along with the idea, we wanted to have a goal that our company would thrive to achieve: to become part of our customers' daily lives, and offer them a choice of products they could share with family, co-workers, friends or to treat their guests to," Nikoloz Gvaberidze tells us.

WHAT IS SPECIAL AND UNIQUE ABOUT QOOQY? First of all, I can confidently say that there is no place like it. Of course, you can get coffee and baked goods prepared on the spot elsewhere, but, with us, you’ll find many innovations that were not so easily or widely available in the market until now. We have about 30 types of biscuits made using French, Italian, and American recipes, and products that are our own and are unique. In addition, we

have many types of bread that are made entirely from natural yeast. And we have coffee, both made on a spot and ground. Our interior is very distinctive, full of color, and impossible to confuse with other locales. Of course, the real distinguishing factor is our team of very strong confectioners, with many years of experience, both theoretical and practical. They are a team of strong bakers who create delicious products on a daily basis and look at the quality of service from the customer's perspective.

WHAT CAN CUSTOMERS BUY IN YOUR BAKERY? At our bakery, customers can buy biscuits, bakery products, cakes, muffins, coffee made on the spot, as well as ground coffee, and many other products. You can barely find such products elsewhere on the market.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE ENVIRONMENT AND ATMOSPHERE AT YOUR BAKERY? First of all, we have an environment where constantly smiling and friendly service staff meet with our customers, who try to remember each customer and provide even better service for their next visit. In addition, customers can see with

their own eyes the working process in the confectionery, the baking space, and thus control us: we are open to our customers and, with such an arrangement, we try to confirm this. One of the distinguishing factors is the interior and the design, an atmosphere which I can confidently say is unique. We emphasize our identity.

rally, it was also related to the growth of tourism, with small businesses growing and most importantly better learning to run and develop. Now, businesses are struggling to survive. I would like to take this opportunity to call on our fellow citizens to get vaccinated, as likely this is the only way to defeat the pandemic as soon as possible.

HOW DID THE PANDEMIC AFFECT YOUR BUSINESS?

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS?

We came to the decision to start this business during the pandemic. The idea was born at this time and the implementation took place during the pandemic. We calculated and considered some of the risks, but we were still severely affected by the restrictions, like all businesses. The pandemic and especially the imposed restrictions increases costs to the extreme, also reducing revenues, because mobility declined in the city and so many consumers are now unable to come visit us. It is especially difficult when starting a new business and trying to establish a place in the market. The business is affected by the lack of tourists, who are probably reluctant to come because of the difficult epidemiological situation in the country. I think that the food business in Georgia, and the HoReCa sector in general, was developing very well and was growing. Natu-

We are going to grow. We think our service model is to create a chain of bakeries that should extend beyond Tbilisi and spread throughout Georgia. We have bigger goals in the long run, however, first we want to be able to master Tbilisi and then other cities.

BUSINESS

GEORGIA TODAY

AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

Carrefour Continues to Support the Georgian Economy: First Hypermarket Opens in Imereti BY ANA DUMBADZE

arrefour, owned and operated by Majid Al Futtaim in Georgia, has opened a new hypermarket in Kutaisi — the capital of the Imereti

region. Set to open its doors to customers on August 25, this is the first branch to open in Imereti and the fourth Carrefour

hypermarket to open in Georgia, with three hypermarkets already open in Tbilisi and Batumi. This is the 50th branch of the French brand opened across the country. The opening of the 5,300m2 hypermarket reinforces Carrefour’s position as a trusted partner of communities throughout Georgia and represents the continuation of its active physical expansion across the country. In doing so, the brand introduces its elevated shopping experience to residents of different regions of

the country, allowing them to enjoy accessibility to the highest quality products at affordable prices. Carrefour’s growth has helped to boost the local economy by creating more direct and indirect employment opportunities for Georgians across the country. The new hypermarket, located at 2 Jiuli Shartava Street, in the shopping center West Point will serve customers daily from 9:30 AM to 10:00 PM, offering access to a wide variety of high-quality food products and household goods. These include fresh fruits and vegetables, Bio products, baby care, home appliances, household equipment, beauty items, Carrefour private label products, personal care items, and textiles. Moreover, the new branch will provide customers with diverse services such as self-checkout, a coffee shop, and live cooking stations — where products will be made fresh in front of customers, including fresh baked goods like bread, khachapuri, pizza, as well as sushi and fresh sandwiches. The first Carrefour hypermarket opened

The opening of the 5,300m2 hypermarket reinforces Carrefour’s position as a trusted partner of communities throughout Georgia

in Tbilisi Mall in 2012 and since then, the brand has provided its customers with an unrivaled international shopping experience, accessible prices and the highest quality fresh products on daily basis. In 2021 alone there have been numerous new store openings countrywide, creating more employment opportunities and supporting the local economy despite the challenging times. Carrefour’s contribution to the local economy was recently praised when Majid Al Futtaim was named as one of the top ten largest companies to invest

in Georgia by the National Statistics Office. As a brand built from the region, for the region, Carrefour continues to actively support Georgian farmers and provide customers with fresh, healthy locally produced and sourced products daily, directly from Georgian farms. Carrefour currently employs more than 2,500 people in Georgia and plans to hire another 1,200 employees over the next two to three years, which will bring more benefits to suppliers and farmers, and consequently strengthen Georgia’s agricultural sector.

acquainted with the city's underground architecture and built onto existing tunnels as needed. The tunnel in the garden was first built during Nicholas II's reign and later enlarged. There has been speculation that it once connected to tunnels in the center of the city. Since Beria's time, it has been used alternately as a secret laboratory under the Soviets as well as a short-lived nightclub. It is now closed. One of the longest tunnels Khatoevi has documented on his site reportedly wraps around behind the Rustaveli underground station for an estimated 2,500-3000 meters. Another tunnel winds under the city for nearly a kilometer and links the former NKVD office on Constitution Street to the Tbilisi Central Railway Station. With no mention of the tunnels in the archives, historians and scholars can only speculate about why Beria and his comrades built the tunnels and what purpose they served. For instance, it is believed that the tunnel leading to the train station could have been used to secretly transport prisoners out of the city. Beria's own reputation as the ruthless head of the purges in the South Caucasus adds credence to that theory: there was not enough room in the prisons in Tbilisi to house the hundreds of people jailed, tortured, and killed in the years spanning the cycles of repression in the 1930s. So it is natural, reasoning goes, that the government needed a way to

quietly move prisoners and corpses. Another theory, however, is that the tunnels were part of a safety/contingency plan Beria created in case he needed to escape from the city. For instance, Tbilisi's metro system was conceived as part of a wider strategy to shelter people from the NATO attack Moscow feared would take place once Turkey joined the military alliance in 1952. But the tunnels that have been discovered so far are believed to date back to the 1930s, making them too early to be part of the Soviet government's Cold War strategy. Regardless of why the tunnels were built or what purpose they served for the Communist elite and the state's secret police, Beria apparently took the experience to heart: in the darkest days of World War II for the Soviet Union, when Stalin feared the government might fall to Hitler's army, he commissioned Beria to build vast bunkers in cities around Russia. Few still exist. However, in Saratov, one of Beria's tunnels remains intact. The underground bunker Beria built is believed to be able to withstand a twoton bomb and uses systems similar to those on submarines to provide electricity and air conditioning. The Tbilisi tunnels do not appear to be as well fortified. But as long as construction continues to uncover more pieces of the city's past, the chance that someday Tbilisi will resolve the legacy of Beria's tunnels still exists.

The City Underneath Tbilisi BY EMIL AVDALIANI

e know many things a b o u t L av r e n t y Beria, the Community Party's secretary in Georgia from 19311938. While his mark on Tbilisi's skyline is well known, Beria's legacy also includes a less well known system of tunnels under the city streets. Very little is known about the tunnels. Today, there are more legends and crumbling walls than documented facts for historians to study. Beria is well known for his role in the atrocities perpetrated on Stalin's orders - as well as his heavy hand in city planning for Tbilisi. Under his watch, the city circus and post office were built, as well as the parliament building on Rustaveli Avenue. He is also credited with overseeing major infrastructure projects like the construction of the Right and Left banks along the Mtkvari river, cultivating a veritable forest from Tskneti to Mtatsminda Park, and creating the city's sewage system. It is in the sewage system that faint traces of his lesser known project can still be seen: a system of tunnels that traversed the city underground. There is virtually no information about Beria's underground projects in the state archives, and no indication of them on large-scale Soviet-era maps of Tbilisi. The evidence of the tunnels that does

Lavrentiy Beria with Josef Stalin. Source: abkhazworld.com

exist, however, mirrors some of Beria's pet building sites. For example, under the former Institute of Marxist-Leninism (now being rebuilt as a hotel), there are remnants of what appears to be a tunnel leading from a prison under the building to the River Mtkvari. A tunnel is also rumored to exist under the parliament building (which once served as the Communist Party's headquarters) - legend has it that even former Georgian President Zviad Gamsakhurdia made use of it during the last pitched days leading to his overthrow - and what is believed to be the collapsed remains of a tunnel, which was locked closed, in the court-

yard of Beria's former house (now Georgia's Olympic Committee). A professional excavator, Roma Khatoevi (known among in the excavator's society by the nickname Fabian), the founder of Tbilisi urban exploration website Fabi.ge, has extensively researched various tunnels built under Beria's rule. On his site, Khatoevi maps out a tunnel stretching from the Circus building on Heroes' Square in Saburtalo to the left embankment of the Mtkvari river, somewhere in the neighborhood of Aghmashenebeli Avenue. Another tunnel, in the Tbilisi Botanical Garden, indicates Beria was well

SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY

AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

Is Georgia Experiencing a Resurgence in Crime? BY MICHAEL GODWIN

eorgia had, until recently, been held as a beacon of safety and social security. This has been complimented with a growing tourism industry and an expanding community of foreign citizens finding a new home in its enclaves. However, the number of violent crimes, particularly against foreigners and the press, have been rising, and threaten to shatter the image of peace that has symbolized the nation. Many are already familiar with the alleged murder of Australian citizen Shanae Brooke, but her tragic and unnecessary death is not alone. Huseyn Bakixanov, an Azeri blogger and open opponent of the current government in Azerbaijan, died in Tbilisi under suspicious circumstances. In both circumstances, the victims made their worries known. Shanae made a call to friend alerting her to the danger she faced, and Huseyn posted a relevant YouTube video days before his alleged “suicide.” While many have tied his death to that of another in Turkey, others have said that the stresses of the work they perform lead to this end. This is highly unlikely and most evidence leads to groups organized, and supported by, government offices, to eliminate those that oppose the “rightful” rule of a political party. In this Stalin-esque effort to silence opposition, more groups have risen to push for further accountability of government officials and their public dealings. A rising organization named Safe Tbi-

Photo by Alexander Shlamov/Sputnik

lisi has taken to the front to rally those with skills and connections to support a safer community. With members including lawyers, medical and mental health personnel, business professionals, security and self-defense experts, and others concerned with the state of safety in the city, they have over 1,800 members and are growing. While they are not the only group focused on crime reduction and prevention, they have made the largest wake. Some members have been outspoken about their experiences. One member described the aggression as being similar in style to some of the actions taken against marginalized groups in Russia, particularly in its southern region of Chechnya. Others have disclosed experiences with taxi drivers and police officers, describing both lewd actions and words leveled at themselves during their daily lives. Regardless of the veracity of these incidents, as they come from a single source, it is true that many of the foreigners that have made the city home

are now feeling threatened. In addition, they feel that authorities are not willing to support their reports. Some have said that their trust in local law enforcement has plummeted. One individual that spoke openly under the condition of anonymity stated that reports to the police have largely gone unheeded and even ignored, claiming that abuse was overlooked due to the fact that the accused was a social friend of the investigating officers. This has become particularly problematic in rural areas where many of the residents have social ties to the local police officials. The abused individual stated: “When he got there, they greeted each other, you know the Georgian greeting cheek to cheek. That's when I knew I wouldn't have a chance because they were friends. But since my complaint was related to abuse, they sent me a policewoman to interrogate me in the station. I stayed there from 11pm to about 4am waiting for a translator in the middle of the night. Then questions, then typing the statements, then calling him.”

Much of the old world networks left behind after the fall of the Soviet environment clearly have not faded away completely. Those veterans of the proverbial “old guard” have yet to shed their privileges and still reap the fruits from their time in the force. The police still, as it seems, respect these old ranks and status symbols. Many see the police as a force for good, but also as a corrupt boys’ club. Some of those involved with these incidents have even proposed a victim advocacy department or a special women’s and children’s desk in the police services portfolio. Some see the police as a force that is only interested in its own good. The individuals that have spoken out say that the law enforcement officials involved in their cases take little to no real interest outside of what is required by their rank and office. While the Ministry of Internal Affairs wrestles with this image, it will be doubtful that changes will come quickly. Already, some countries have issued travel warnings for those seeking a destination in Tbilisi. Stating the recent political and social rights demonstra-

tions, these nations frame the country as returning to the violence and danger of the 1990s. The State Security Service has been in the headlines due to both their alleged wiretapping of media figureheads and deals with the Belorussian KGB. Wide condemnation from Georgia’s NATO allies has put the nation’s leadership in a state of panic, and the Georgian security services are standing with the majority of the blame. Georgia’s reputation of warm hospitality and friendship is being perverted into something it was never meant to be. This nation has so much hope, so much promise, and so much to share with the European and Western community. Saving this reputation should be of the utmost priority for the public officials and media representatives, and full and complete transparency of the government and police institutions should be enacted immediately to support this initiative. The protection of the people, by the state, is one of the undisputed roles of government. When that trust and protection is soured, it degrades the state of democracy and freedom for not only the nation, but the region overall.

The Climate Crisis Needs Enhanced International Cooperation Continued from page 1 Considering all this, the important report released this week by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change should serve as a serious warning sign for us all. We must change our ways and transition to a lifestyle and economy that supports, not disrupts, planet Earth’s climate, nature, and environment. The testimonies of the hundreds of scientists who took part in the writing of this report, on the basis of thousands of well-established and diverse scientific studies, are extremely important. The time for change has come. Change, however, is difficult, and we need success stories, peer learning, and technologies that will help us move to a zero-emissions economy by 2050 and halve humanity’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Even the lush, water-rich Georgia has not been spared the effects of climate change. The GSPSA (Georgian Society for the Protection & Safety of Animals) determines that “Georgia’s biodiversity is at significant risk of degradation and degradation of natural habitats, excessive use of natural resources, environmental pollution, invasive alien species, and climate change”. According to a recent UNDP report: “It has been established that the most vulnerable system is the Black Sea coast-

Source: business-standard.com

line, which has a strategic importance for the rehabilitation of the country’s economy and development of foreign trade. The second important vulnerable system in Georgia is agriculture, where special attention is paid to wheat in Eastern Georgia. Also, in spite of a sufficient supply of water resources, appropriate attention is being paid to increasing the efficiency of water utilization.” Zurab Nabakhteveli (Head of Exploration, Accelerator Lab, UNDP Georgia) makes it alarmingly clear: “Climate change and environmental protection are priority issues in Georgia, which has been beset by climate change impacts and ecological destruction. Rapidly melting glaciers and destructive landslides have already caused devastating flooding, the 2015 Tbilisi flood took 20 lives, that will only grow in severity. Newly active landslides caused by massive and unplanned construction in Tbilisi threaten several districts and thousands of citizens. Thousands of acres of forests have been burned as a result of fires. There is also one of the urgent problems of air pollution in the capital, an area that also has very high CO2 emissions.” If you look around for inspiration and good ideas, you’ll find that Israel stands out from the crowd. Over decades, Israel has learned to establish agriculture in

The Negev desert, southern Israel. Source: Nana Estate

the desert and arid areas, to recycle 90% of its wastewater, and to desalinate drinking water. It has developed breathtaking solutions for energy storage, energy efficiency, and renewable energy, has cultivated a groundbreaking industry of animal protein substitutes, and knows how to preserve forests in conditions of drought and aridity. Israel is a living laboratory for the development of practical solutions to the climate crisis. Israel’s climate innovation can help the entire world develop the capabilities it so needs to adapt to the climate crisis and build resilience. Take, for example, the incredible developments that are taking place in research institutes and the private sector in Israel in the field of animal protein substitutes. Products such as meat, milk, eggs, and more are being produced in laboratories using methods that emit almost no greenhouse gases, and which allow huge swaths of agricultural land currently being used for livestock purposes to be freed up for ecological restoration and reforestation. As if this weren’t enough, these technologies also pave the way for increased global

food security during an era of climate crisis. Israel’s climate innovation is also very much needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and provides some of the most fascinating solutions in the world today in the fields of compressed-air energy storage, energy generation from sea waves, the use of advanced computing tools for energy management, and more. Next year, Israel and Georgia will mark the 30th anniversary of our bilateral diplomatic relations. MASHAV (Israel’s International Development Agency) has been active in Georgia right from the beginning and has so far trained more than 1,500 Georgians in various fields relating to agro-technology, advanced irrigation technology, food security, minimizing post-harvest loss of crops and ‘green energy’. Recently, MASHAV has provided some cutting-edge Israeli water purification equipment to schools in Guria and other regions. MASHAV is also sharing with our Georgian friends, information and expertise on public healthcare, sustainable agriculture,

advanced irrigation technologies, water management, treatment and desalination. Georgia has been a unique oasis, an unrivalled natural ‘gem’, since time immemorial. The younger generation of Georgians has already embraced the kind of proactive, entrepreneurial and inventive mindset necessary to cope with the ever-looming threat of climatechange and attempt to guarantee future, sustainable prosperity. If we are the objects of life, then we must cooperate with one another. It is clear to everyone today that there is not one single country, strong and developed as it may be, that can cope with this unprecedented crisis in human history alone. We need to harness all of humanity’s amazing abilities together in order to turn this huge ship that is planet Earth, that we all are on, shoulder to shoulder, towards a safe shore. The only way to do this is by working together, sharing information and experience, and providing mutual support. Israel is willing to contribute its share of experience, as well as to learn from the experiences of others.

SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY

AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

Urek’d Again

BLOG BY TONY HANMER

ur second camping experience at our friends’ secret location near Ureki on the Black Sea, a year later, was quite different from the first one. Although it was already much cooler in the heights of Svaneti, with nights down to 10 C, the lowlands were still pleasantly hot. First factor was the weather, but we were bound by shared schedules with two other families this time, rather locked in as to dates in mid-August. So all we could do was look at the forecasts and hope for the best. Also, I had had some time to think, along with my wife, about how to improve the camping experience. I made a list of the site’s strengths and weaknesses, and also wrote down what we could do to improve on the latter. For example: no toilet or washing facilities? Take the plastic camping toilet seat set I have installed in our Svaneti outhouse. Put up a tarpaulin outside the camp around 4 poles, dig a hole under the seat, add a simple “flag” to indicate free or busy. Quite easy. And such a better experience than… nothing! We could do a similar thing for a shower, but didn’t this time. No fresh water on-site? Take lots of plastic bottles, up to a 20L one, to fill and refill in Ureki. Ultimately, though, I’d like to take at least a 100L container with a spigot, and keep it in the back of the 4x4 to use and then refill less often. A main new item was something which has been in my family since about 1977, when we returned from Rhodesia to

Canada and continued our camping summers there. My father arranged for the welding of eight U-shaped bits onto four pieces of iron rebar, and added two more cross-pieces which sat on these at 1 of 2 levels. When the four pieces were hammered vertically into the ground over one end of a campfire spot, a big steel drum would sit on the cross-pieces, lidded, and give us hot water all day long. I had the whole thing remade by welders in Zugdidi on our way to Ureki: it took 10 minutes, cost 10 GEL, and gave me more happiness than I can easily describe. The bars and pot, blackened after first use, go into their own bags for storage. The weather was not nearly as sunnily cooperative as last year, and much windier too. After a howling, pouring, overhead-lightning night, next morning one of the other fellows and I drove to Ureki’s big new hardware store to buy an 8x8m tarp, as the two I had brought both were now wrapped around the outhouse. A very important and traditional item on my family’s very thorough camping list! We first set it up between four appropriate trees over the camp’s main common area, and tried our best with lots of extra ropes to stop it from flapping madly, noisily in the wind; the rain at this point was virtually horizontal. Not yet ideal. I also tied a knot into each of its 4 corners to attach the rope to after the first metal eyelet ripped free. Amazingly, the thing held together in the gale after this, but the din was frightful and the effect less than helpful. The second iteration was a windshield instead of a roof, 8m wide and four high, the tarp folded in half. This was better, but we still needed some rain cover. The third try unfolded it into both wall and

roof, with a long pole, end-cushioned with a rag, in the middle to stop the rain from pooling. Another cats-and-dogs night reduced this all to a joke, and we took it down. Some of our tents were better than others at keeping out the rain; the little two-person one my wife and I have got wet at the feet end but stayed dry elsewhere once we added a sheet of plastic in the middle of the night. My wife and some of the others were having strong second thoughts about this camping lark I had introduced her to last summer, now that the elements were displaying themselves less cooperatively. My pointing out that my family had once camped in the Rocky Mountains at -10 C, in the snow, in TENTS, did not help except to demonstrate to her that I am perhaps… less than properly balanced when it comes to the outdoor life and Coping with Adversity at All Costs (We will Laugh it off Later). They persuaded me that we must decamp off to friends in nearby Ozurgeti, capital of Guria province; our mattresses and sleeping bags would do just as fine on floors as on the ground, and we would be in a House, with Permanent Walls and a Roof. Expecting protests, they were rather surprised when I gave in straight away, realizing that I was in the Menshevik (minority) camp. Two nights of

relative comfort followed. Then we could see by the forecast that the sun was returning and the wind dying down, so we bid our hosts a fond farewell and re-established our camp, minus tarps. All better! Foil-wrapped fire-baked potatoes, grilled fish and chicken on skewers, Brazilian coffee thanks to my “sock on a wire” filter from there, even marshmallows. Life became good again; the ladies of our group composed a song in honor of the whole experience. We even managed a second trip to Mr Ivanishvili’s Dendrological Park with its wonderful collection of imported flora and less appreciated but more photographed fauna in large cages. Back on the beach, the four

horses of some impending Apocalypse gathered one evening and allowed me to take nearly 100 photos of them as they posed, meditated, and waited for their riders, who thankfully did not appear. The evaluations and reiterations continue until our next tenting adventure. 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

CULTURE

GEORGIA TODAY

AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

Georgian Director Tinatin Kajrishvili’s Film Project Wins WORK IN PROGRESS AWARD at Sarajevo Film Fest BY ANA DUMBADZE

eorgian Director Tinatin Kajrishvili’s film project ‘Citizen Saint’ has claimed the Work in Progress Award to the amount of 20,000€ at the Sarajevo Film Festival, one of the largest film festivals in Europe. The film has already been funded by the Georgian National Film Center, which publicly congratulated Tinatin Kajrishvili and the creative group on this significant success. “In ‘Citizen Saint,’ the Georgian Director asks what if God

was one of us. “Tinatin Kajrishvili’s third feature ‘Citizen Saint’ tells the story of small-town miners suddenly discovering that their protector has literally come down from the cross and into their lives,” reads the IMDB description. Produced by Lasha Khalvashi, Denis Vaslin and Borislav Chouchkov, the upcoming film is a co-production between Georgia (Artizm), France (Mandra Films) and Bulgaria (Chouchkov Brothers). Sebastian Miese’s AustrianGerman drama ‘Great Freedom’ won the Sarajevo Film Festival’s top prize, the Heart of Sarajevo for the best feature film.

Three Georgian Films Presented SPORTS Nina Tibilashvili Wins at Karlovy Vary Film Festival York to help his gambling-addicted son fix his problems and pay off his debts. The main role is played by the Olympic champion, wrestler Levan Tediashvili. The main part of “Brighton 4th” was shot in New York.

Silver Medal at Tokyo Paralympic Games

“OTAR’S DEATH”, DIRECTED BY SOSO BLIADZE Otar’s Death tells the story of two families facing existential difficulties. 16-yearold Nika accidentally kills an old man in a car accident. The victim's family considers not pressing charges if they

BY KETEVAN SKHIRTLADZE

hree Georgian films are being presented at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Karlovy Vary International Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. Recognized worldwide as one of the most important film events in Europe, it has been held since 1946 and has been functioning as a film festival since 1956. The 55th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival opened on August 20 and will continue until August 28. Three new Georgian films were presented in different sections of the festival:

story of Georgians in emigration, a tragicomedy about the fate of people who go to America hoping to fulfill their dreams. Kakhi, a 70-year-old Georgian wrestler, travels from Tbilisi to New

“BRIGHTON 4TH”, DIRECTED BY LEVAN KOGUASHVILI The picture “Brighton 4th” directed by Levan Koguashvili tells the insightful

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are paid. The young mother Keti has to find a huge amount of money in 24 hours to save her son Nika from prison. Otar’s Death documents characters’ motivations and shows how the act of morality is played out in a story without judgments.

“WHAT DO WE SEE WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SKY?”, DIRECTED BY ALEKSANDRE KOBERIDZE What Do We See When We Look at the Sky? tells a story of love at first sight. Even though the plot revolves around Lisa and Giorgi's relationship, the film is a depiction of the City of Kutaisi, where the story is played out. The film creates a living image of the atmosphere of the city and shows a vivid picture of people in this town, relationships and history.

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

BY KETEVAN SKHIRTLADZE

heelchair fencer Nina Tibilashvili won a silver medal at the Tokyo Paralympics, having lost to China’s Jing Bian in the final 7:15. Tibilashvili became the first Georgian Paralympic woman to win a medal at

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the Paralympic Games. In the semifinal, she defeated Ukraine’s Eugenia Bruce – 15:12. Another fencer, Irma Khetsuriani, competed in Tokyo today and took fourth place. Khetsuriani lost the match for the bronze medal to China’s Xiao Rong at 6:15. 44,000 athletes from 136 countries will take part in the Paralympics in Tokyo. The Georgian delegation is represented by 13 athletes in the competition.

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