Issue #1320

Issue no: 1320

• OCTOBER 29 - NOVEMBER 4, 2021 • PUBLISHED WEEKLY

FOCUS ON HUMAN RIGHTS Former President Saakashvili at the center of a political tug-ofwar ahead of this weekend's elections

PAGE 4

PRICE: GEL 2.50

In this week’s issue...

CENN and IUCN Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia Host Project Kick-off Meeting ‘Restoring Ecosystems to Reduce Drought Risk & Increase Resilience’ NEWS PAGE 2

Innovative American Hospital Opens in Tbilisi NEWS PAGE 3

Interview with Sominee’s F&B Director, Beka Khmaladze and its Executive Chef, Tiago Duarte BUSINESS PAGE 6

Image source: 1lurer.am

AHF Georgia’s Activities in Tbilisi: “G20 Leaders Vow to Vaccinate our World Now!”

A

head of the G20 Summit in Rome at the end of this month, as a part of AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Global Vaccine Access campaign “Vaccinate Our World” (VOW), various activities are being held around the world. AHF Georgia also joined the campaign in October. As in different countries, the main addressees of the campaign are the G20 leaders and vaccine producing companies.

“G20 leaders, vow to vaccinate our world now!”with this message, activities were held in front of the German Embassy and in Europe Square at Rike Park in Tbilisi. Germany is one of the major developers / producers of Covid vaccines and, at the same time, a member of the G20, so it’s support for the goal of this campaign plays an important role in the world.

“The world is never going to recover from the global pandemic if people don’t get vaccinated all around the world. It is critically important that vaccine manufacturing companies lower the price, lower the profits, share the patents to help the rest of the world get out of this pandemic.

Continued on page 9

New World and CENN Support Communities in Improving Access to Water and Sanitation SOCIETY PAGE 8

65-Year-Old Nani Proves Early Diagnosis of Cancer Saves Lives SOCIETY PAGE 10

Waste Not, Want Not SOCIETY PAGE 11 CULTURE PAGE 11 Prepared for Georgia Today Business by

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2

NEWS

GEORGIA TODAY

OCTOBER 29 - NOVEMBER 4, 2021

Corona Updates: Mandatory Vaccination May Be Introduced in November

BY ANA DUMBADZE

T

he epidemiological situation continues to worry the country, with no particular downturn in the number of new cases or deaths in the past few weeks. Yet, against this background, the vaccination rate remains slow, with around just 1000 jabs being given each day, seeing the majority of the population still skeptical towards the vaccines. In response to the situation, health officials are this week warning that discussions may soon begin to introduce mandatory vaccination to accelerate the process, although politicians staunchly deny this possibility.

At this stage, only 32.4% of the adult population in Georgia is fully vaccinated.

“The mandatory vaccination issue is to be solved in November,” National Center for Disease Control Head Amiran Gamkrelidze claimed, pointing to the fact that the countrywide vaccination campaign should have been “stronger and more aggressive” from the start.

“Rural residents, as well as people of different professions, tell us they will get vaccinated if it is mandatory, so I think this issue should be solved in November, seeing compulsory vaccination for certain groups and indirect obligation for others, with restrictions for participating in various events.”

State authorities have a different position regarding mandatory vaccination.

“I want to say unequivocally, that I, as the Chairman of the Coordination Council and the Prime Minister, will not allow compulsory vaccination,” Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili stated this week.

“We should not force citizens: we should convince them that vaccination is the only solution to fight this pandemic,” he told reporters.

Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze also voiced her belief that “introducing mandatory vaccination is not necessary at this stage.”

“It is important to intensify the information campaign at all levels about why vaccination is important, and to refrain from any compulsory measures as much as possible. This is the position of the Ministry of Health. We do not see any basis for coercion at this stage. It is important to investigate each reason why a citizen refuses to get vaccinated, and to explain to them why they should,” the Minister said.

THE STATISTICS Georgia recorded 4762 coronavirus cases, 3953 recoveries, and 43 deaths on Tuesday. Tbilisi again recorded the highest number of 1523 Covid-19 cases, followed by the Imereti region with 933 cases, and the Kakheti region with 658 cases.

The country reported 4337 coronavirus cases, 3137 recoveries, and 42 deaths on Wednesday. Tbilisi recorded 1412 new

The World Health Organization said that cases in the 53-country European region recorded an 18% increase in Covid-19 cases last week. In WHO's weekly epidemiological report on the pandemic, Europe also saw a 14% increase in deaths. That amounted to more than 1.6 million new cases and over 21,000 deaths.

The WHO said on Wednesday that several factors are responsible for the increased spread of coronavirus in Europe, including low vaccination rates in some countries in Eastern Europe.

Countries including Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova and Georgia had some of the highest rates of infection per 100,000 people in the last week, WHO reports.

THE USA

cases, followed by the Imereti region with 873 cases and Kakheti with 614 cases.

On Thursday, the country recorded 4009 new cases of coronavirus, 5177 recoveries and 45 deaths.

Georgian capital Tbilisi recorded the highest number of 1502 new cases within 24 hours, followed by the Imereti region with 732 cases, and the Kakheti region with 523.

The daily test-positivity rate now stands at 8.69 %, while it was 8.97 % in the past

14 days.

Georgia’s total case tally since February 2020 reached 707,290, among which 647, 878 people recovered and 9918 died.

THE CASES WORLDWIDE THE EU Regarding the epidemiological situation in the rest of the world, the UN health agency says Europe stood out as the only major region worldwide to report almost double the number in both new coronavirus cases and deaths over the last week.

The United States recorded nearly 513,000 new Covid-19 cases this week, though that was a 12% drop from the previous week, and over 11,600 deaths, which was about the same number as the week prior, the Associated Press reported.

THE UK & RUSSIA This week, Britain had over 330,000 new cases, while Russia recorded nearly a quarter million. While Russia will go into a week-long paid holiday from October 30 to November 7 to curb the spread of the virus, as yet, the British government is not planning to bring back any restrictions.

CENN and IUCN Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia Host Project Kick-off Meeting ‘Restoring Ecosystems to Reduce Drought Risk & Increase Resilience’

BY ANA DUMBADZE

D

ata provided by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) shows that drought is a global problem that affects an estimated 1.5 billion people, in particular, households that rely on climatesensitive livelihoods such as agriculture production and livestock rearing.

For instance, drought can trigger widespread vegetation shifts as woody plants die off and are replaced with unpalatable grass species. This affects the availability of quality livestock forage with a resultant effect on livestock health. By disturbing hydrological connectivity and reducing water flow, drought also affects agricultural productivity, thus worsening food insecurity.

To tackle this problem, which is also a common and frequent one in Georgia, on October 26, CENN hosted a kick-off meeting of yet another important environmental project, entitled ‘Restoring Ecosystems to Reduce Drought Risk & Increase Resilience.’

The project is funded by the Austrian Development Agency (operational unit of Austrian Development Cooperation) and is implemented in Georgia by CENN

under the oversight of IUCN. CENN has been a member of IUCN since 2013. One of the project’s key directions is to tackle the problem of land degradation across Georgia, a problem which, unfortunately, is growingly affecting the locals due to the mismanagement of natural resources.

The project builds on IUCN’s Naturebased Solutions approach, guided by the vision of a future where human economic activities are in harmony with nature and don’t affect natural biodiversity.

The launch ceremony of the project took place at Courtyard Marriott Hotel in Tbilisi. The meeting was moderated

by Karlo Amirgulashvili, Head of the Biodiversity and Forestry Department, (MEPA) who, notably, was recently elected as a member of IUCN Councilor for East Europe, North and Central.

Welcoming remarks were delivered by Maia Bitadze, Chairperson of the Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Committee, Parliament of Georgia; Nino Tandilashvili, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia (MEPA); Boris Erg, Director of IUCN Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia; and Nino Shavgulidze, CENN Board Member. The representatives of the legislature and environmental organizations unanimously welcomed the launching of the new timely initiative aimed at

fighting climate change and its negative impacts on the environment and the country’s agricultural sector as a whole.

They thanked CENN, ADA and IUCN for launching such a project in Georgia and expressed readiness for maximum participation and involvement for its proper and fruitful implementation.

Against the background of climate change, the need to fight land degradation is gaining importance, the speakers highlighted. The problem is particularly noteworthy in eastern Georgia, which is proven by various studies conducted in the country. The importance of raising awareness among farmers in this direction was also emphasized, as they need to learn more from examples of international practice on how to introduce rotational grazing principles and other Nature-based Solutions. As part of the project, various awareness-raising activities are planned in the regions.

Boris Erg, Director of the IUCN Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, noted that the activities in Georgia will be realized as a part of a global project, and expressed hope that with the involvement of CENN, ADA and relevant state agencies, the project will be very fruitful.

“Droughts can have different causes, including low rainfall. Drought is often treated as a natural occurrence; however, droughts may occur even in years of normal precipitation. This highlights the human causes of drought due to mismanagement of natural resources.

“This project will certainly support the government and stakeholders in Georgia to better understand the problem of drought and how to manage it. They will be better informed about ways to prepare, respond and recover from drought,” he noted.

The new initiative is expected to increase collaboration prospects and contribute to launching similar projects not only in Georgia, but across the Caucasus region in the future. The collaboration is expected to reach new stages and cover more areas.

Nino Shavgulidze, CENN Board Member, thanked partner organizations, state agencies, IUCN, and praised the contri-

bution of ADA, which has supported various environmental projects in Georgia over the years.

“We are happy that Georgia was chosen as a target country for this project.

This initiative will be implemented in close cooperation and in coordination with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, which will significantly contribute to the institutionalization of achieved results and their long-term sustainability. Implementation of this project will contribute to the fulfillment of international obligations by the Georgian side, from the EU Association Agreement, to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and more. Nature-based Solutions aimed at reducing drought risk will be introduced which will positively affect the country’s ecosystem as a whole,” she concluded.

Alexandra Ibragimova, Project Coordinator from IUCN, and Nino Bregadze, CENN Project Coordinator, introduced key components and priority directions of the project to the audience. The presentation showed the severity of the problem, in particular, the fact that the frequency and severity of drought is increasing worldwide. The cost of droughts is US$35 billion per year, affecting the poorest people, and 83% of these losses are in the agriculture sector, with poor management practices leading to

land degradation.

The key causes of land degradation in Georgia are overgrazing, reduction of forest areas, unsustainable agricultural practices and assimilation of land for urban growth, the presentation emphasized. However, through introducing Nature-based Solutions and sustainable management of natural resources, these issues can be resolved gradually, which is one of the main goals of the project.

NEWS

GEORGIA TODAY

OCTOBER 29 - NOVEMBER 4, 2021

3

Innovative American Hospital Opens in Tbilisi O

n October 20, a new, innovative, high-tech American Hospital Tbilisi (AHT) opened in the center of Tbilisi. The hospital depends on the synchronized affairs of numerous, highly qualified specialists, and a teamwork principle.

It aims to become an icon of hope in the Georgian medical field.

The management of the 183-bed hospital has the drive to change the medical map of Georgia and the region. The multi-profile hospital, with five Centers of Excellence, including a Heart, Vascular, and Lung Disease Center, Neuroscience & Neurology, Advanced and minimally invasive surgery, Orthopedic center, and ACC, obeys the concepts of western hospitals and provides patient-centered, high-quality services.

It aims to be fully accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI), an independent, non-profit organization that evaluates healthcare organizations around the world and grants accreditation to high standardized ones. Chairman of the Board of Directors, Gregory Kuntz, says that the hospital will bring different, internationally standardized healthcare services to Georgia.

“We hope that raising the standard of healthcare in Georgia will help other local institutions to develop as well," Kuntz notes.

The Georgian government, the US Embassy, and the representatives of the medical, business, education, and media fields, attended the opening ceremony. Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Natia Turnava, the best service possible.

Ercan Ayyildiz, the Chief Executive Officer of AHT, desires to improve the Georgian healthcare system.

“Of course, we can't do it without high-tech facilities. High-qualified medical staff is crucial too. However, this combination is a necessity to achieve the goal that unites our team.

It is my responsibility to have medical staff, experienced doctors, and nurses constantly inspired to ensure the best service possible for each patient. That's key to the success of AHT. Because we exist for Perfecting Health!”

GREGORY KUNTZ Chairman of the Board of Directors

NATIA TURNAVA Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia

ERCAN AYYILDIZ Chief Executive Officer

MICHAEL HONIGSTEIN Political and Economic Chief of US Embassy Political and Economic Chief of US Embassy Michael Honigstein, and the hospital leaders cut the red ribbon of AHT. After the official opening ceremony, Minister Turnava noted that a large part of the investment in the construction of AHT was provided by the US Government.

"Remarkably, 200 people are employed at AHT and, in future, that will increase to 700,” she said. “The hospital will serve not only local patients, but patients from throughout the Caucasus region, carrying a big role in the recovery and rapid growth of our economy. AHT will also be a contribution to the development of medical tourism, which will grow by creating such an ultra-modern medical facility in our country."

The international standards-based

hospital, provider of patient-oriented, high-quality medical care, is fruit of $50 million in foreign investment. It was designed with the support of the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and in the interests of Georgia. The hospital's mission is to serve the citizens living not only in Georgia but the Caucasus region itself.

Therefore, this will develop medical tourism in Georgia.

According to Michael Honigstein, Head of Political and Economic Affairs at the US Embassy, the United States is pleased to be a partner of this project.

"We are pleased that the United States has been able to bring together donors to support this project. With this, the US expressed support and care for the citizens of Georgia. I think this project will contribute to the development of medical tourism in the region. " AHT is a multispecialty surgical hospital distinguished by highly qualified medical staff and equipment, in conformity with international standards.

However, to achieve the goal, modern equipment and qualified staff alone are insufficient. It requires proper management to ensure that each patient gets

N17 Ushangi Chkheidze str. 0102 Tbilisi, Georgia | info@ahtbilisi.com | www.ahtbilisi.com | +995 322 009 009

4

POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY

OCTOBER 29 - NOVEMBER 4, 2021

Just a Politically Minded Nation OP-ED BY NUGZAR B. RUHADZE

L

ittle is the hope that I might impress a lot of people with what I am going to say now, but I will put it forward anyway: decades are flying away in expectation of a functionally mature democracy in this country, but it is not coming. Instead of being a rule of people, democracy in Georgia (maybe anywhere else too) seems to be a rule of individuals, tastelessly brainwashing the public to perpetuate their self-centered political philosophy. But this is OK. What is not OK is the universal propensity of our citizenry to be head over heels into politics rather than into production. This might very well be the most succinct diagnostic formula, to describe the good and laborious, but still time-wasting people of ours. We certainly want to make money and live well, but our lust for politicking is much sharper than our readiness to honor our stomachs. Why so? Because, in the last 30 years, we have been thinking that politics is primary and production is secondary, sitting in prolonged anticipation of a change that will bring the plenty and the happiness together. Not happening yet!

The truth is that we can’t physically survive if we are not properly fed, clad and sheltered, but we have totally confused the content of our nourishment, eating politics instead of regular bread-andbutter. This is a paranoiac infatuation with an overwhelmingly verbose ideology: we no longer want to watch movies on the television or listen to music on the radio, even if they broadcast genuine masterpieces of art. We just want to watch those famous talking heads on the box or listen to the pulse of the former chief executive of the country, sulking or pepping himself up in a reformatory.

Meanwhile, there is so much to do in Georgia: land to till, crops to harvest, poultry to rear, cattle to tend, infants to nurse, kids to educate, info to process, a house to build, a factory to mount, a car to fix, money to make, food to obtain, streets to sweep, waste to dump, flowers to water, products to produce, tax to levy, the sick to treat and the dead to bury. Of course, we are in a certain indis-

Image source: medium.com

pensable action, one that makes us tick, but we could definitely do a better job out of it all if the source of our emotions was not politics, but what actually makes human life more qualitative.

I just wonder how many people in this country do a real job of putting food on the table, and who these people are. In other words, how many of us are there with our sleeves rolled up to feed the remaining non-producers? Shall we do a bit of math to figure it out? The ruling bureaucracy, law enforcement, army, artists, students, teachers, athletes, poets, writers, journalists, retirees, and others of that ilk – none of this category produces anything.

They just consume, and most of them dip into the vain attempts of telling right from wrong in that jagged and cursed political showground of ours.

So who is feeding us? How large is the part of this nation that produces a real product that nurtures our physical body? If we feel at a loss to answer this question, then our national debt will increase even further and our political delirium will further deepen the abyss we might soon find ourselves in unless we all take the bull by the horns and start producing without any delay.

This nation no longer needs to be prompted by its friends to do better politics and to build a bet-

ter model of democracy. It is high time for this nation to hear from its friends what to do with its hardly breathing economy, and how to pay back the borrowed cash, not stick into our numbed hands oil to feed our political fire. Vice versa! Get us some oil to pour on our troubled waters. Our western friends can’t take sides here! If they want to be Georgia’s friends, they need to choose the most valuable pieces of advice for us so that the abetment does not pull our trust and love for them out of our broken hearts and hurt minds. If they can, they should give us their producing experience sooner than their politicizing zeal.

Mikheil Saakashvili Refuses Treatment, Claims His Human Rights Are Being Violated

BY TEAM GT

M

ikheil Saakashvili has been on a hunger strike in prison for 28 days, and on October 27 posted on his Facebook page that he is refusing treatment for his worsening con-

Coming Soon Say Hello To Ramada By Wyndham Old Tbilisi

dition.

“Since this morning, the opportunity to communicate with private lawyers has been completely blocked. In the meeting room, the glass wall between us has been blackened and blocked, which means that we can no longer exchange documents. At the same time, there is very poor audibility. Such a thing has never been seen in Georgia, and never in Europe. It has been a long time since we had a realized court, and a prosecutor no longer exists: our advocacy has been abolished!

“From today, I categorically refuse any research, treatment or reanimation services related to my hunger strike. This will continue until my right to unhindered relations with human rights defenders is restored!” reads his post.

Saakashvili further claimed he was “practically in a Russian prison,” not a Georgian one, adding that even staff were being forced to “act like Russians.”

On Wednesday, the European People’s Party, via social platform Twitter, called on the Georgian authorities to transfer the former President to a civil hospital.

“We are concerned with reports on Saakashvili’s deteriorating health.

We call on the Georgian authorities to urgently transfer former President Saakashvili to an appropriate civil hospital; by not doing so, those authorities bear responsibility for any aggravation of his health,” reads the Tweet.

Ukrainian Ombudsman Lyudmila Denisova met with Mikheil Saakashvili in Rustavi Prison on Wednesday, and prior to entering, told reporters that the main purpose of her visit was to find out how the ex-president’s rights are being protected in prison.

“Today, we have the opportunity to visit Mikheil Saakashvili, a citizen of Ukraine. I personally want to

Image source: 1lurer.am

know about his condition, because today is the 27th day of his hunger strike. I want to make sure help will be provided at the prison hospital. If this hospital does not meet the standards required for the President, I am ready to meet with his personal physician. The main purpose of my visit is to find out how his rights are being protected here,” Denisova said.

She also touched upon the fact that on Tuesday, Saakashvili’s Ukrainian lawyer was not allowed to enter Georgia, and noted she would investigate the reasons.

Saakashvili’s Ukrainian lawyer Evgeny Grushovets stated he was refused entry to Georgia without any explanation, and was returned to Ukraine.

“I experienced ‘Georgian hospitality’ for myself.

I was not even allowed to enter Tbilisi airport.

They did not explain the reason. They checked my passport and handed it to the crew commander. I explained that I came to visit Mikheil Saakashvili, but, unfortunately, I was returned to Ukraine,” Grushovets wrote on Facebook. According to the lawyer, he was labeled a “deported passenger.”

On October 27, a concluding election meeting of Georgian Dream party supporters was held in Liberty (Freedom) Square. Prior to the event, Saakashvili addressed the founder of the Georgian Dream party Bidzina Ivanishvili through his Facebook page.

“I appeal to Ivanishvili: You have closed and blackened my windows, cut off my phone, but not through the court. You are afraid to take me to an ordinary hospital. If you really had the courage to do something, you would take me to this paid rally of yours and hold a debate there, in front of the people you brought,” the post reads.

Rustavi Prison denied the accusations about the conditions offered to Saakashvili. See georgiatoday.ge for more.

POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY

OCTOBER 29 - NOVEMBER 4, 2021

5

(Stereotypical) Perceptions vs Changeable Conditions: From Idealism to Realism. Part II

BY VIKTOR KIPIANI, CHAIRMAN, GEOCASE

A

longside American developments, ongoing events in the Euro-Atlantic military and political community also require our constant observation. For example: does the shifting of U.S. geopolitical priorities towards the Indo-Pacific region threaten a loosening of Washington’s attention on European matters? This development might be accompanied by a possible decrease of resources for the promotion of U.S. interests in Europe, but the most important aspect of this is the risk that, as a result of American interests being “unfastened” from Europe, cracks will appear in the U.S. pursuit of its EuroAtlantic interests (or that already existing cracks will widen). It would obviously be very naïve of the United States to shun European affairs, but the most thought-provoking aspect is that Washington's so-called “red lines” with regard to Russia and other “front-line” countries (and notably Georgia and Ukraine) remain relatively vague and insufficient.

We must also consider that this dearth of clear Western geopolitical lines with regard to these countries is directly proportional to the growing intervention in its neighbours' sovereign interests by their common aggressor. Moreover, instead of a realistic evaluation of the situation, certain Western states remain incapable of evolving beyond their Yeltsin-era perceptions of Russia; and initiatives such as, for example, the FrenchGerman proposition to renew a dialogue with Russia in a “27+1” format are a direct indication of this problem. I will be courageous and add that, even against the background of such indications as these, weakening the voice of the United States in the overall European agenda (as well as shifting sole or unequal responsibility to the countries of Europe) might harm

long-term Euro-Atlantic interests as well as Georgia's future prospects.

But all this should not lead us to believe that Tbilisi should officially oppose dialogue between its Western partners and the Kremlin. Of course it should not. Problems in relations can only be overcome by finding a common language between parties—yet, at the same time, we should never hesitate to point out that, for such a dialogue to be efficacious, at least two conditions must be met. The first of these is the prosecution of a clear and effective Western policy towards Georgia (and Ukraine and presumably Moldova as well), three countries that are currently suffering from the “geopolitical ambiguity“ of Europe’s half-measures; and the second is freeing them from the (unintentional) evaluation by certain Western countries or political circles of Georgian and regional issues through the Russian informational and geopolitical prism (e.g. it is time to refer to the conflicts on Georgian territory as “geopolitical” and not “ethnic”). If this is not done, especially given current conditions, the final unification of our interests with those of the West in the region will be even further delayed. At the same time, both Georgia and the West should be aware of the very specific and time-

conscious criteria that can turn our civilized unity into a formal alliance.

We should also all keep in mind that the current geopolitical narrative is a battle whose main essence is to rid ourselves of the influence of ideological “isms” (or to gain influence over them), and in this battle the decisive factors are force, courage and ability—and not groundless rhetoric and endless appeals to senseless values.

In a word, observing current global dynamics, my critical conclusion would be the following: we must first of all bear the responsibility for our own country on our own shoulders, and as a counterweight to effective help and support from others, we should revive hope in ourselves and believe in our own potential.

INTO A NEW REALITY IN A NEW WAY Given the fact that the global order is being rearranged in such a way that the process gives rise to more questions than answers, and that emerging challenges prevent us from properly assessing this rearrangement, Georgia's task is both easy and complex. Formulating this task is the easy part: the country must maintain herself as an interesting space for the investment of political, economic

and human resources, with the aim of ensuring her safety and development and avoiding the risk of Tbilisi remaining a merely peripheral recipient of such resources. However vague this formulation may seem to some, I believe that, given current regional and global changes, the greatest meaning and value lies in enjoying the flexibility to adjust our decisions in the pursuit of our interests.

The goals of improving our security and developing our economy should match those geopolitical or political configurations or variants (within the framework of our main civilized choices) that will serve the modernization and success of the Georgian state for the sake of its citizens' welfare. A country being selfsufficient, resilient and responsible is not only in the interest of its own citizens but also in that of its international partners. As for the complexity, this is mostly linked to the difficulty of making concrete decisions on the path to achieving these main goals—i.e. dealing with the so-called “details”. We obviously all have our own ideas of what these "details" are, and Georgia's information space is sated and clouded by these different perceptions—some of which are grounded in reality, and some not. In order to avoid further clouding, I shall therefore spare the reader my version of this “detailization”; and it would in any case have been pretentious to compile a comprehensive list in this article.

Equally noteworthy is the fact that, since various projects of the 1990s (when the country’s transport potential was increased; the "Train & Equip" program was carried out; the country's strategic foreign course was established) and with the continuation of a range of initiatives (the signature of an association agreement with the EU and a strategic charter with the U.S.; the “Associated Trio” project was carried out; the NATO-Georgia "substantial package" was adopted; etc.), I would mention as urgent priorities several steps such as: more integration into the “Crimea platform” in order to

build additional layers of information and propaganda concerning Georgia’s occupied territories; deepening cooperation within the framework of the “Associated Trio” by turning the so-called “Four Freedoms” of the EU (free movement of goods, capital, services and people) into the Trio's defining principles (and soon inserting a security component); discussing various possible bilateral frameworks for defense cooperation as well as the activation of the Black Sea factor, based upon which consultations with partners on political and security algorithms (e.g. the earlier mentioned Black Sea Declaration Platform) could be launched.

Therefore, if we are to gain a competitive space for our country in tomorrow’s international system, there are already a number of “details” that are being (or that need to be) considered. However, one very often has the feeling that the manner in which current events are being handled is either somewhat belated or lacking in quality (or both). That said, I believe that this feeling is perhaps quite normal when one has the ambition to achieve more (or something more grandiose). And yet, this feeling of unease becomes one of alarm if precious time is being lost and valuable possibilities are being wasted.

One of the most important aspects, and one which should give us all hope, is the realization that losses and benefits are shared in this process of promoting our country. This fact should of course not come as a surprise, since despite various events, attitudes towards each other, the diversity of our ambitions and tastes and existing differences—every single one of us, whose identity is linked to the Georgian state, should always consider both today and tomorrow. These thoughts should unite us and encourage us to develop a common language and identify the most promising path to follow towards our common future; this what we must do if we are to turn idealistic perceptions into realistic actions.

The Georgian Military’s Latest War: Talent Acquisition

BY MICHAEL GODWIN

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he quality of a nation’s defense forces is quite simply the quality of the individual service members that make up the force. While some may say that quantity has a quality all its own, true soldier quality is a far more sustainable means of security. This all begins at the recruiting offices across the country's major cities. As young men and women complete their studies, a select few choose to commit themselves to a life of discipline, regimentation, and camaraderie, one that will stay with them for a lifetime.

Finding the most suitable candidates for membership in this organization has always been a challenge for any military force. Competing with the likes of universities and trade school institutions, the armed forces has its talent acquisition work cut out for them. As an additional handicap, the Georgian military still retains some of the same negative stigmas that many Eastern and post-Soviet armies have been forced to combat.

For many, particularly the parents of prospective recruits, the image of the army and the idea of sending their beloved child into its ranks is terrifying. Brutal hazing rituals, unsafe training practices, and inadequate living and eating conditions typical of the Soviet-era military have stained the name of army life for decades. This is particularly true for those parents and older family members who were conscripted and forced to serve in these deplorable conditions in decades past.

This is not true of the modern and nearfuture army. As it comes parallel with

their European and American partners, the Georgian military is a far more developed and professional force. From training and facilities to individual equipment and technologies, the soldier of 2021 is now the polar opposite of the soldier of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic.

These young men and women are professionals, technically and tactically proficient.

However, this cutting edge of training and technology is pushing further, and modern warfare has become far more of an advanced science. This requires a more complex breed of soldier, and a more adept warfighter. No longer can they afford to simply fill uniforms with bodies, and this demands that recruiting officers take additional steps to draw from Georgia’s academic and technologically affluent communities.

To accomplish this, there must be a monumental shift from an industrial age vision of military recruitment to a digital age model of talent acquisition and placement. In addition to the long overdue need to abolish conscription, a rebranding of the military’s image in the eyes of the civilian community must rival, or even compliment, career prospects in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

Whereas soldiers were once viewed and placed purely based on a military job position, the need to modernize this approach to in-processing lies with the first steps. As potential military training candidates find themselves with a litany of careers offered by the armed forces, maximizing their potential not only helps them develop professionally, but optimizes that particular area of the military. Initial assessments that take into account and measure these unique skills and inclinations can give military career advisors

and placement specialists insights into how best to apply the recruit.

This method of assessment is not particularly new, and is still being revolutionized in other Western nations. One of the more popular examples is the United States Army’s notorious sequence of tests known as the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). The ASVAB contains nine timed sections that not only determines the suitability of an individual for the armed forces, but also what branch of the armed forces, and what jobs in that branch they are the best fit for.

These nine tests generate several different scores that each encompass a particular facet of the individual’s capabilities. These capabilities cover fields such as communications, electronics, combatives, and advanced technical skills. From these quantified skill sets, the candidate is offered a selection of potential positions that best fit their natural cognitive abilities. While no test is always going to perfectly match a person to the exact match, it has historically placed many of the right candidates to the correct military occupational specialties or MOS. For the Georgian military, a similar scaled approach to having candidates examined can greatly maximize these natural inclinations. An intensive and extensive battery of tests offered to both prospective candidates and as a free resource for students could allow for the discovery of potential positions of work within the Ministry of Defense. Shifting the stigma of a career course for the otherwise incapable to something of a path of honor, dignity, and elevation, this would help mold the idea that service is its own category of higher learning.

Learning a trade or technical skill through the military, even the “soft” skills of leadership and personal discipline, are

Georgian soldiers undergo U.S. Marine Corps training at the Vaziani training base in 2013. Source: United States Marine Corps photo

immensely valuable to employers. Should an individual find that long term career service in the military is not in line with their life plans, they may still be able to utilize their skills to great effect in the private sector. This not only aids local businesses in their endeavors but grows the Georgian talent pool as well as the national economy on a larger scale.

Branding the defense forces as less of an obligation and rigorous path that must be taken, but more of a privilege is a less discussed facet of the continuing Westernization project. NATO needs to know that when Georgia sends their forces to take part in an operation, these are men and women that possess the same or greater technical and tactical knowledge base of other professional partner forces.

Rebranding the careers in the armed forces, or at the least a career beginning in the armed forces, is a significant task.

As seen in many Western nations, militaries continually update and modernize their marketing approach to stay on par with the private sector and the trends in recruitment and hiring. Displaying the value of military service is imperative, as

well as painting it as something that is parallel or competitive to university or workforce job fields.

This can be done in a wide variety of ways. School and community events with the aim of developing closer links between the people to their defense forces have been met with warm receptions in the United States and United Kingdom. This effort can paint the military as an honorable and character-developing beginning for young men and women entering adulthood, particularly when many of these young people may be still conflicted as to which career field they wish to pursue.

As stated, the modern day Georgian soldier is a proud representation of the nation's finest. At the same time, it is still imperative to trim the proverbial fat of the unnecessary, the outdated, and the impractical. Starting with the abolishment of the conscription component, a scholastic approach to recruit examination and vetting, and a warmer marketing strategy the armed forces can begin to anticipate the inevitable technological curve in the near-future style of modern warfare and global stability operations.

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Interview with Sominee’s F&B Director, Beka Khmaladze and its Executive Chef, Tiago Duarte French, Modern European, British, Italian, and Asian cuisines. He was involved in the management and execution of the Lisbon Champion’s League catering events. He was serving top football players, celebrities, and more than 50,000 attendees in a stadium. His experience also covers leading Hotel Food & Beverage outlets in Amsterdam, Michelin Star Restaurant in Kent, and Fine Dining Restaurants in Lisbon and London.

Tiago’s breathtaking background in international cuisine and great passion for exploring and learning have paved his way to Tbilisi. The team of the hotel is extremely excited and proud to have an Executive Chef like Tiago, who will be leading Fine Dining Restaurant Sominee, Rooftop Terrace, and Japanese concept Nomura.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WHEN IT COMES TO GEORGIAN CUISINE? HAVE YOU HAD ANY EXPERIENCE BEFORE WITH IT? HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE GET-TOKNOW PROCESS WITH IT?

F

or those who seek a cozy environment and exceptionally delicious dishes, SOMINEE Restaurant, located in a heart of the city, comes highly recommended. Notably, the restaurant is at the luxury hotel MONOGRAPH FREEDOM SQUARE. Housed in a historical building, MONOGRAPH is centrally located on Liberty (Freedom) Square, which has retained its pristine look and some of Tbilisi’s most unique historical sites. Replete with classical and modern architectural patterns, the area epitomizes a merger between the city’s past and present, hence it’s being a starting point of adventure for visitors to Georgia.

Inside MONOGRAPH, a cozy and welcoming environment is in full command to host guests. The highly professional staff of the restaurant SOMINEE is always ready to offer an unforgettable experience to visitors.

To find out more details regarding this luxury restaurant, its chefs, and cuisine, GEORGIA TODAY spoke to F&B Director Beka Khmaladze and Executive Chef Tiago Duarte.

TELL US ABOUT THE RESTAURANT SOMINEE AND ITS DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS. Beka Khmaladze: Sominee is a modern, fine dining restaurant enhanced by unique design elements of art that is an integral part of the interior. The concept highlights exquisite details of service as well

as luxury tableware and furniture which creates an incredible journey every visit.

WHAT KIND OF CUISINE DO YOU SERVE? Sominee restaurant serves modern Georgian dishes inspired by authentic culinary recipes taken from every part of Georgia, creating a link between the past and the present. The menu contains some signature individual main courses, a grill menu, and desserts.

The menu flavor profile varies from sweet, salt, and sour enhanced by Georgian herbs and spices.

TELL US ABOUT THE INGREDIENTS USED. ARE THEY OF LOCAL PRODUCTION AND FRESH ON A DAILY BASIS? DO YOU GET THEM FROM LOCAL SUPPLIERS AND FARMERS? All ingredients are fresh and locally sourced on a daily basis from farmers, which gives a distinctive taste and identity to every single dish, and come from various parts of Georgia. Salmon is farmed in the Uraveli Valley, in the southern part of Georgia. The crystal clear and cold river gives the fish its fresh and unique flavor. Apokhti is made exclusively for Sominee restaurant by Monks from Ude monastery, while our selection of dry-aged meat and first-ever made Georgian Jamon is brought from the Racha region.

WHAT ABOUT DRINKS? WHAT KIND OF DISTINCTIVE

BEVERAGES CAN YOUR VISITORS TASTE? The journey can be started with our mouthwatering bespoke cocktails which have an individual story in their making that can be enjoyed shaken or straight up in a glass.

Sominee offers a selection of authentic Georgian Qvevri wines as well as worldfamous wines from all over the world, particularly France. Consequently, the most expensive and rarest bottles like Chateau Margaux, Petrus, Vosne Romanee, Chateau D’Yquem, and many others can be found. Besides wine, Sominee has an exclusive collection of Cognacs and Armagnacs which can be enjoyed after a pleasant meal.

WHAT WAS THE MAIN INSPIRATION WHEN CREATING THE MENU OF SOMINEE RESTAURANT? Sominee restaurant is named after Meskhetian authentic bread from the southern part of Georgia, therefore, before the menu was developed, creators traveled to Samtskhe Javakheti to learn the recipes, cooking technics, and ingredients from that part of the region.

However, the menu is quite broad and contains some other forgotten and unforgotten Georgian authentic dishes which describe the food culture of the country at its best.

On the menu, you will meet some unique forgotten dishes like Ashvirkhua and Akuta Chaba, which originates from the region of Abkhazia and commemorates that part of Georgia in various senses; or some other unforgotten classic, but modernized, Imeretian dishes like assorted pkhali, kuchmachi, and khachapuri.

WHICH DISH WOULD YOU EMPHASIZE FROM THE MENU, AND WHY? Chicken Shkmeruli is one of the most distinctive dishes that feature on the menu, with rich flavors and a signature presentation.

Roasted poulet with smoked leek is served with black garlic and coffee bean infused with lactonase Shkmeruli sauce.

IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT ATTRACTS VISITORS MOST TO VISIT SOMINEE RESTAURANT? The combination of eye-catching sights, contemporary artistic elements, a modern Georgian dining experience, and tailored service creates an unforgettable journey that will stay in your heart for a long time.

WHO IS YOUR CHEF? Monograph’s Food and Beverage outlets are executed by Portuguese Chef Tiago Duarte. His experience covers Classic

Tiago Duarte: The biggest challenge when it comes to Georgian Cuisine is probably tradition. Tradition is a big thing and I should respect it. Being a chef, who is not Georgian, with very little knowledge of the food, is already challenging itself.

This is my fourth time in Georgia, and one time I was asked to cook Georgian Fusion. That was easy. But after I arrived at Monograph, my job became more interesting and challenging. Probably the biggest challenge was trying not to hurt people’s feelings and keep the tradition of serving the meals.

The main thing that made me come to Georgia is the passion Georgians have for food. As a Chef, I’ve worked in so many cuisines, but there is something new here, in Georgia – a special dependence on tradition, culture, and food.

Everything is so natural, tasty. The pride that people have here for their cuisine – it’s just amazing. That’s why I think that being a Chef at Monograph is a huge responsibility, bigger than I thought.

The main challenge for me is to keep the tradition but to change the perspective at the same time.

SHARE WITH US YOUR THOUGHTS AND VIEWS OF MONOGRAPH’S OUTLETS, INCLUDING THE MENUS, SIGNATURE MEALS, ETC. Tiago Duarte: The architecture and space of Monograph speak for themselves. It is an astonishing place. Sominee is going to be a traditional Georgian fine dining restaurant. We don’t plan crazy changes and innovations, there is no need for it. It should keep its simplicity and elegance.

Nomura is going to be our experiment, a Japanese fusion restaurant with innovative dishes presented in the menu. Not only Japanese dishes, but also a full range of Asian cuisine will be presented in the lounge. People will be constantly discovering something new.

The terrace is going to be my baby. It is going to be a very relaxed, unique space, sharing the concept to share the experience. We are going to serve international cuisine, Georgian fusion, mainly a sharing concept. Showing international flavors to Monograph’s guests.

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GEORGIA TODAY

OCTOBER 29 - NOVEMBER 4, 2021

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The Impact of the Pandemic on the Hotel Industry in Georgia

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he hotel industry has been one of the sectors most negatively impacted by COVID-19. Despite the tourism industry already entering its recovery phase, it is crucial to evaluate the magnitude of the effect of the pandemic on the hotel industry to be able to estimate the period of full recovery andto develop relevant measures to ensure sustainable recovery.

Throughout the period of 2016-2019, before the pandemic, the hotel industry was enjoying steady growth. In particular, the number of hotels and hotel-type enterprises increased by 12.4% (rising from 1,496 in 2016 to 1,682 in 2019), while the total area covered by hotels in sq. meters showed a significant 35.7% increase (from 1,675 thsd to 2,272 thsd), and the number of hotel employees increased by 31.7% (from 15,628 to 20,575). However, the spread of COVID-19 halted and reversed these positive dynamics in major industry indicators. In 2020, the number of hotels decreased by 37.3% compared to the previous year, while the total area covered by hotels decreased by 19.6%, and the number of employees underwent a considerable 33.8% decline.

The number of hotel visitors also grew

through the 2016-2019 period, peaking at 4.01 mln in 2019, of which the share of non-resident visitors was 71.5%. Of the latter, 35.3% of international visitors came from CIS countries and 15% came from EU member states, while residents of Georgia made up 28.5% of total visitors.

In 2020, the total number of hotel visitors declined by 66.5% compared to 2019, amounting to only 39.5% of the average level for the 2016-2019 period.

The number of non-resident hotel visitors drastically decreased (by 85.7%) in 2020 compared to 2019, amounting to only 30.6% of total visitors. Of these, 34.5% of visitors were from CIS countries and 8.9% were from the EU. In 2020, the number of residents of Georgia visiting hotels decreased by 18.5% and amounted to 69.4% of total visitors, showing a reversal of the pre-pandemic dynamics of the shares of visitors according to their residency.

The pandemic has also seen a change in the breakdown of the reasons for hotel visits. Throughout the 2016-2019 period, the average share of hotel visits for medical purposes was equal to 1.3%, while in 2020 this figure increased to 16.2% of total hotel visits. It must be noted that 90.3% of hotel visits for med-

ical reasons were by the residents of Georgia, which can be directly explained by the utilization of hotels as quarantine zones for those potentially infected and those actually infected with COVID-19.

Elsewhere, recreation was the major reason for hotel visits throughout the reporting period. However, in 2020 out of all categories, the most prominent year-over-year decrease (75.8%) was reported in recreational visits and the majority (62.9%) of visitors were residents of Georgia, thus highlighting the increased role of domestic tourism in the hotel industry during the pandemic.

HOTEL PRICE INDEX In September 2021, in Georgia the hotel price index decreased by 6.6% compared

to August 2021. The 3-star, 4-star and 5-star hotel price index decreased by 8.4%, while for guesthouses, the price index decreased by 3.2%.

In September 2021, compared to September 2019, hotel prices in Georgia increased by 0.9%. The prices of 3*, 4*, 5* hotels increased by 0.8% and the prices of guesthouses decreased by 3.4%.

AVERAGE HOTEL PRICES In Georgia, the average cost of a room

in a 3-star hotel was 143 GEL per night in September 2021, while the average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia was 263 GEL per night and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse was 85 GEL per night.

The average cost of a room in a 5-star hotel in Georgia in September 2021 was 497 GEL per night. In Guria, the average price was 694 GEL, followed by Tbilisi - 642 GEL, Kakheti – 539 GEL and Adjara - 485 GEL.

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GEORGIA TODAY

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New World and CENN Support Communities in Improving Availability and Access to Water and Sanitation

A

globally accepted term, WASH stands for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.

Why do we need WASH? almost 1.1 billion people around the globe do not have access to safe water and 2.4 billion experience inadequate sanitation. It is pivotal to bring water, sanitation and hygiene to the communities not only for health but also to overcome poverty and restore human dignity.

This is the main goal of the project "Community Action to Improve WASH Services in Vulnerable Rural Communities of Georgia," which is being implemented in Akhmeta and Tsalka municipalities since November 2020 by CENN, with the financial support of New World Program, Global Water Challenge and Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF). The project aims to improve access to WASH services in the target municipalities.

To note, over 200 million school-age children are infected with parasites and flukes. Illnesses related to water and sanitation can have severe results, among them physical and mental underdevelopment, or a decrease in children’s learning capacity.

In the target municipalities, the supply of clean drinking water and technical water supply in general is not properly regulated. In the first phase of the project, a survey was conducted involving WASH assessments in schools and Healthcare Centres in the target municipalities. The first such survey was conducted by CENN in 2017. After the evaluation, it is clear that while there has been real progress compared to the previous years, this result is not enough, especially when it comes to the issue of constructing water and sanitation systems in ambulatories.

COVID-19 pandemic revealed a nonnegotiable need to adhere to WASH standards, and central to this is provision of adequate services. This directly determines the health of each individual. The project "Community Involvement in Georgia's Vulnerable Communities to Improve WASH Services" included two main areas: an awarenessraising campaign involving training for healthcare workers and youth groups on WASH and COVID-19, and implementation of infrastructure projects in kindergartens, schools, health care centres, etc.

Within the framework of the project, a grant competition was announced in August of this year, during which three large-scale and four small infrastructure projects were financed by the project.

As a result, tens of thousands of people will have access to clean and safe drinking water. The following projects were selected and funded:

TSALKA MUNICIPALITY, GUMBATI VILLAGE The village of Gumbati is located in Tsalka municipality, 20 km from the town of Tsalka. As part of the Rural

Support Program, river water was brought to the village several times, but this water could not be used for drinking. The situation was particularly problematic in the educational institutions, which require high WASH standards.

As was the case for the social enterprise Gumbati, where the residents of 5 nearby

villages, namely entrants and primary school students, go to attend lessons every day.

Within the framework of the project, drinking water was brought to the yard of the Social Enterprise Gumbati and the public school of the village Gumbati.

Also, bathrooms were rennovated in

can join the club completely free of charge.

TSALKA MUNICIPALITY, TSALKA The problem of water supply in Tsalka Municipality Public School #1 was quite acute. As the school has a small budget and could not fully maintain the water

supply system, the water flow pressure could not supply water to the second and third floors of the building. Due to the harsh climate, the problem was compounded by the freezing of pipes, which necessitated additional measures to maintain the water supply at least partially. The project carried out a com-

Within the framework of the project, in cooperation with the Tusheti Development Fund and the Akhmeta Local Development Group and the Akhmeta Municipality, a gym is to be constructed for young people in Kvemo Alvani and the rehabilitation works of the building and sanitary facilities will be carried out. This will be a space where it will be possible for children to engage in sports. The need for this hall is also confirmed by survey conducted by the local City Hall and by collected signatures. The beneficiaries of this project will not only be the population of the village of Kvemo Alvani but also the youth of the surrounding villages- Alaverdi, Babaneuri, Laliskuri, Argokhi, etc.

AKHMETA MUNICIPALITY, KASRISTSKALI VILLAGE Rehabilitation of the health care centres and bathrooms in the village was carried out, as was fencing of the area

the social enterprise and a small space was built in both yards where water can be drunk and bottles filled, meaning the population will now have drinking water in the center of the village.

Toilets and bathrooms were also set up in the building that houses the young climbers’ club "Little Climbers" in the town of Bediani, Tsalka Municipality. The club is intended for children from rural areas and young people living in Bediani orphanage, who

around the health care centre. Water was brought to the health care centre, and its interior walls renovated, helping to perfect the disinfection process.

AKHMETA MUNICIPALITY, ARGOKHI VILLAGE Argokhi is located in the community of Maghraani, 20 kilometers from the municipal center.

In Argokhi, a culture centre, which has an assembly hall, a meeting room and a library, has been opened. The building was renovated several years ago at the initiative of the local population and Akhmeta Municipality, although the building's infrastructure did not meet public health recommendations.

Within the framework of the project, in cooperation with the Akhmeta Local Development Group and the Akhmeta Municipality, rehabilitation of sanitary and hygienic facilities was carried out and infrastructure for persons with disabilities was arranged.

plete rehabilitation of the water supply system, so that students could have access to clean drinking water throughout the year.

AKHMETA MUNICIPALITY, KVEMO ALVANI VILLAGE There was no gym in the village of Kvemo Alvani where local youth could train. Accordingly, within the framework of the project, a year-round exercise space was set up.

Paths towards Decriminalizing Drug Use in Europe OP-ED BY DENIS HUBER, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE´S POMPIDOU GROUP

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hen a Paris hospital i n 20 16 h o u s e d France's first “shooting gallery,” a safe place where drug addicts can inject under medical supervision, critics feared that it could fuel drug abuse. A French law had authorized the creation of such low-risk consumption rooms, and so far, two have been set up – one in Paris and one in Strasbourg.

By launching this experience, France was following the path of Switzerland,

which set up the first drug consumption room in Bern back in 1986, a model which has inspired other cities in Switzerland and in nine other European countries.

The French authorities have given recently their green light to the creation of more such spaces in Paris, to address the capital's problem with crack and heroin users.

As the Pompidou Group, the Council of Europe’s platform for drug policy, celebrates 50 years since its creation under the impetus of former French President Georges Pompidou, it focuses on a new mandate that puts human rights at the heart of the drug policy.

Many Council of Europe member states are facing challenges with drugs. As we mark our 50 years, Portugal, which holds the Presidency of the Pompidou Group,

marks 20 years since it decriminalized the personal possession of all drugs below defined quantities as part of a wider re-orientation of policy towards a health-led approach.

Before the change, the country faced more crime and health problems for users than other European countries, with an epidemic of drug abuse across the country in the 1980s. All social groups,

from the affluent to the poor, were affected, with a record number in Europe of people dead from drug addiction.

What changed in 2001 in Portugal was to treat drug possession for personal use as an administrative offence, meaning that it has since no longer been punishable by imprisonment and does not result in a criminal record and the associated stigma. Portugal still confiscates drugs, however, and possession could result in administrative penalties such as fines or community service. So, there is a difference between legalization and decriminalization.

Decriminalization of personal possession turned out to be one part of broader health-centred drug policy reforms that focus on harm reduction and treatment provisions.

Continued on page 11

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AHF Georgia’s Activities in Tbilisi: “G20 Leaders Vow to Vaccinate our World Now!”

Continued from page 1 Georgia demands that the vaccine recipes be freed!” said Nino Khetaguri, Country Program Manager for AHF Georgia. “No nation is safe until all nations are protected! We have to call the G20 leaders to commit to real action on global Covid -19 vaccine access.”

For almost two years now, the world has been battling a global pandemic.

The only way to defeat the Covid-19 pandemic is to get vaccinated. As of early October, 3.6 billion Covid-19 vaccine doses had been administered globally, with nearly 80% of those going to people in high- and upper-middleincome countries. Barely 7% of the 1.3

billion people on the African continent have received even one dose. The discrepancy is worse for low-income countries, where just 2.5% of people have gotten a shot. Nearly 5 million people are dead and there are now 200 million infections of Covid-19.

VOW organizers have pledged to keep up the pressure on vaccine-making companies until it lowers its vaccine prices and shares its patents and technologies with other countries, so that vaccine production can be ramped up around the world.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has launched global campaign “Vaccinate Our World” to urge leaders from the European Union and G20 countries

to utilize the Summit to commit to real action on global Covid-19 vaccine access.

The campaign calls on vaccine manufacturers and international public health institutions to take fair action to vaccinate the world's population against Covid-19 as soon as possible. To that end, AHF calls on world leaders to promote international cooperation, not politics, as the driving force behind the pandemic.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is a global non-governmental organization in the United States. The Foundation, which provides state-of-the-art ARV medicine to more than 1.6 million people in 45 countries, is the largest provider of HIV / AIDS care in the United States.

#FreeTheVaccine

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GEORGIA TODAY

OCTOBER 29 - NOVEMBER 4, 2021

65-Year-Old Nani Proves Early Diagnosis of Cancer Saves Lives

BY NINA KOPALEISHVILI – PR AND COMMUNICATION OFFICER, CARITAS CZECH REPUBLIC IN GEORGIA

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hanks to the Zugdidi Screening Center built by Caritas Czech Republic (CCR), 65-year-old Nani Saghrishvili learned about breast cancer diagnosis at an early stage and has already defeated the disease. “My doctor tells me from now on I can say goodbye to cancer, forever” she says excitedly.

NANI SAYS GOODBYE TO CANCER FOREVER 65-year-old Nani from the Lanchkhuti municipality of Guria region recalls the moment she accidentally noticed a small lump in her breast while bathing. However, at first, she did not pay much attention to it and only decided to go to the doctor at the request of her children.

“I had a cancer phobia, even the word ‘cancer’ sounded bad to me. I stayed calm, as I did not expect any bad news.

However, when they examined me at the Zugdidi Screening Center, the doctors told me I had a stage two tumor. Of course, that diagnosis frightened me a lot. But the doctors took care of me and warmly explained that I had to have surgery and it would definitely have a positive result.”

Nani says that after the surgery, it took four courses of chemotherapy to completely defeat the disease.

“Thankfully, the Zugdidi Screening

Center offered the very expensive medical examinations for free. Otherwise, considering my low income, I would not have been able to pay for the services on my own,” Nani notes.

WHY EARLY DIAGNOSIS MATTERS The National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC) in its report states that, in 2019, 10,339 cases of cancer were reported in Georgia – 4578 (44.3%) in men, 5761 (55.7%) in women. Notably, according to the localization rate, the highest number of cases (1629) fell on breast cancer.

It is a well-known fact that checking for cancer (or for abnormal cells that may become cancer) in people without any symptoms has no alternative to detecting the disease at an early stage and reducing the chance of dying from it.

According to the Population-Based Cancer Registry operating in the country since 2015, between 2015-2019, Georgia’s survival rate improved. This mostly resulted from the screening program introduced to the country more than 10 years ago. However, the statistics still lag noticeably behind European countries and the United States.

The state screening program in Georgia, within which breast, cervical, prostate, or colorectal cancer are diagnosed for free, was launched in 2008. Until 2019, access to the state screening program for the people of western Georgia was a vital challenge for the country, as the screening center operated only in the capital.

In 2019, Caritas Czech Republic (CCR), in partnership with Cancer Prevention

Center, opened the Zugdidi Screening Center. Since then, 4035 people have been screened for breast, cervical, prostate, and colorectal cancer. Thanks to the screening program, hundreds of patients learnt about their diagnosis at an early stage and that enabled them to treat the disease on time.

Medical Director of the Zugdidi Screening Center, Irina Pochkhua, explains that before the foundation of the local screening center, the population of SamegreloZemo Svaneti was vulnerable to cancer.

Based on the statistics, she pays special attention to the prevention of breast cancer and notes that since the establishment of the center, 124 suspected cases of breast cancer have been identified: “An active information campaign is very important, as more people learn about the screening program and visit the Zugdidi Screening Center”.

THE ROLE OF THE HEALTH PROMOTION ACTIVITIES Caritas Czech Republic (CCR) has been working on information campaigns on cancer prevention, early detection, and access to the free screening program for years now. With this in mind, CCR community mobilizers are meeting the local population of different municipalities to provide information on the importance of screening and assist them in organ-

ized transportation to the Zugdidi Screening Center in partnership with local municipal governments.

Tamar Kurtanidze, Project Manager of Caritas Czech Republic, believes that the information campaign has the greatest impact on increasing the number of people visiting the center. However, she explains that a large part of the population is still not aware of the importance of detecting the disease at an early stage: “Several factors are preconditioning the still low number of people who visit the center: first, there is still a low level of awareness and also stigma related to cancer, and Caritas is actively working in this direction to overcome these barriers in Samegrelo region. Also – unfortunately, there is still low understanding of the importance of preventive examinations in Georgia”.

“The problem is complex, and we are working hard to increase the involvement of the population in the screening program to increase the share of diagnosing the disease at an early stage. Thus, increase survival rates,” states Nana Mebonia, head of the Chronic Diseases and Trauma Division at the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health and a professor at the Tbilisi Medical University.

The project Establishment and Promotion of Cancer Screening Center was

funded by the Czech Development Agency, and is being implemented by Caritas Czech Republic (CCR) in close cooperation with Cancer Prevention Center (CPC). The main achievement of this project is that now Zugdidi Screening Center is implementing National Screening Programs through National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC) i.e. it provides free of charge screening services funded by the Government of Georgia.

The center was opened in November 2019 and aims at providing equal geographic as well as financial accessibility to national cancer screening programs (breast, cervical, colorectal cancer screening and prostate cancer program) in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region as well as for the population in Abkhazia given the proximity of the border. https://georgia.charita.cz/ https://www.facebook.com/CCRGeorgia2015

Changing of the Guard: Svaneti BLOG BY TONY HANMER

W

ater is currently running better in the village, as leaf-fall with its pipe-blockages is slowing. This means

that…

Autumn is indeed giving way to winter, but not in a smooth process; there is some back and forth. Apparently, one thing which will signal the “arrival to stay” of the latter is the complete or near complete shedding of leaves on the very tall, thin trees which grace our village here and there. This process has begun, but is not yet over. Soon, though.

However, the best of the fall colors ON the trees, the reds and oranges, have already alighted on earth, leaving the yellows and the evergreens, the former to follow them soon, the latter never. I am still processing what few autumn photographs I was able to get this season.

Although much of my landscape photography (especially that of my main local muse, Mt. Ushba) is now trending towards only black and white, autumn is one season when colors dominate, as indeed they should. So I am processing my images sometimes in both versions.

A real challenge is to capture autumn without the colors at all, though, and I

am considering how best to do this.

The really dazzling moments in this between-seasons time are when snow falls right on the still-leafed trees, and their colors blaze through the white.

They might fall all the faster with the colder weather, but if there is no wind, as has been the case, they can also stay in place longer than one would expect.

Or, if a layer of snow falls and immediately below it in altitude the autumn hues remain, you have not a mix of seasons in one place, but a stripe of one above the other.

Nights have been cold, down to -12 or so, but days sunny for the most part, so the ground is not yet staying frozen from the night before, at least where the sun hits it. Because it is still warm, the thin snow can melt quicker, while the high albedo (reflectivity) of the white will also bounce back some of the sun’s rays.

But currently conditions are such that autumn is winning this battle. Not for long.

Eventually, there will come a snowfall thick enough and late enough to cool the ground further. This one won’t melt before the next one comes, and suddenly everything changes. Albedo goes up, the sun’s angle is weakened anyway, temperatures fall, and the ground, inch by inch, will freeze under its white blanket. Landscapes seem to be left nearly quite colorless anyway, the nearblack trees and rocks against the pure

white, and I hardly notice the difference when I discard hues for monotones in processing my photographs. Winter is here.

For a while, you can have the situation of all leaves fallen and no snow. I call this the deadest period, when things here just look sad. As was exclaimed in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, a time of always winter, never Christmas, is not a happy one. The deep snow, when it comes, forgives all this darkness and starkness with its contrast, and transforms it all into fairy tales.

But only for a while. Spring too must come, when the world wakes up and dances in greens and all the flower colors, and all new life comes into the world.

To this we can look forward while we add layers of clothing, turn up the heat, light the wood stove, and generally batten down.

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

Tony Hanmer has lived in Georgia since 1999, in Svaneti since 2007, and been a weekly writer and photographer for GT since early 2011. He runs the “Svaneti Renaissance” Facebook group, now with nearly 2000 members, at www.facebook.com/ groups/SvanetiRenaissance/ He and his wife also run their own guest house in Etseri: www.facebook.com/hanmer.house.svaneti

SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY

OCTOBER 29 - NOVEMBER 4, 2021

11

Waste Not, Want Not

BY HELENA BEDWELL

P

lastic-watcher Eka Asatiani and I have known each other since our early teens. We both lived through the tough and restrictive soviet times, and equally experienced the hard postsoviet era. The plastic bags with Marlboro cigarette logos were considered reusable back then, and were a prestigious item; a sign you might have visited the outside world.

When reminiscing on the fun times, Eka and I realize that, sadly, such plastic bags, in fact anything plastic, has become a nightmare for our planet.

She turned up at our meeting wearing recycled clothing adorned with colorful roses made entirely out of thrown-away plastic, most of which she had picked up while

hiking or found in the trash. Eka believes that there is no such thing as throwing away something and forgetting about it.

“It's impossible to take something, reject it, and chuck it away. It can’t be taken out of the universe. It is still here with us,” she says.

Though recycling and reusing is no new thing for Georgia, still Eka, and others like her, believe that biodegradation, as well as regular plastic recycling, should not be the only way found to save us.

“That’s where the circular economy comes in,” she says.

Inspired by Dame Ellen Patricia MacArthur, a retired successful solo longdistance yachtswoman from England, Eka explains her point, adding that it is not her job to preach to

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humans, but to encourage the alternatives of what to do with our refuse- items that can be reused rather than thrown away and possibly never be recycled.

“We must transform every element of our take-make-waste system,” Eka says.

“Use and return is what I’m saying. It’s important what we do with those materials. Take the company Philips: when you buy their products, you buy the service as well. They will come and take away those bulbs you used. Such an approach completely changes human behavior.”

Eka refuses to throw away leftover items. “I would take this used and thrown away plastic banner, for example, and fix it up, using tape, a hot iron or baking paper, and will give it back to you if you want to use it again.”

Eka is also a staunch supporter of putting personal touches on items, like inspirational or fun writing.

The circular economy gives us the tools to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss while addressing important social needs. Indeed, when researching the circular economy, you will see its power to change the world for the better, giving societies the power to grow jobs and prosperity while cutting greenhouse gas, waste, and pollution.

Eka is an inspiration, and her ideas a novelty to me, despite my being a dedicated recycler already, always using recycle points for household rubbish, and being a big fan of vintage clothing and furniture. I get my dressmaker or tailor to alter not only clothing, but to turn curtains into table cloths, or old jumpers into bed throws. I also remember turning unwanted t-shirts into pillowcases and Christmas decorations.

Yet Eka’s items are much cooler and more modern than what I would make; I love vintage, but Eka's coats are made from old thrown away Georgian lavash wrappers. It speaks volumes.

When I asked Eka what she thinks about how the large corporations or small and medium producers should step up their wasteful production, Eka answered that she doesn’t support harsh statements; rather, she says, love of this planet is an individual approach, like how you raise your child.

“If we all have it in our hearts that we should take care of something and be responsible, then it is already a good start. Humans should be respectful of themselves and their surroundings; that's how the governments and the system change.”

Eka is more a dream generator than a fashion designer. Her work, she says, is to raise awareness. She splits her time between the workshop and the showroom and “doesn't have time for sceptics” who reject her items to choose instead the luxury brands.

But when the luxury brands have already begun ditching fur and leather and other cruelly obtained items, it’s not so impossible to imagine them starting to recycle clothing. We need people like Eka pushing this agenda, and top celebrities showing that one dress can have a long life.

When I see Angelina Jolie turn up with her brood at a global premier in used clothes, or the royal princesses themselves reusing clothes, or choosing inexpensive brands, I feel the time is right: the time is coming to change the world for the better. We are a part of biodiversity. I am sure there will be a chain reaction!

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

Paths towards Decriminalizing Drug Use in Europe Continued from page 8 Portugal accepts the reality of drug use rather than hoping that it will disappear because of repressive legislation. The benefits of these reforms arise from both decriminalization itself and the establishment of a wider health-based response to drug problems.

The outcomes speak volumes: Drugrelated deaths have remained below the EU average since 2001. The proportion of prisoners sentenced for drugs has fallen from 40% to 15%. Fears of increased drug abuse resulting from decriminalization have proven to be unfounded.

Rates of drug use itself in Portugal have remained below the EU average over the past two decades. The number of addicts has fallen.

It may be rather difficult to identify a causal link between decriminalization in and of itself, and such positive results, but what counts is the larger package: the most significant effect has been to allow the stigma of drug addiction to fall, to let people speak without fear and to pursue the needed professional help.

Portugal was not the first country to decriminalize some or all drugs, and it has not been the last. The Portuguese model has been inspiring developments towards decriminalization in several countries, such as the 2020 decriminal-

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ization measure passed in the US state of Oregon, for example, and the draft law presented to the Parliament in Norway last spring.

As overdose deaths have been surging in Canada, a movement to decriminalize illicit drugs is gaining steam. Toronto, for example, is preparing to ask the federal government to decriminalize the possession of illicit drugs for personal use in the city, saying the move is needed as drug-related deaths reach record high.

In Europe, Italy will likely decide whether or not to decriminalize cannabis in a referendum next year.

In all, there are 29 countries around the world which have decriminalized to varying levels, and this number has been growing in recent years.

The Pompidou Group, with the diversity of its members, has no official stance on the issue of decriminalization, but it will continue to play its role of a platform of cooperation and dialogue for discussing both health and criminal related problems associated with drug use and abuse.

As dangerous drugs like crack cocaine fuel new epidemics in Europe and elsewhere, we need to focus on the health system. Our motto "Save lives, protect people", which we have used when we created a Covid-19 platform in 2020, is as valid today as ever.

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