Georgia Asks NATO for Medical Assistance
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
“Impartial, Informative, Insightful” GEL 3.00 #060 (4617) THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2020 WWW.MESSENGER.COM.GE OPINION & ANALYSIS Georgia asks NATO First case of COVID-19 reported in occupied Abkhazia for medical assistance FULL STORY ON Page 2 ECONOMICS The administration of government hold videoconference about Coronavirus FULL STORY ON Page 3 Coronavirus tests back in stock FULL STORY ON Page 3 As of April 8th, there are 208 confirmed cases of the Coronavirus in Georgia, recovered - 50, fatal outcome- 3. Photo: NATO INT BY NATALIA KOCHIASHVILI the global coronavirus pandemic. The opposition announced that government, both today and after the In a statement released on April 3rd, among political forces there is a full con- elections, to form a government based on he Georgian government has ap- the opposition parties noted that the sensus that the Georgian economy needs the political will of the Georgian people, T pealed to NATO for help. The docu- steps aimed to counter the COVID-19 a significant direct financial injection to to overcome the severe economic and ment sent to the Euro-Atlantic Coordina- outbreak, have ‘hit a serious blow to the keep the country’s economic balance dur- social crisis. tion Center (EADRCC) for Disaster Re- economy’ and it’s clear that the damage ing the pandemic and save the economy Among others, it has been signed by sponse requires material equipment for will be great. after the end of the pandemic. the United National Movement, Euro- 100 checkpoints of the Defense Forces. “The economic crisis will also threat- As stated in the letter, the Georgian pean Georgia, New Georgia, Republican The list of requirements in the letter en the fragile democracy of the country, government faces the urgent need to gain Party, Civil Movement, Free Georgia, is divided into 3 categories and is accom- which has to pass an important test in international financial support, and no Girchi, European Democrats, For Vic- panied by the purpose and quantity of this year’s parliamentary elections,” matter ‘how critical we may be of them, torious Georgia, Democratic Movement use- equipment and hygiene, equipment reads the statement, adding that despite we fully support this effort.’ – United Georgia, Lelo for Georgia, as for blocking roads and fast-consuming the crisis the opposition expects to fulfill Signatory parties and civil move- well as independent lawmaker Nato items such as disposable bio combiners, its commitments, implement constitu- ments say that it is in the common and Chkheidze. respirators N95, protective masks, dis- tional and electoral reform and release vital interest to receive international as- It is noteworthy that the EU already infection tents and waterproof materials political prisoners. sistance, which will enable the country’s allocated 140 mln EUROs for EaP states for disinfection tents, etc. and redirected the use of 700 mln EUROs To recap, the Czech Republic was the to ease the coronavirus impact on the first country to receive 100 tons of medi- economy. cal equipment from China with the help The EBRD is pledging financing to of NATO. The transport plane AN-124 help firms in Georgia deal with the im- 24-25, owned by the Ukrainian company pact of the coronavirus outbreak. The Antonov Airlines, performed this flight EBRD has made available an emergency on March 24-25. Since then, medical Solidarity Package of €1 billion for its assistance has already been provided to existing clients across 38 economies, Slovakia, China and Romania through including clients in Georgia. various programs. As for local allocations, the ruling 22 Georgian opposition political Georgian Dream party members in the parties and one independent MP have Georgian government as well as in the called on the govt’s of the United States, Parliament (105 people in total) will the UK, Canada, Norway, Switzerland, transfer third of their monthly salaries as well as the EU, the World Bank, the to the StopCov fund for 3 months. European Monetary Fund, the EBRD, A total of 23 793 096 GEL has already the European Investment Bank, the been accumulated in the StopCov fund as Development Bank, JICA and the Asian of April 8. The funds raised in the Stop- Development Bank to assist georgian CoV fund, that was created on March 23, in handling the challenges of Coronavi- will be used to meet ‘identified needs.’ rus. They expressed full support to the The Georgian government allocated 2 Georgian government’s efforts to gain bln GEL to assist the economy in emer- international financial support to avoid PM Gakharia held a video conference with the European Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and gencies. Besides, 351 million GEL has grave economic crisis in the country amid Enlargement Oliver Warhel, the main topic discussed was dealing with the global pandemic. been allocated as the crisis budget. P2 | OPINION & ANALYSIS THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2020 First case of COVID-19 reported in occupied Abkhazia BY NATALIA KOCHIASHVILI eorgia’s Russian-occupied G Abkhazia region registered its first case of the novel Corona- virus on April 7th. The de facto authorities of the region say that the infected individual is a 57-year-old man from Gagra, Georgia’s western- most town, who has recently re- turned from Russia. After testing positive for the Coronavirus, the patient was delivered to Gudauta hospital, where he now undergoes treatment. A 50-year-old ethnic georgian resident of Abkhaz-controlled Gali district, who also travelled to Foreign Minister Zalkaliani: “We are as open as possible to help our fellow Contact tracing is now carried out to track the spread of the disease, noted Russia, is undergoing treatment citizens who are beyond the occupation line as much as possible, and we have Abkhazia’s health officer. international partners involved in this.” on Tbilisi-controlled territory, after testing positive for the virus connecting the region with Geor- ashvili warned on April 1st. Given the situation created by priate humanitarian assistance on March 30th, in Georgian- gia proper on February 27th, a Tsikhelashvili reaffirmed that the Coronavirus pandemic, the to people living in the occupied controlled Zugdidi’s hospital. day after Tbilisi recorded the first Georgia is ready to provide sup- Georgian government has repeat- territories. More than 40 people who had Coronavirus case. port for its citizens living in the edly reaffirmed its readiness to As stated by foreign minister, contact with the woman or have Prior to that, on February occupied regions. provide full assistance to the people Zalkaliani, the possibility of ef- suspicious symptoms have also 25th, Sokhumi extended a travel She expressed hope that the living on the other side of the occu- fective action and assistance is been transported onto Tbilisi- ban barring ‘foreign nationals,’ de facto authorities will be able pation line. As the PM of Georgia limited by the fact that the oc- controlled territory and are in except Russian Federation citi- to address the issue in line with noted, “It does not matter which cupation regime has closed and quarantine in the seaside town zens. The Abkhaz authorities recommendations and take steps side of the Enguri people are in- blocked the checkpoints, which of Anaklia. restricted the travel for Russian to trace people who had contact fected, we will help everyone, both makes the humanitarian situa- As the news about Gali citizens into the occupied region with the infected man. in terms of medical services and all tion very difficult. It’s notewor- resident’s COVID-19 diagnosis on March 28th, as the confirmed Tsikhelashvili stated on April the means that the state of Georgia thy that on March 28th, 2020, a emerged, Sokhumi then promptly cases surpassed 1,000 in the Rus- 1, that the attitude of the de provides to its citizens today.” new hospital was opened in the restricted movement between Gali sian Federation. facto authorities of Tskhinvali At the same time, the Min- village of Rukhi located about a district and the rest of Abkhazia Georgian Minister for Rec- is ‘alarming and concerning,’ as istry of Foreign Affairs is in kilometre from Enguri Bridge, by setting up roadblocks on Gali- onciliation and Civil Equality they are refusing any coopera- constant coordination with the which connects Russia-occupied Ochamchire highway. Abkhaz au- Ketevan Tsikhelashvili says tion with the central government diplomatic missions accredited Abkhazia with the rest of Georgia. thorities also imposed a nighttime that the two Russian-occupied regarding the Coronavirus or any in Georgia and with international The hospital has the capacity curfew in Gali district in an effort regions of Georgia Abkhazia and other issue. organizations, as well as with to accept 100 patients and is fully to contain the spread of the virus. Tskhinvali face the threat of an She expressed hope that the international non-governmental equipped with modern technolo- In a bid to halt the Coronavi- outbreak of COVID-19 as people de facto government of Tskhinvali organizations, in order to jointly gies. A dormitory has also been rus spread, on March 27th acting have moved freely between the will act ‘more reasonably’ as the provide humanitarian assistance provided for the family members Abkhaz leader Valery Bganba regions and Russia over the past case concerns the life and health to the victims of the conflict. of patients undergoing treatment. declared a state of emergency in several weeks. of people. So far, no COVID-19 According to the statement, “Everybody, who will cross the the region effective until April 20. “Since the onset of the out- confirmed cases have been re- the Ministry of Foreign Affairs occupation line in need of medical Fearing the Coronavirus out- break, hundreds of people have ported from there. will continue to work closely with care, will receive the assistance… break, Abkhaz authorities im- entered Abkhazia from the Rus- As of the evening of April 8th, partner countries and interna- This is the main function and posed temporary restrictions on sian Federation, which has been there are 8,672 confirmed CO- tional organizations in order to mission of this powerful medical the Enguri Bridge crossing point, affected by the disease,” Tsikhel- VID-19 cases in Russia.