SOCIAL MEDIA

15 - 21 JANUARY 2018 ISSUE N: 55 POLITICS Chairman of the of Georgia Visited and Ukraine 15-17.01.2018, – In the framework of his official visit to Latvia, the Chairman of the parliament Irakli Kobakhidze held meetings with the top officials. Discussed: Inter-Parliamentary relations; cooperation in economic, education and culture spheres; the grave situation in the occupied territories of Georgia and regional security challenges. The and Latvian Saeima signed the Strategic Memorandum on Partnership. According to Mr. Vējonis, Latvia strongly supports Georgia’s EU aspirations. More: http://e.gov.ge/DDeRl http://e.gov.ge/gUdEy 17-19.01.2018, KIEV - Irakli Kobakhidze and the Parliamentary Delegation visited Ukraine and held meetings with the President, Prime Minister and Chairman of . “We share challenges and objectives in common. We shall unify our efforts to address the challenges and achieve our goals. Our common goal is to access EU and NATO and we shall jointly strive to this objective”. - Mr.Kobakhidze stated. Discussed: Inter-Parliamentary relations and bilateral cooperation in various directions as well as common challenges in the region; EU and NATO integration of Georgia and Ukraine. More: http://e.gov.ge/TbTWn http://e.gov.ge/QFtsa NATO Chiefs of Defence Discussed NATO - Georgia Cooperation 16-17.01.2018, BRUSSELS - 178th Military Committee of Chiefs of Defence Session was held at NATO headquarters. Representatives of the Ministry of Defence of Georgia briefed NATO members over Georgia’s military progress and reforms. The Allied Chiefs recognized Georgia's significant and enduring contribution to NATO’s Operations and Missions, especially to Resolute Support. The CHoDs commitment to supporting the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package was restressed and they noted the opportunity for further NATO-Georgia interoperability. More: http://e.gov.ge/xfwGZ Members of the House of Lords raised Russia-Georgia Conflict 19.01. 2018, LONDON - For the first time Georgia’s territorial integrity and Russian occupation was raised at the House of Lords during the Question Time - "Ensuring that Russia respects the territorial integrity of Georgia and withdraws its troops from Georgian Soil”. Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon was invited to answer the related questions. According to him: “The UK is a staunch supporter of Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Last year we supported two UN resolutions on Georgia’s breakaway territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia using OSCE statements to call out Russian activities”. He also mentioned that Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson discussed the issue of Georgia with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during his visit to Moscow in December 2017. More: http://e.gov.ge/RWGRa ECONOMY Georgia at the International Tourism Fair in Spain 17-21.01.2018, MADRID - Georgia’s vast tourism potential was put on display in Madrid, Spain, at tourism exhibition ‘FITUR 2018’. At a special stand in the European pavilion, visitors were able to learn more about Georgia’s tourism potential, try different wines and travel across the country with the 3D virtual reality glasses. First VPM, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Dimitry Kumsishvili attended exhibition. “Tourism is one of the most important economic sectors for Georgia – in 2017, tourism generated more than 2.7 billion USD in our country’s economy. Therefore, the goal of our country is to further facilitate the development of the tourism sector,” - Minister Kumsishvili said. More: http://e.gov.ge/FzKzj FOLLOW US ON: EVENTS Foreign Minister Hosts Children Living Near Occupation Line for the New Year Celebration /mfageorgia/

17.01.2018, TBILISI - VPM, FM Mikheil Janelidze hosted children with a special /MFAgovge entertaining program for kids from Kareli and Gori Municipalities. /janelidzeMkh "I’m very happy to host these very special guests and share the happy minutes with /MFAGEO

them. We are well aware of the difficulties these children face because of the DEVELOPED BY: occupation.” – Minister said. Strategic Communications Unit Political Department At the end of the New Year program, the children received presents collected for them by MFA of Georgia Georgia’s Consulate and Georgian diaspora of New York. More: http://e.gov.ge/LNBHz [email protected]