What Is the Meaning Behind the Meeting of Kerry and Janelidze? Salome Khvedelidze
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VISIT WEBSITE & READ DAILY NEWS MARCH 21, 2016 N17 yovelkvireuli orenovani gazeTi saqarTveloSi WEEKLY BILINGUAL NEWSPAPER IN GEORGIA WHAT IS THE MEANING BEHIND DUE TO THE EURO ATLANTIC ASPIRATIONS THE MEETING OF KERRY AND GEORGIA HAS ONCE JANELIDZE? P. 2 AGAIN BEEN PUNISHED P. 3 WHO STANDS BEHIND THE SURVEILLANCE VIDEOS WHICH AIMED TO BLACKMAIL THE SOCIETY? P. 4 MELANO – A YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF A MUSHROOM BUSINESS FROM KURDGELAURI P. 7 YOUNG AMBASSADOR’S PROGRAM RAISES QUESTIONS “Considering this, the fact that John Kerry will be visiting Georgia probably in June, right before the 2016 P. 10 Warsaw Summit, is a political step, which most likely holds a symbolic meaning and is also some kind of com- pensation for disappointment as Georgia will be denied Membership Action Plan (MAP) again”, said Tornike Turmanidze. THE UNIQUE GLASS INSTALLATION REVIVES WHAT IS BEHIND RUSSIA’S PARTIAL AN ANCIENT PALACE OF GEGUTI P. 5 SYRIAN WITHDRAWAL? P. 14 By such a decision, Putin conceivably pointed out that it is time to solve the problem out on the table without military intervention. Perhaps it is no coincidence that “MORE THAN A SPORT” – Russia`s decision occurred while Geneva negotiations has been taking place between Syrian government and GEORGIAN RUGBY TEAM the opposition. The Kremlin might have assumed that WINS THE EUROPEAN whereas their presence in Syria costs a lot (and, at least, Russia helped Bashar regime to stay in power), there is NATIONS CUP a high possibility that Geneva talks will bring positive outcomes for Russia that includes maintaining Assad`s P. 16 regime, first and foremost. OFFICIAL EXCHANGE RATE OF LARI AGAINST PRISONERS RELEASED ON ENGURI FOREIGN CURRENCIES BRIDGE HAS A LOT TO SAY P. 8 1 USD = 2.3157 Observer spoke to another Georgian prisoner who 1 EUR = 2.6105 asked us not to identify his name. As he said, he is not afraid but he prefers to be careful as his parents and 1 GBP = 3.3446 many of his relatives live in South Ossetia. According 10 RUB = 0.3396 to him, local police are doing their best to detain Geor- gians no matter what. As he said, the more Georgians 10 UAH = 0.8772 there are, the more Ossetians have chances to be re- leased from Georgian prison. 1 TRL = 0.8093 POLITICS MARCH 21, 2016 | www.observer.com.ge | 2 WHAT IS THE MEANING BEHIND THE MEETING OF KERRY AND JANELIDZE? SALOME KHVEDELIDZE “We believe that an independ- The U.S. Secretary of State ex- that these days the US clear- not believe, for instance, that hand, because of the Reset Pol- ent, unified and prosperous pressed his readiness to come to ly sees that on the one hand, the meeting can bring some icy with Russia (which appeared Georgia is essential to the peace Tbilisi in June. John Kerry was Georgian integration to Euro- noticeable changes regarding to be unsuccessful) and then be- and stability of the Caucasus”, in Georgia in August of 2008, Atlantic structures increases at Georgia’s sped up accession to cause of its internationalist out- stated the U.S. Secretary of while being a Senator. The vis- a relatively slow pace, and on NATO”, noted Turmanidze. look, restrains from open con- State John Kerry at the meeting it of summer 2016 is to be his with Georgian Foreign Minister first visit as Secretary of State. MikheilJanelidze on March 15. The associate professor of the During the meeting John Kerry IvaneJavakhishvili Tbilisi State highlighted the importance of University TornikeTurmanidze Georgia in the region. He also thinks that the meeting of our underlined the contribution of Foreign Minister with Secre- the Georgian army to the efforts tary of State forthe US, is al- in Afghanistan in the frames of ways a positive and important the NATO mission and said that event. “This time it was the first Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspi- official visit of the newly ap- rations are welcomed. Accord- pointed Minister to the United ingly, it is important to main- States and, therefore, his first tain close relations with both meeting with John Kerry hold- Europe and the United States. ing such status. Judging by the Special attention was paid to comments that were made after occupied territories. The United the meeting, it can be concluded the other, within the “Georgian According to him, the Obama frontation with Russia and is not States traditionally expresses that thetwo countries discussed Dream” administration, a rise Administration underlined on as active supporter of its neigh- its strong support for Georgia’s traditional priorities”, - he said. of pro-Russian attitudes can multiple occasions that for ac- bors (for instance, Georgia and sovereignty and territorial in- It must be noted, since 2008, be indicated, which, of course, cession in regards to the Euro- Ukraine) to join NATO as was tegrity and wished to see Geor- within the Obama Administra- worries officials in Washington. Atlantic Alliance Georgia needs Bush’s Administration”, notes gia unified and independent. tion, despite still maintaining “Georgian society should not consent from European mem- Turmanidze. “We hope that those prob- strategic relationship, Georgia and probably do not hold ex- bers, including those, such as At the same time, of course, lems will be solved in a peace- dropped to a lower level on his cessive expectations behind Germany and France, who are the government is also respon- ful manner and we will find a administration’s list of foreign traditional statements made at quite skeptical concerning our sible for its policies thatwerenot solution together with ourinter- affairs priorities. Such result can the bilateral meeting by our membership. “Considering this, enough for Georgia to be on the national partners – the United be explained by several reasons. strategic partner. We should the fact that John Kerry will be United States agenda more often. States and our other allies”, - The TSU Associate Profes- not believe, for instance, that visiting Georgia probably in As Turmanidze says, the ap- stressed the Foreign Minister. sor, TornikeTurmanidze states the meeting can bring some June, right before the 2016 War- proach of the ruling coalition that saw Summit, is a political step, Georgia should not be the apple which most likely holds a sym- of discord between the West and Georgian First Deputy Foreign Minister Mikheil bolic meaning and is also some Russia was wrong; as wasthe Janelidze has summed up results of the visit kind of compensation for dis- idea that it is possible to regulate appointment as Georgia will be relations with Russia indepen- to the United States of America denied Membership Action Plan dently, without the West. “In- Georgian First Deputy Foreign Minis- Within the framework of the People-to- (MAP) again”, said TornikeTur- stead of constantly taking action ter Mikheil Janelidze highlighted results People and Cultural Exchanges Working manidze. so that we keep Georgia’s issues of the meetings of the U.S.-Georgia Stra- Group, the sides highlighted Georgia’s pro- There are certainly no exces- such as NATO integration and tegic Partnership Commission’s (SPC) gress in the areas of education, culture, sport sive expectations in Georgia. reoccupation of our territories on Democracy and Governance Working and health as well as prospects for the fur- According to the Minister of the foreign policy agenda within Group and People-to-People and Cul- ther strengthening of bilateral co-operation. Defense, Georgian delegations the Obama Administration, or tural Exchanges Working Group held According to Mikheil Janelidze, the serve one goal of achieving suc- instead of reacting to the U.S.’s on 12 and 13 November in Washington. sides discussed within the framework of cess at the NATO Warsaw Sum- comparatively passiveefforts Within the framework of the Democ- the two working groups indicate how deep mit and enhancing defense capa- with their ownpassive approach, racy and Governance Working Group, the and comprehensive the U.S.-Georgia stra- bilities after the Summit. Senior current Georgian government is United States commended Georgia’s im- tegic partnership is and how important a officials munificently noted it encouraging the United States to plemented reforms towards the strength- role the united states plays in Georgia’s would be wrong to expect MAP be ever more relaxed”, says in- ening of democracy and governance, as democratic transformation and in ensur- at the upcoming Summit. Deputy ternational relations specialist. well as Georgia’s achievements in reform- ing the welfare of Georgian population. Foreign Minister, David Don- It is true that the above-men- ing the judiciary, law enforcement and At the meetings held in Washington on 12 dua, said, that the right rhetoric tioned reasons created the situ- security services, administrative and pre- and 13 November, the Georgian delegation is essential and they do not want ation, where the interest of the trial detention, and the corrections sys- was led by co-chairs First Deputy Foreign the society to create false expec- U.S. in Georgia somewhat de- tem; Georgia’s efforts to improve the civil Minister Mikheil Janelidze, First Deputy tations on MAP, because it will creased and Georgia-United service, to include civil society in decision Minister of Justice Alexander Baramidze and then only cause frustrations, States relations were not elevat- making bodies, to ensure respect for the First Deputy State Minister for Reconciliation which will be used by the Rus- ed to a new level.But, at the same rights of all, including members of minor- and Civic Equality Ketevan Tsikhelashvili. sian propagandists in Georgia. time, it must be said that the two ity populations, empowerment of women The U.S. delegation was led by the Deputy As for current U.S. Admin- countries still remain strategic The sides reaffirmed the importance of Assistant Secretary of State for European istration, according to Turma- partners.