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Issue no: 877877 • SEPTEMBER 9 - 112,2 2016 • PUBLISHED TWICE WEEKLY PRICE: GEL 2.50

In this week’s issue... Armenian PM Set to Resign After Months of Civil Unrest, Economic Downturn NEWS PAGE 2 The Carrot & The Stick: Ogden on NATO FOCUS POLITICS PAGE 5 ON NATO TBC Offers Farmers New Agro Sending a message to the world: Investment Loan Sec-Gen Stoltenberg pledges continued assistance to Georgian BUSINESS PAGE 8 govt. for NATO membership PAGE 2, 4 The Amazing Contradictions of Georgian Society SOCIETY PAGE 9 Unite for a Sustainable Future Education Key to Raising Conference to be Held at Goethe Institute ASD Awareness in Georgia, CULTURE PAGE 11 Georgia Takes 2 Gold, 1 Silver in the World Nomad US Experts Say Games

BY VAZHA TAVBERIDZE

very year, we are witnessing a rise in the number of peo- ple diagnosed with autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Out of every 68 chil- dren,E one is diagnosed with autism spectrum (CDC, 2014). And Georgia is by no means an exception, where SPORTS PAGE 15 the numbers are also on the rise. The Saint George Autism center, under the aegis of the Child Develop- ment Institute at the Ilia State Univer- sity in Tbilisi, is the very fi rst such institution in Georgia and uses the world-acclaimed Applied Behavioral Analysis methodology. For four years now, a Czech NGO, Caritas Czech Republic, has been cooperating with the Institute, with funding provided through The Czech Development Agency. Continued on page 10 Source: blogs.jpmsonline.com GEORGIA TODAY 2 NEWS SEPTEMBER 9 - 12, 2016 Armenian PM Set to Resign After Months of Civil Unrest, Economic Downturn NATO Secretary General Meets with Georgian MPs in Tbilisi on members of Parliament for active engagement BY TAMAR SVANIDZE in strengthening Georgia’s democratic institutions. “Your reform efforts are important for the people of Georgia and as a means to help Georgia meet ollowing a meeting with Georgia’s Prime the standards required for becoming a member of Minister, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, on Wednes- NATO. We pledge that we will continue to work day, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stolten- closely with the Georgian government to help pre- Russia has stunted its economic growth and forced BY NICHOLAS WALLER berg and ambassadors from the western pare your country for future NATO membership,” it to become a clingy dependent of Moscow. Alliance’s member states met with Geor- Stoltenberg said. Armenia relies heavily on remittances from its gianF Parliament members and speaker David Usu- Usupashvili reiterated that full membership is citizens working in Russia, which are a badly needed pashvili on Thursday. the only thing absent from the current relations. rmenian Prime Minister Hovik Abra- source of income and is a key contributor to the In his opening remarks, Stoltenberg said the pres- Otherwise, Georgia and NATO are “effectively hamyan’s government is expected to country’s Gross Domestic Product. ence of the North Atlantic Council in Georgia is working together and discussing global security resign following months of violent Russia’s economic slide following a sharp decrease an expression of the strong importance NATO issues by allowing Georgia to be a fully-fl edged civil unrest and an increasingly falter- in the price of oil and stiff international sanctions attaches to Georgia and its future membership. participant in all NATO activities.” ing economy, Russian news agency for its invasion of Ukraine cause the Ruble to lose “The North Atlantic Council’s visit to Georgia “The question is not about ‘yes or no’ on NATO AInterfax and international outlet Reuters reported half its value from late 2014. sends a very important message to the world,” he membership, but which way is the quickest and early Thursday. Abrahamyan’s embattled government - which has said while meeting Georgian parliamentarians. most effective,” Usupashvili said. Abrahamyan was set to meet with top offi cials been in offi ce since 2014 - has been sharply criti- The upcoming October parliamentary elections On Thursday afternoon, Stoltenberg met with from the ruling Republican Party on Thursday to cized for the handling of a short four-day confl ict will be an important benchmark for Georgia’s Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili before discuss his resignation. with Azerbaijan over the breakaway Nagorno- democratic standards, NATO offi cials said on the ending his two-day offi cial visit to the small South Armenia’s economy has faltered badly in the last Karabakh region and the seizure in July of a Yere- sidelines of the meeting. The NATO Chief called Caucasus nation. year following the collapse of the Dram, the national van police station by armed men demanding the currency, and widespread unemployment. The rul- release of a jailed opposition politician. ing party’s expectations of an economic windfall Local media has named Karen Karapetyan as a following their ascension to the Russian-led Eura- likely successor. Karapetyan is a technocrat and sian Customs Union has had little knock-on effect. former mayor of Yerevan. Before entering govern- The tiny, landlocked South Caucasus nation’s ment, he served as the head of a national gas dis- deep reliance on aid and direct investment from tributing company. Georgia’s Viticulture Heartland Hosts UN Wine Tourism Conference

impact on the local cultural, economy and environ- BY TAMAR SVANIDZE ment. Various workshops are being held at different wineries in Kakheti, home to 65 percent of Geor- eorgia’s Kakheti region, known as the gia’s wine producing vineyards and 80 percent of cradle of the country’s winemaking, the country’s grape harvest. is hosting a UN-organized conference Winemaking in the Kakheti region has been dated on wine tourism September 7-9. back 8,000 years. Organizers hope the conference The UN’s World Tourism Organiza- will help promote Georgia’s unique winemaking Gtion is playing host to the fi rst annual Global Con- traditions, including the UNESCO-listed method ference on Wine Tourism, a forum where experts of fermentation in large tear-shaped terracotta and industry leaders are to focus on the wineries’ amphorae known as Qvevri. GEORGIA TODAY SEPTEMBER 9 - 12, 2016 NEWS 3 EU’s Civil Liberties Committee Backs Visa Waiver for Georgia and Kosovo

Photo: Georgia’s Foreign Minister and President of the National Council of the Swiss Confederation free travel to the Schengen Zone is a vitally impor- BY TAMAR SVANIDZE tant step for both Georgia and Kosovo towards strengthening their economic and cultural relations with EU members and will add a further impetu- Georgia, Switzerland he European Parliament’s Civil Liber- ous for the governments in Tbilisi and Pristina to ties, Justice and Home Affairs Com- pursue widespread political and human rights mittee on Monday voted to grant reforms. citizens of Georgia and Kosovo the “More efforts are necessary when it comes to Increase Co-Operation right to travel to the Schengen zone media freedom, women’s and minority rights and Twithout a visa. judicial reform,” Gabriel said. With 44 votes in favor and 5 against for Georgia; Citizens of Georgia, Ukraine and Kosovo, had rent situation in the region, relations between 25 votes for and 24 against, as well as 2 abstentions, originally expected to receive visa-free travel to BY THEA MORRISON Georgia and Russia and the ongoing develop- for Kosovo; the committee approved visa-free travel the EU’s Schengen Zone this past summer, but ments in Georgia’s occupied territories. for citizens of both nations who possess a biom- Germany suddenly backtracked on its previous The Georgian Foreign Minister thanked the Swiss etric passport. support over concerns about organized crime links he increasing potential of co-oper- side for the support of Georgia’s territorial integ- Negotiations for visa liberalization began in 2012. and unfettered immigration. ation between Georgia and Switzer- rity and sovereignty and for playing the delicate By the end of 2015, the EU Commission had con- The abolition of the Schengen Zone’s visa regime land in different spheres and the role of mediator in Georgia-Russia relations. cluded that the country had fulfi lled all of Brussels’ for Georgian citizens requires approval from the importance of concluding the Agree- Later on Tuesday, Christa Markwalder also met benchmarks. council of EU home affairs and justice ministers, ment between Georgia and the Euro- with the Georgian Prime Minister, Giorgi Kviri- The visa waiver issue is not included on the agenda which failed to agree on the issue in June after peanT Free Trade Association (EFTA) were the kashvili. The PM underlined the signifi cance of of the European Parliament’s next plenary session Germany’s last-minute about-face. main topics of the meeting between the Georgian the Swiss aid in the area of developing highland on September 12-15. Without a last-minute amend- The EU is now making it easier to suspend visa Foreign Minister, Mikheil Janelidze, and Presi- regions in Georgia and highlighted the support ment to the parliament’s debate schedule, the issue waivers for countries wishing to move closer dent of the National Council of the Swiss Con- provided by the Swiss Agency for Development of a new visa regime for both Georgia and Kosovo towards full integration with Brussels. federation, Christa Markwalder, on Tuesday. and Cooperation in the process of implementa- would take place at the next plenary session on The visa waiver regime allows easier access - but According to Markwalder, the agreement con- tion of the projects. October 3-6 or October 24-27. not working rights - for up to 90 days in the Schen- cluded with the EFTA by Georgia would signifi - Kvirikashvili informed Markwalder about the EU Parliament member Maria Gabriel said visa- gen Zone and several non-EU members. cantly promote the strengthening of trade and Government's four-point plan that encompasses economic relations both with Switzerland and rapid development of the country, reforming of with other parties to the Agreement. education and governance systems as well as The possibility of enhancing tourism ties and modernization of infrastructure. increasing Swiss investments into Georgia were The Free Trade Agreement was signed between Feast in Karabakh Causes also discussed by the two offi cials. Georgia and the European Free Trade Associa- Moreover, the sides discussed mutual coopera- tion (EFTA) this June during the Prime Minister's tion in trade, economic, cultural and educational offi cial visit to Switzerland. Through the deal spheres and decided to establish closer ties between with the EFTA, Georgia is now able to sell its International Scandal the regions of Georgia and the Swiss cantons. goods in Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liech- Janelidze and Markwalder spoke about the cur- tenstein. Georgia’s Air Taxi Service Set to Launch in Autumn

United States that will carry passengers to the BY TAMAR SVANIDZE Black Sea city Batumi and the highland regions of Kazbegi and Svaneti once the company is cleared for an operational license. eginning this autumn, small commer- Details about pricing have yet to be released cial aircraft will soon carry passengers by the company. between Georgia’s smaller cities and Adjara Group also said their air taxi services mountainous areas, according to would later incorporate the use of helicopters Adjara Group director Valery Chek- and planes that can take off from and land on Bheria. short runways and landing strips, which will tion of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic", which BY DIMITRI DOLABERIDZE The company has already purchased a number enable passengers to get to smaller airports and stated: of eight-seat Beechcraft aeroplanes from the isolated regions. "The Republic of Abkhazia - a friend and ally of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. We are interested he representatives of the de facto in the further intensive development of mutually republic of Abkhazia today published benefi cial relations with Nagorno Karabakh in a photo of the Abkhaz de facto vice- various fi elds, ready to take concrete steps in this president Vitaly Gabniya standing direction". with the President of Armenia, Serzh Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia, Gigi Gigi- TSargsyan, at a banquet in honor of the Day of Step- adze, spoke to the Georgian Ambassador to Arme- anakert in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. This nia and Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia to photo has outraged the Georgian public. However, clarify the situation. the Georgian Foreign Ministry in the evening after "The Armenian side claims that no meetings with talks with Armenian diplomats made a statement representatives from the separatist regime were that there was never any such meeting. held,” Gigiadze told reporters. “This is another The photo, which shows a banquet table with the political speculation, such as those often used by men standing with glasses in their hands, appeared representatives of the occupation regime. Armenia early in the morning on the page of the Deputy is a friend to Georgia who has openly expressed Minister of Foreign Affairs of the de facto Repub- support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial lic of Abkhazia, Kan Tania, with the caption: “The integrity. And we keep a very close cooperation," delegation of the Republic of Abkhazia welcomes he emphasized. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and President However, the photograph taken "at the meeting, Bako Sahakyan.” which was not" had by that point already gone viral On the same day on the website of de facto Pres- on all social networks. Further, correspondents of ident Raul Khajimba, appeared a greeting to Bako the Armenian Service of Radio Liberty was able to Sahakyan, "on the 25th anniversary of the forma- confi rm that it was not created on Photoshop. GEORGIA TODAY 4 POLITICS SEPTEMBER 9 - 12, 2016 Stoltenberg Says NATO Tbilisi Hosts International Conference on Geo-strategic Will Continue to Enlarge Landscape

Margvelashvili. BY THEA MORRISON Despite Russia's Objections He expressed hope that Georgian citi- zens would soon enjoy visa-free travel to Europe’s Schengen zone. eorgia’s President Giorgi When discussing the upcoming Octo- Margvelashvili and McCain ber 8 parliamentary elections, Margve- BY TAMAR SVANIDZE Institute president, former lashvili said the polls would be an impor- US Permanent Represent- tant test for Georgia’s democratic ative to NATO Kurt Volker, institutions. ATO Secretary General Gopened an international conference in “Georgia has achieved signifi cant pro- Jens Stoltenberg, on his Tbilisi on Tuesday dedicated to Europe's gress, increased its self-defense capacity two-day visit to Georgia’s Changing Geostrategic Landscape fol- and is considered as an important part- capital Tbilisi, said Geor- lowing July’s Warsaw Summit. ner when referring to the Black Sea gia’s progress in develop- The two-day conference include polit- basin,” Margvelashvili said. Ning its democracy and defensive capac- ical and security leaders from the United Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kviri- ities guarantees an opportunity to become States, European Union, Georgia and the kashvili also spoke about the challenges an Alliance member in the future. Euro-Atlantic community and focused that face Georgia and the whole Cauca- Stoltenberg pointed to NATO’s 2008 on challenges facing the nations of East- sus region, saying that Russia exudes declaration the Georgia should become ern Europe. ever-increasing infl uence over Georgia a member, adding Montenegro’s recent Margvelashvili addressed the issue of and the region through its policies of ascension is an example of the Alliance’s and said they look forward to Georgia Speaking about the meeting with Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration pro- occupation and support for separatist open door policy. maintaining the same course to one day Stoltenberg, Kvirikashvili said, “Georgia cess and highlighted the importance of proxies. “To become a member of NATO, Geor- become a full member. will continue its consistent reform efforts the US’ and Europe’s policy amid grow- Kvirikashvili also said regional energy gia has to meet the standards and require- “I think that the presence of the North and wait patiently for the right window ing threats from Russia. projects and cooperation with Azerbai- ments for membership, and that’s exactly Atlantic Council that represents all 28 of opportunity to join NATO.” “Georgia has achieved a lot. Our coun- jan in the energy sector remain vital why we are working together with the Allies and also Montenegro, which is “The overwhelming majority of the try is today an important part of the components of Georgia’s relations with Georgian government to make this hap- now in the process of offi cially joining Georgian population supports NATO discussions on regional stability,” said its neighbors. pen,” Stoltenberg said at a joint press NATO, shows the strong commitment membership. I want to reassure our part- conference with Georgia’s Prime Min- and partnership between NATO and ners that this progress will be maintained, ister, Giorgi Kvirikashvili. Georgia. We are here in Tbilisi to con- and Georgia will achieve its eventual “You are continuing to strengthen your fi rm our commitment to your nation goal of becoming a member,” Kvirikash- democracy and civic institutions. This once again,” Stoltenberg said. vili said. has helped Georgia move closer to NATO Asked if Russia will play any role when The upcoming October parliamentary and the West. You are not walking alone it comes to NATO’s decision regarding elections will be an important bench- on your reform path,” Stoltenberg added. Georgia’s integration to the Alliance, mark for Georgia’s democratic standards, Despite Georgia’s progress toward full Stoltenberg was quick to emphasize that NATO offi cials said on the sidelines of Euro-Atlantic aspiration, an exact date despite Moscow’s hostile posture towards the meeting. They added that the elec- when the Alliance will open the door to NATO and the Kremlin’s repeated tan- tions are vital to shaping the Alliance’s membership for the small former Soviet trums over its plans to enlarge, these overall picture of Georgia, as NATO is republic remains up in the air. play no role in the decision-making pro- a community of democratic values, rule Stoltenberg, however, emphasized that cess of the Alliance. of law and human rights. at the July NATO Summit in Warsaw, “No one else has the right to interfere The North Atlantic Council, chaired Alliance leaders had welcomed the or veto NATO’s decision,” Stoltenberg by Stoltenberg, is visiting Georgia for impressive progress Georgia has made said. the fourth time. Welcome to Indian Restaurant

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lands War, British territory was invaded OP-ED BY TIM OGDEN and occupied by Argentina but Article 5 could not have been invoked even had Margaret Thatcher tried to do so ATO offi cials arrived in (although the Iron Lady was, by all Georgia this week, and accounts, determined that Britain reclaim why the government hails the islands alone). Aside from muted this as a sure sign of even- logistical support from the United States, tual membership in the no NATO allies assisted the British war NAlliance, many Georgian people remain effort voluntarily, nor did they ever come unconvinced and skeptical. close from being obligated to do so. As I do myself. Although I served in My fear is that in the event of another the army in my own country, I have a military emergency in Georgia, this rather low opinion of NATO as an organ- precedent might be called upon to pre- ization and can’t help but think its sell- vent NATO from fulfi lling its self-infl icted by date expired fi fty years ago. Perhaps obligations. It is not hard to imagine a when NATO was founded there was spineless bureaucrat fi nding some tech- some degree of sincerity behind the idea nicality over the fact that Article 5 only of collective defense, but those days are referred to ‘Europe’ when it was con- long over, and aspiring towards NATO ceived; this might be taken to mean only membership has ironically helped towards Western Europe, which could then be causing confl icts rather than preventing followed by a debate over whether Geor- them. gia is in Europe at all: I have heard plenty To say that anyone who believes that of people (Americans, mostly; there’s NATO’s Article 5 collective defense pro- some enjoyment in being a contrarian tocol would be invoked for the Baltic amongst them, I fi nd) insist that Georgia States is deluded is perhaps fair enough, is actually a part of south-west Asia since NATO has shown itself to be increas- rather than Europe. ingly reluctant to lock horns with Russia. Georgia is not a priority either for

Even if Georgia is eventually granted NATO or the European Union, but both Cartoon: Brian Patrick Grady membership, lingering doubt over whether risk losing Georgia if the country is not Article 5 will be invoked for Tbilisi’s sake shown some tangible results for its years of Georgia’s Western aspirations. NATO taking a fi rmer stance against sion, and the playing fi eld of the Cold will remain; Georgians witnessed the of reforms (and for having sent Georgian The EU has been wracked with prob- Russia naturally risks escalation, but at War no longer seems equal. reluctance of the West to lend any mean- soldiers on NATO missions who never lems since the infl ux of migrants fl eeting present the Kremlin seems to think it The EU could also solidify its position ingful aid to Ukraine when the country came home). Georgian people are tired the Syrian war, with some nations express- can snub its nose at the Alliance with by sudden rapid expansion; it would was under direct attack two years ago. of empty promises and setbacks; the ing doubts over their membership and airspace violations, naked threats and prove to the Georgian people and other There is also a precedent for not lend- promised visa liberalization with the Britain taking the (misguided) plunge even the kidnap of an Estonian security aspirant members that Brussels will put ing military aid to fellow NATO members EU’s Schengen zone has been delayed by voting to leave the Union. However, agent (to say nothing of its blatant mili- its money where its mouth is, and per- in the event of an attack. Despite popu- multiple times, and NATO’s rhetoric of it is my humble opinion that both NATO tary operations in Ukraine). Military haps even go some length to healing the lar belief, Article 5 only refers to North ‘next year, next year…keep trying…’ has and the EU could save themselves by exercises in Eastern Europe have gone rift of Britain’s exit (or make it worse; America and Europe. During the Falk- gone some way to damaging the issue becoming more aggressive. no length to curtailing Russian aggres- politics is nothing if not unpredictable). GEORGIA TODAY 6 POLITICS SEPTEMBER 9 - 12, 2016 Abkhaz Opposition Refuses to Work with Newly Formed Government

BY NICHOLAS WALLER Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili paid a one-day offi cial visit to Armenia to meet his counterpart, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan

pposition parties in Georgia’s Russian- occupied breakaway region Abkhazia have refused to participate in a newly Kvirikashvili in Yerevan, formed rebel government headed by the separatist Prime Minister Beslan Bartsits,O news agency Kavkaz-uzel reported Wednes- Abkhazian’s in Karabakh (!) day. Bartsits, who was appointed as prime minister Stepanakert was a mere coincidence. OP-ED BY ZAZA JGARKAVA on August 5, said his government is willing to nego- Despite such offi cial statements, the political tiate with the leading opposition parties to reduce opposition in Tbilisi accused Offi cial Yerevan of escalating political tensions in the Black Sea region. cooperation with Abkhaz separatists, and Kviri- “I held consultations with all the political factions he Georgian Prime Minister, Giorgi kashvili’s government of inaction. The main accu- regarding their direct participation in the new gov- Amtsakhara supporters in Sukhumi. Source: Sputnik Kvirikashvili, was in Yerevan, Arme- sation of the political opposition towards the ernment. Despite having come to a mutual under- demanding the resignation of then-minister Leonid nia this week to meet the high ranking government of Armenia was not the meeting with standing on a whole host of issues, these (opposi- Dzapshba. The protests later turned violent as the offi cials of the neighboring country, the separatists over the feast table in Stepanakert, tion) parties have refused to cooperate with my opposition stormed the interior ministry’s offi ces. accompanied by Minister of Energy but the fact that permission had been given to the government,” said Bartsits. Khajimba has yet to name a replacement for KakhiT Kaladze. Kaladze’s presence, following on Abkhazian delegation to cross the border into The opposition is led by the Amtsakhara political Dzapshba, who resigned in August to take up a from a joint visit to Azerbaijan last week, once Armenia. party, an infl uential nationalist union whose nucleus position in the presidential administration. again implied the direction of the themes that were Further surprises from Kvirikashvili’s visit saw is made up of veterans of the bloody 1992-93 war Amtsakhara has thus far refused to accept a cab- to be discussed over the meeting table between the Georgian PM bring fl owers to the Memorial of against Georgia. inet post in the new government, saying their par- the leaders of the two countries. Despite the previ- the so-called Turkish Genocide, though Georgia The Abkhaz opposition has been at odds with ticipation is impossible as “the authorities have ously scheduled protocol, however, the parties were does not offi cially recognize the massive killing of the breakaway region’s staunchly pro-Russian failed to fulfi l any of their electoral promises and forced to discuss something completely different. Armenians in Turkey in 1914-15 as genocide. In its President Raul Khajimba for the better part of a have actively attempted to crack down on the oppo- Two days before the visit to Yerevan, photos turn, Yerevan had done its “homework” for Offi cial year. Deeply dissatisfi ed with the activities of sition.” uploaded from the city Stepanakert by the so-called Tbilisi- with the Armenian delegation to the UN Khajimba’s government, Amtsakhara and other “Our participation in the work of the current deputy Minister of Foreign affairs of the occupied consistently refusing to vote in support of the return opposition leaders triggered a referendum on early government would be a betrayal of the interests of Abkhazia, Kan Tania, went viral on social networks. of Georgian IDPs to Abkhazia. Add to this the Roki presidential elections on July 10. all Abkhaz citizens,” Amtsakhara said in an offi cial The photo depicted the President of Armenia, tunnel closure in spring and the claims of viola- Turn out for the referendum was surprisingly statement published on its Web site. Serzh Sargsyan, and the so-called governmental tions of ceremonial monuments and rights of eth- low, with only 1.23 per cent of the region’s voters Amtsakhara accuses Khajimba of illegally detain- delegation of Abkhazia celebrating the 25th anni- nic Armenians with Georgian citizenship. cast a ballot. The lack of public participation ing its supporters and forcing state-run business versary of the “Independence Day” of Karabakh. Unsurprisingly, the offi cial press release for the prompted Khajimba’s government to declare the to sack hundreds of employees who show open The scandalous photo instantly caused a fuss in meeting of Kvirikashvili and Sargsyan concerned referendum as invalid. support for opposition parties. Tbilisi as well as Yerevan. Soon after the photo was more the diplomatic etiquette than the true rela- Responding to the government’s handling of the They also claim the current government has failed uploaded, the Ambassador of Armenia to Georgia, tions between the neighboring countries: “During referendum, Abkhazia’s opposition parties organ- to improve living standards in the occupied region Hovanes Manukyan, had to make an offi cial state- the face-to-face meeting, the parties highlighted ized protest rallies outside the breakaway region’s by increasing pensions and investing in wage and ment and President Sargsyan’s Administration had the centuries-old friendship and the cultural ties interior ministry building in the capital Sukhumi, social benefi t hikes. to prove that the meeting with Abkhaz guests in between the two historical nations,” it read. GEORGIA TODAY SEPTEMBER 9 - 12, 2016 POLITICS 7 Black Sea Security Dimension: Russia’s Military Hegemonization in Action?

launch unprecedented massive military BY DR. VAKHTANG MAISAIA drills “KAVKAZ-2016” (now in its sec- ond phase) with the involvement of 11 thousand servicemen and usage of ue to the strained relations S-300M air-defense complexes, SU-34 between the West and jets, tactical-operational rocket systems Russia, including an ongo- “ISKANDER-M”, etc. means that Russia ing economic war between seriously considers beginning a new the EU and the USA and war campaign in the region in any direc- RussiaD via a sanction policy and ever tion should the chance to do so present worsening confrontation between NATO itself. and Russia via the constant fl exing of According to Warsaw-based magazine: “military muscles” between competing “New Eastern Europe,” the Russian forces, there is many a thing a little government is set to spend USD 2.4 country like Georgia has to think of. In billion by 2020 to provide its Black Sea that scope, one of the dangerous “com- Fleet with “state-of-the-art” ships, sub- bat zones” is thought to be the Black marines, air defense systems and naval Sea Basin and its littoral territories aptly infantry. Similarly, the Caspian Fleet is labeled as the “Black Sea Security Dimen- being reinforced with new military ships sion.” The unpredictable geostrategic and vessels equipped with sea-to-sea environment in the area is susceptible and sea-to-land cruise missiles “Kolibr” to deteriorating further and the indica- and “Bulava,” even covering the opera- tion that this might happen in the imme- tional tactical zone in Syria and Iraq. diate future derive from actions taken It appears Russia is trying to position detachment of combat ships and boats six new submarines and other smaller Taking together all these factors, and by the Kremlin’s incumbent authority. itself as a great power with the ability for the Mediterranean Sea and the Gulf vessels for naval landing. In addition to paying attention to the regional security On July 27th 2015 a new naval doctrine to increase its military capability on the region to pursue its second objective that the Black Sea Fleet will reinforce environment, the Black Sea Fleet is was announced and later approved by axis of the Caspian-Black-Mediterranean of obtaining control over the Bosphorus its anti-access strategy (A2/AD) against going to have full control over the Black the President of the Russian Federation. seas. The focal point of said axis is the (the Task Force was reinforced by the NATO forces. Moreover, according to Sea by 2020. In that retrospective pro- This document has identifi ed a new Black Sea, a basin in which NATO infl u- massive submarine “Rostov-on-Don,” the “Jamestown Foundation,” offi cial vision, the military balance, that at pre- interpretation of the military doctrine ence is under threat of waning. The which sailed from Novorosiisk to join Moscow is adamant on setting up in sent between the NATO and Russian that was approved by the National Secu- Russian policy-makers seek to regain the Force, equipped with the latest stra- Crimea an “unapproachable fortress” forces is somewhere in proportion of rity Council in December 2015, under- the status-quo through domination in tegic weaponry system – the infamous and military key-spot. 2:1 in favor of NATO, will see to it that lining the importance of maintaining the basin by controlling three key points: “Kolibr” missiles). With the subsequent creation of two in 2020 the balance will be absolutely control over strategic areas and basins, Crimea, the mouths of the Danube and With this reinforcement of its naval batteries of strategic strike rocket com- opposite - same proportion, but in Rus- such as the Artic and the so-called the Bosphorus. forces, Russia is not so far away from plex “ISKANDER-M,” targeting Georgia sia’s favor. In that confi guration, Geor- “Atlantic” direction, which includes the Considering the latest events, Russia securing the third pillar of its strategy and Ukraine, it becomes clear that Rus- gia is in a dangerous position due to its Black Sea basin. The doctrine also has partially achieved its strategic goals – the mouth of the Danube. Before that, sia has suffi cient military prowess to littoral space and its sea ports that Rus- underlines the role of the fl eet (both – fi rst occupying and then annexing however, in order to better reinforce its “operate” at its whim in the Black Sea sia will needs badly to establish its military and civilian), the shipbuilding Crimea and reinforcing military posi- presence in the Black Sea basin, the security dimension. Whether this mil- hegemony in. Hence, the Georgian Gov- industry, harbors and port infrastruc- tions in the peninsula, with the creation Russian authority announced that 30 itary “muscle-show” will be enough to ernment and society will have to be ture as priorities for the further devel- of the so-called “Mediterranean Task new ships are to be added to the Black impress its neighbors remains to be very attentive toward any provocations opment of Russia’s naval economy. Force” within the Black Sea Fleet, and Sea Fleet, including six new frigates, seen. But the Kremlin’s decision to stemming from the Russian side. GEORGIA TODAY 8 BUSINESS SEPTEMBER 9 - 12, 2016 BGCC Presents

Photo: TBC BANK CEO Vakhtang Butskhrikidze and Otar Danelia, Minister of Agriculture of Georgia discuss their joint initiative New Eco-Friendly TBC Offers Farmers New Georgian Start-Up Agro Investment Loan towards the cost of planting and 50 percent of irri- BY NINO GUGUNISHVILI gation system costs in the form of grants. As TBC CEO Vakhtang Butskhrikidze stated, the signifi cance and uniqueness of this project lay in the n September 5, Otar Danelia, Minis- fact that individuals either employed or generally ter of Agriculture of Georgia, and interested in working in the agricultural fi eld will be TBC Bank CEO, Vakhtang But- given a long term (at least fi ve year) time frame to skhrikidze, held a press conference start repaying the initial loan. “It’s a very important in TBC Bank’s head offi ce in Tbilisi and interesting initiative which we will hopefully toO introduce the new Agro Investment Loan to develop further in the coming years,” he said. farmers, a new product initiative from TBC Bank. “This is a project that fully refl ects and answers Aiming to support agricultural development, and the market needs of today,” added Minister Dane- realized within the framework of the project ‘Pref- lia, highlighting that it will be a great assistance to erential Agro Credit,’ this marks a fi rst for Geor- farmers, representing almost 53% of the country’s gia, with TBC Bank and the Ministry of Agriculture population, having no fi nancial means to properly offering an unprecedented agro investment loan care for plants from the initial period of planting for those involved in the agricultural sector. until the harvest, considering the longevity of the With an investment loan from GEL 20,000 up to process. USD 600,000, farmers will have the chance to uti- “This Agro Investment Loan is a powerful tool lize the money to build perennial gardens with a to strengthen further partnerships between state 5-year grace period for repayment. The interest and private sectors, making all the available resources rate will be partially or fully covered by the State, more accessible, which will potentially boost the which in turn will enable farmers to repay the loan development of the agriculture industry in the only when the gardens enter the fruiting phase. country,” Danelia added. At present the Agro Investment Loan is for phys- The Agro Investment Loan is not the only prod- Mako Abashidze, Director of the British Georgian Chamber of Commerce presenting GeoRubber ical or legal entities owning at least 1 hectare of uct with which TBC Bank is supporting the agri- land and interested in the cultivation of perennial cultural business. Since 2013, TBC Bank has been plants. It will fully fi nance the gardening and con- involved in the state programs Preferential Agro BY NINO GUGUNISHVILI sequent process of planting and care up until fruit- Credit and Produce in Georgia, giving 320 million ing. At the same time, farmers will be able to ben- GEL to 8000 of its clients. efi t from the ‘Plant the Future’ project initiated by Those interested in applying for the Agro Invest- the Ministry of Agriculture, receiving 70 percent ment Loan are invited to contact TBC Bank. eoRubber, a new eco-friendly Geor- gian company, was introduced to the public last Monday by Mako Abashidze, Georgia produces Founding Director of the British Georgian Chamber of Commerce 22,000 tons of used G(BGCC) and Sandro Kamarauli, representative of GeoRubber. tire waste annually GeoRubber is a start-up wishing to address envi- ronmental problems in Georgia through its actions- a mission which fully corresponds to the EU’s Georgia produces about 22,000 tons of used tire requirements for waste management. In short, the waste annually, most of which is disposed of by company uses non-polluting rubber recycling burning and burial, resulting in pollution. methods to produce high-quality building material An increase in GeoRubber production will grad- from recycled goods. Claiming the new start-up to ually replace demand for pebble and gravel, which be the fi rst of its kind in Georgia, and in the wider are harvested from river banks and used for build- region, Kamarauli pointed out the potential of ing roads and highways, a method which, on its GeoRubber’s competitive advantage and the pos- own, is damaging to the environment and causes sibility of its expansion onto the markets of Turkey, artifi cial change of river bank structure, often result- Armenia, Azerbaijan and Ukraine. ing in fl ooding. GeoRubber’s main activity will be two-fold pro- GeoRubber claims it can recycle between 857 to duction, fi rst and most important recycling using 2571 tons of rubber per year without causing any the “Cold Grinding” method with ingredients type of environmental damage. extracted from used tires: steel wire scrap, which During the BGCC presentation, it was emphasized can be used as scrap-metal; nylon fi ber, widely used that as a new start-up, GeoRubber is actively seek- in oil drilling operations; and most importantly, ing potential investors and partners. granulated rubber dust. By utilizing granulated Collaboration with GeoRubber will give access rubber dust, different shapes and colors of tiles, to the supply of high-quality building materials, mats, carpets and blocks can be produced to be while at the same time will undoubtedly help play used in the construction of playgrounds, parking a key role in addressing environmental problems garages, sidewalks, stairs, roads, housing, bicycle in Georgia. tracks, running tracks and sports arenas, Kamarauli stated. GEORGIA TODAY SEPTEMBER 9 - 12, 2016 SOCIETY 9 The Amazing Contradictions of Georgian Society

contradictions are tearing us apart and we have no OP-ED BY NUGZAR B. RUHADZE idea what kind of a role they are playing in our eve- ryday life. This is a condition which needs therapy but we hate seeing a shrink because we think we eorgia is a paradox of its kind, con- can easily survive without any therapy. Wrong! taining numerous curious contradic- As a matter of fact, I needed to make this spacious tory elements within herself. For introduction only because I wanted to clarify the example, this is a country of both notion of democracy as it is working on our national ancient civilization and amazing cur- soil and the way it relates to the dictatorial Geor- Grent unruly wildness. Our history and cultural gian character. My impression is that we are not heritage amazes an interested foreign eye to the even near to what genuine liberalism means and utmost, but we also surprise it with our habit of what real democracy represents. In the electoral turning the country into a literal garbage bin: par- campaign, they are working though. Formally! All tying in the lap of the nation and proudly making of the candidates for parliament membership are ardent wordy toasts to the millennia-old Georgian overly liberal and democratic before they are elected, history yet leaving the refuse on the spot where using all kinds of words and phrases and promises we just pigged on our wonderful Georgian cuisine. thereof that purport their liberal and democratic Let me put down some of the most conspicuous character, but as soon as they fi nd themselves at and stunning elements of our national character the helm, they change overnight like they were that are coming into a fl agrant contradiction with touched by a magic wand. They just want to rule! each other: great ancient culture vs. propensity to And rule dictatorially. And if they are not allowed live in physical garbage; good-Samaritan care for to, they go berserk. Where is this discrepancy in others vs. unbridled aggressiveness; language sug- our political behavior coming from? Could this be ariness in personal communication vs. malicious based on our overly contradictory nature I have vituperations behind the back; benign human nature just tried to describe? vs. political cunning and cruelty; perfect ear for I might have an explanation, although it might music and inborn lilt vs. rowdy yelling in public; Georgia as a paradox: ardent patriotism vs. craving to live somewhere else; adherence to Christianity vs. hardly sound serious. Here it goes anyway: we are democratically working mind vs. monarchic atti- offhand deceitfulness; love for animals vs. indifference to the mess our pets make in the streets; admiration of nearly all brought up in a family situation where Tbilisi in toasts vs. crippling it architecturally… tudes; modern way of life vs. medieval brutality; Tamada – a toast master – persists as a clearly dic- panegyrics vs. backbiting; desire and readiness for mess our pets make in the streets; admiration of vs. indifference towards the passing time; ideology tatorial fi gure. This fact sits deep in our tradition. good life vs. maliciousness of rules of the game; Tbilisi in toasts vs. crippling it architecturally; of a virgin vs. proclivity to dress and behave like Any Georgian can be a Tamada and wants to be a wisdom in words vs. stupidity in action; desire to adulation of Georgian females by Georgian men whores; being ambitious vs. having no courage in Tamada. And if you like to be a Tamada, then a be a strong and numerous nation vs. no prepared- vs. their avoidance to marry them; love for sports life; living an overly urbane life vs. being exces- dictator is in your blood. I know you will laugh at ness for cultivating ample progeny; ardent patriot- vs. addictiveness to tobacco, alcohol and drugs; sively gauche and vulgar. this kind of interpretation of our dictatorial char- ism vs. craving to live somewhere else; adherence carrying crosses on the neck vs. not reading the This is only part of all the contradictions we as a acter but if we give a second thought to this extraor- to Christianity vs. offhand deceitfulness; elevated Bible or living by its precepts; going to school vs. people bear inside us, and this is only the ones that dinary analytical escapade, we might come to spirituality vs. voracious appetite for mundane not getting an education; heart full of love vs. heart have occurred to me momentarily. In fact, we are believe that there could be something rational in triviality; love for animals vs. indifference to the full of hatred; respect for the time which is passing terribly bothered by them psychologically. These the suggested judgment. New Initiative Supports Small Organizations Helping the Disabled & Socially Vulnerable in Poti

elieve Foundation is launching a new community in areas of poverty. funding strategy to support small Before launching the Grant Competition we deliv- organizations operating in Poti, Geor- ered a Project Design and Management (PDM) gia. This new initiative will help us to training together with Peace Corps volunteer Randi best achieve our vision of ‘Every vul- Deighton for non-profi t organizations where the nerable,B unprotected and disabled individual attendees received information about fi lling out deserves care, support and improved conditions grant application forms, project writing and imple- for a better life.’ mentation. We are starting a Grant Competition – a pilot “This training will make it easier for applicants funding project for small organizations whose mis- to write a grant project. We are open to talk with sion is to improve the lives of disabled and socially them and support in any way possible as we believe vulnerable children and adults and who are work- that small organizations serve an important role ing across our program areas for socially vulner- in supporting communities where we deliver our able groups and individuals with disabilities: work,” says Marika Nadaraia, Board Chairwoman • Improving housing and living conditions of Believe Foundation. “Grants will be from GEL at residential places and educational centers; 1000 up to GEL 3000 for each project. We plan to • Providing health and recreational thera- award 15 grants initially,” she adds. pies as well as medical examinations and preven- Currently, Believe Foundation is looking for tive health care; organizations working in Poti who can demonstrate • Providing food, clothes, textbooks and how Believe’s support and funding can help them other necessary items for disadvantaged children to strengthen their organization. and adults; Grant Applications opened on September 1, 2016 • Supporting the building of a stronger and will close on September 30, 2016. GEORGIA TODAY 10 SOCIETY SEPTEMBER 9 - 12, 2016 Education Key to Raising ASD

Photo: Georgia’s Minister of Health David Sergeenko said that domestic violence victims could apply to the center at any time and receive psychological or medical assistance Awareness in First Crisis Center for Georgia, US Domestic Violence Victims Opens in Tbilisi Experts Say said that domestic violence victims could apply to BY THEA MORRISON the center at any time and receive psychological borne quite a fruit - in those 6 years, around 300 or medical assistance. students from psychological faculties of various “Moreover, if needed, these people can provide Georgian universities were able to get their hands eorgia’s Ministry of Labor, Health and the women with a lawyer and shelter,” the Minister on beyond-basics know-how on what ASD is and Social Affairs, UN Women and Swed- added. how to effectively handle it. ish Development Agency opened the Sergeenko said the government developed a strat- But despite such endeavors and notable progress fi rst crisis center for domestic vio- egy and action plan two years ago that involved a in enhancing the accessibility of services available lence victims in Tbilisi on Tuesday. variety of agencies, including the Ministry of Health. to people with ASD, Georgia is still some distance GThe new support center will provide a range of “Within the framework of this strategy and action from what is considered desirable worldwide. services to women in need of immediate help, plan, many activities have been carried out, and Prof. Jackson, while talking with GEORGIA TODAY, including shelter and medical support. It can receive this center is part of that plan,” said Sergeenko. even went as far as comparing the situation in 14 victims, including people with disabilities. According to UN Women head Erica Kvapilova, Georgia with what of the US some 20 years ago. The center was renovated by the State Fund for the opening of the center is a very important step However, she added, just like in America, the way the Protection and Assistance of Victims of Human towards protecting women’s rights in Georgia. is upwards from there, with society becoming Traffi cking and was fi tted with furniture and other “It is a very positive tendency, and we hope it will more and more aware of the needs and specifi cs equipment by UN Women, an organization dedi- continue,” Kvapilova said. of people with ASD. cated to gender equality and the empowerment of The State Fund for Protection and Assistance is “First thing to do is to make these services acces- women. also helping support the reintegration of domestic sible everywhere, not just in Tbilisi, where people Georgia’s Minister of Health David Sergeenko violence victims back into society. encounter fi nancial diffi culties. Second, the aware- ness of parents should be raised – right now, many of them do not know where to get adequate ser- vices, or which government structure they have to address to get fi nancial aid. Likewise, the med- ical staff doesn’t have enough knowledge when it comes to delegating children with ASD to proper structures, or how to administer some primary health aid, for that matter,” the professor stressed, with her colleague adding that Georgian society still harbors some stigma over the issue. “Once again, it begs a comparison with the US twenty years ago, when the situation was very similar,” Mr. Moschella mused. “But as increasing numbers of children with ASD were accommo- dated in schools, their schoolmates, their parents Professor Marianne Jackson, of the California State and society as a whole got more aware just how University, stresses that the awareness of parents important these issues are.” should be raised, as should that of medical staff A simple truth it may be, but both experts insist that education is key. More education is required Continued from page 1 at every step of ASD management – parents, pediatricians, teachers, psychologists – all could The Caritas project is all about aiding the devel- do with more knowledge. More so the state struc- opment of services available to people with ASD. tures, which have to design appropriate strategies In fi ve regions of Georgia, family doctors took for this issue. Additional emphasis needs to be part in training sessions dedicated to the issue of made on lifelong care for people with ASD, an early stage identifi cation of ASD. The role of pri- aspect left entirely without attention today in mary health care cannot be underestimated here Georgia. – the earlier the pediatrician becomes aware about “In developed countries, many activities are possible autism spectrum disorder, the sooner carried out to help these people integrate more early intervention can take place, which will offer easily into society – Georgia shouldn’t be an much better chances of a positive outcome for exception,” said Rusiko Chkhubianishvili, the each and every child. lead manager of Caritas Czech Republic’s autism The scope of the project also involves the qual- oriented project. Let’s hope that, together with ifi cation enhancing and retraining of the profes- friends from abroad and the good will of the sionals working in this fi eld, thus ensuring that powers that be, projects like these will be expanded, people with ASD have access to quality services. as they rightfully deserve to be. This was exactly why two seasoned experts from the United States visited Georgia in July and August. For two weeks, the personnel at the Child Development Institute were under the tuition and guidance of the US professionals, with the session culminating in a three-day intensive training dedicated to age-based behavior among children with autism spectrum disorder. The training was available for specialists from the regions, too, In developed countries, which is a much needed reprieve as most regions lack both infrastructure and technological knowl- many activities are edge for dealing with such a complex issue. Professor Marianne Jackson and JP Moschella carried out to help are the employees of California State University in Fresno State, US. Both experts boast years of these people integrate experience in applied behavioral analysis and ASD. And they aren’t fi rst timers when it comes to Geor- more easily into society gia, either. Since 2010, when the institute at the Ilia University opened, both experts paid multiple vis- – Georgia shouldn’t be its to Tbilisi to take part in various trainings and seminars. And as with every good tradition, it has an exception GEORGIA TODAY SEPTEMBER 9 - 12, 2016 CULTURE 11 Name that Town! You can take your choice of swim- ditto for First of May). Old. I Am [Here], BY TONY HANMER ming in the rivers Horsewater, Prone Uncle; I Am Kind. Little Hall. Victory, [to what?] or Cold; the first sounds... near Vine. much warmer than the last, which Behind is near the west end of the ast week's trek across Geor- might be just the thing in the boiling country; Before, where famed gia from one end to the other lowland summer heat of this coun- Chavchavadze had his estate and now produced a most interesting try. a great winery works, is near the east list of place names, probably That there are any number of New- end. similar in character but towns, and Newvilles, should come as Why, my wife and I live in Help (this Lunique in detail to those you might no surprise to someone familiar with one originating in Hebrew, not Geor- fi nd in any country of the world if you Newcastle. gian). Just down the road is Shield. knew its language enough. Wine Cellar isn't just a room or place Highest village around? A shortened I remember, during my brief stay in with huge stone-stoppered clay vessels form of Braveheart. The original name the UK as an adult from 1990 to 1991, set all the way into the ground, matur- of the local capital was Seti, long before delighting over a map of the country ing your wine to perfection over years SETI was thought of as the acronym and its places: Ratby, St Bees, Godman- or decades, common to so many houses: of the decades-old program for the stone, Street, Stair, Stone, Piddletren- it's a whole community. Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence, thide and so many more. I love digging Farm—surely that's more than half scanning the skies for all manner of these things up, and even more so in the country, blessed as it is with such possible alien communication signals. another language. The Russian one I arable land in a variety of climatic The provincial capital is called Big remember best, from a little place in zones? And a village. Zug... And so it goes on, all these names the Urals, means Lying on the Left Side. Code Source (as opposed to Source adding their local fl avor to the special Georgia's list (translated here, mostly Code): a real place, from which who sauce that is Georgia once you know from Georgian into English), especially knows what secret things originate in how to winkle them out. Apologies to now that hundreds of new place signs this modern computing age? Java for native speakers if I got any of them have been made and set up for the fi rst more programming... Also, Spring Head wrong; a few are purely phonetic time in my 16 years here, is equally (spring as in water source, head as in equivalents, not translations! fascinating. river's start), and Queen's Spring. Let's start off in the east, where I Walnut, not the Grove, just the nut Tony Hanmer has lived in Georgia since discovered that Education is not just and its trees. Elm too, and Beech Spring. 1999, in Svaneti since 2007, and been a process or a state, but a village. Not Bridal. Monastery. Sun's Heart. Valley a weekly writer for GT since early 2011. far away is Work, unfortunately, but Fort. Bathroom. Alert. Dizzy. To the He runs the “Svaneti Renaissance” Face- the best part is that these two are linked Point. Square (as in town square). book group, now with over 1300 mem- by Link! Literally, there's a Link between Sunny. Baghdad, Japana and Bethlehem. bers, at www.facebook.com/groups/ Work and Education (or vice versa, if Red Mountain and Redhill. Mount's SvanetiRenaissance/ you prefer). And if you need more Mouth and Mount's Base. Mountain He and his wife also run their own guest Work, there's another one near the of [the hunting goddess] Dali. October house in Etseri: Black Sea, too. (obviously a communist-era name; www.facebook.com/hanmer.house.svaneti

Unite for a Sustainable Future Conference to be Held at Goethe Institute

Photo: Eike Pokrandt, Head of the project ‘Unite for a Sustainable Future’ and Gvantsa Khintibidze, project manager making a presentation.

German specialists, Georgian teachers will learn BY NINO GUGUNISHVILI how to realize new projects and how to incorpo- rate environment protection themes into the Ger- man language curriculum. oethe Institute is holding a confer- 100 teachers from 32 schools of Georgia will be ence ‘Unite for a Sustainable Future’ attending and participating in the conference at (Vernetzt für Nachhaltigkeit) on which they will receive a free copy of a manual September 10, addressing the issue published by Goethe Institute and Vienna Agrar- of methodologies for sustainable ian and Environment Protection University. The educationG in schools, in the process of German methodological manual was made according to language learning. the concepts of CLIL and offers both theoretical The conference will be attended by Director of and practical information and, more importantly, Goethe Institute in Georgia, Stephan Wackwitz; shares the experience of other schools involved Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, in ‘Unite for a Sustainable Future’ project. The Alexander Jejelava; Deputy to the Ambassador of project was awarded a Sustainability Award this the German Federal Republic in Georgia, Monika summer. Lenhard, and other distinguished guests. ‘Unite for a Sustainable Future’ is regarded as The conference and the project’s concept aims one of the most successful projects both in the for the implementation of new learning methods educational and environment protection spheres, in German language schools- the incorporation strengthening partnerships between schools and of themes like environment protection, green universities while making the public debate on pedagogics and sustainable development. the theme more active and dynamic. The CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Aside from a conference in Tbilisi, seminars and Learning) method goes beyond the traditional workshops for teachers will be held in Borjomi language learning experience. With the help of and Kutaisi. GEORGIA TODAY 12 CULTURE SEPTEMBER 9 - 12, 2016 Georgia’s Night Serenades Festival Concludes a special prize for her contribution to BY MAKA LOMADZE the country’s arts. “I congratulate Liana on this beautiful night of music. She is the pride of our eorgia’s Night Serenades country, a unique musician and person, festival concluded Septem- as well as my friend. I am very honored ber 4 with a gala-concert today to wish her happiness, success and honoring violinist Liana good health for many years to come!” Isakadze at Tbilisi’s conductor and composer Vakhtang GNational Opera and Ballet Theater. Machavariani told GEORGIA TODAY. The final night’s concert featured Georgian pianist Tamar Licheli joined Isakadze performing with prominent renowned artists from Russia, Kazakh- musicians from around the world to cel- stan and Spain at the event, which included ebrate her 70th birthday. performances of Bach, Rakhmaninov, The concert was part of the 8th annual Tchaikovsky, Tsintsadze, Gershwin, Batumi-Tbilisi International Festival. Shostakovich and Youmans. The Tbilisi leg of the festival kicked off The Night Serenades gala was organ- with a charity event on September 2 at ized as part of the state-sponsored Check the new Biltmore Hotel. in Georgia project, in Batumi, Anaklia The following evening the historic and Tbilisi from August 27 to September Rustaveli Theater screened a documen- 4. tary by Sandro Vakhtangov about The main organizers of the event were Isakadze, which was followed by the gala the Georgian Ministry of Culture and on September 4. Monuments’ Protection, as well as the Georgia’s Minister of Culture, Mikheil city governments of Batumi and Tbilisi. Giorgadze, attended the fi nal evening of 3rd Life of Wine Barrels- the festival and awarded Isakadze with Italian Expo in Tsinandali

literary reunions, as well as his noble the sketches of outstanding architects BY MAKA LOMADZE vineyards. and designers. The Center has existed The Third Life of Wine Barrels expo- since 1978 and over the years, self-sup- sition, held at Chavchavadze’s House- porting, has given shelter to around n exposition has opened Museum in Tsinandali, Kakheti region, 25,000 youth, providing them with med- dedicated to the 230th anni- and due to last until the end of Septem- ical and legal help, and, more importantly, versary of Alexander ber, displays items made from recycled given them a chance to study new skills. Chavchavadze, a famous wine barrels. They are crafted by drug- The exposition was a big success at the Georgian romantic poet addicts from the San-Patriniano Reha- Milan Furniture Exhibition as well as in Awho, besides his poetry, was famous for bilitation Center, created according to the USA. Wood turned into wine barrel, wine barrel into a designer item: this project means more than the recycling of wine barrels as crafts are turned into design in a unity of creativity and ecol- ogy. “The project ‘Third Life of Wine Bar- rels’ is a example of creating beautiful FOR SALE pieces of art, even more important because it bears social signifi cance, too, being made by drug-addicts,” said Stefano 9,8 ha non-agricultural, privately owned parcel for Crescenzi, Deputy Ambassador of Italy to Georgia, at the opening ceremony. industrial use “This project has changed their lives. There could be found no better place (cadaster code # 01.19.26.004.088) for showing this transformation but here, in Tsinandali, where for so many years, located next to Tbilisi Airport grapes have been turned into wine.” (It is possible to divide it into several parts) The exposition is supported by the Embassy of Italy to Georgia, with the partnership of the Silk Road Group in the framework of the Wine and Arts Address: Airport settlement, Samgori district, Tbilisi Festival. From Kakheti, the exhibition will move Tel: +995 599 529 529 to the Tbilisi Radisson Blu Iveria exhibi- [email protected] tion space until October 31.

ROUTING FLIGHT NUMBER WEEK DAYS DEPARTURE ARRIVAL TK 379 02:35 04:05 TBILISI - ISTANBUL ATATURK AIRPORT TK 387EVERYDAY 06:35 08:05 TK 383 22:55 00:30+1 TK 386 01:40 04:55 ISTANBUL ATATURK AIRPORT - TBILISI TK 382EVERYDAY 18:10 21:30 TK 378 21:15 00:30+1 TK 381 1/2/4/5/6/7 04:25 05:50 TBILISI - ISTANBUL SABIHA GOKCEN AIRPORT TK 381 3 05:05 06:30 ISTANBUL SABIHA GOKCEN AIRPORT - TBILISI TK 380 EVERYDAY 19:40 22:55 TK 391 1/2/4/6/7 10:35 11:40 BATUMI - ISTANBUL TK 393 1/3/4/5/7 20:15 21:20 TK 390 1/2/4/6/7 06:25 09:20 ISTANBUL - BATUMI TK 392 1/3/4/5/7 16:20 19:20 Tel: (995 32) 2 45 08 08 10 Galaktion Street E-mail: [email protected]

TIFLIS 7.5x6cm ING.indd 1 13/06/16 15:16 GEORGIA TODAY SEPTEMBER 9 - 12, 2016 CULTURE 13

WHAT’S ON IN TBILISI THEATER Genre: Animation, Adventure, SAUSAGE PARTY May 18 – September 11 "Bibliogram," "Counting," "Prints," Comedy (Info Above) AVANT-GARDE 1900-1937 and "Deep Calleth unto Deep" TBILISI OPERA AND BALLET Language: Russian Start time: 22:15 The exposition showcases the itself. The exhibition also includes THEATER Start time: 17:30, 22:15 Ticket: 13-14 GEL collections of the Museum, an installation representing Address: 25 Rustaveli Ave. Ticket: 11-14 GEL including around 100 paintings and contradictions - sympathy and Telephone: 200 44 66 MUSEUM graphic works, archival material, antipathy, attraction and repulsion, THE 9TH LIFE OF LOUIS DRAX avant-garde posters and books by question and answer. September 15 Directed by Alexandre Aja GEORGIAN NATIONAL Vasily Kandinsky, Niko Pirosmani, 165th Season Opening Cast: Jamie Dornan, Aiden MUSEUM Mikhail Gelonov, Natalya TBC GALLERY BATUMI SIMON JANASHIA MUSEUM ABESALOM AND ETERI Longworth, Sarah Gadon Goncharova, Olga Rozanova, Kiril Address: 37 Zubalashvili Str., Zakaria Paliashvili Genre: Mystery, Thriller Address: 4 Rustaveli Ave. Zdanevich, David Kakabadze, Lado Telephone: 2 99 80 22, 2 93 48 21 Batumi Start time: 19:00 Language: Russian Gudiashvili, Ziga Valishevsky, www.museum.ge Ticket: 10 - 70 GEL Start time: 16:45, 22:00 Kazimir Malevich, Alexei September 10 Ticket: 10-14 GEL Kruchenykh, Robert Falk, Osvaldo TERRITORY/SPACE MAIN MOVEMENT THEATER PERMANENT EXHIBITION: Lichin, Alexander Shevchenko, EXHIBITION Address: 182, Aghmashenebeli Ave., MECHANIC: RESURRECTION GEORGIAN ARCHAEOLOGY Shalva Kikodze, Mikhail Odesa// Batumi Photo Days Mushthaid park Directed by Dennis Gansel FROM 8TH MILLENNIUM B.C. Bilanishvili, Voldemar Boberman, Festival Telephone: 599 555 260 Cast: Jason Statham, Jessica Alba, TO 4TH CENTURY A.D Lev Brun and Kliment Redko. Participating artists include: Tommy Lee Jones Sinai Park - Andrea & Magda; September 9 Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller THE CAUCASUS NATURAL September 8-14 RECITATIVE IN THE CITY Language: Russian HISTORY MUSEUM EXHIBITION "GIFT TO Calm Waters - Andrey Lomakin; Directed by Kakha Bakuradze Start time: 12:00 COLLECTION RENEWED ADELAIDE" BY DAVID Charged Soil - Andy Spyra; Somba Start time: 21:00 Ticket: 8-9 GEL EXHIBITION ALEKSIDZE And Streets Of Blood - Antonio Free Entry Aragón Renuncio; The Clamour Of RUSTAVELI CINEMA EXHIBITION OF GEORGIAN GALLERY The Idomeni - Antonis Pasvantis; CINEMA Address: 5 Rustaveli Ave. WEAPONRY Recreation Zone. Telephone: 2 55 50 00 NUMISMATIC TREASURY THE NATIONAL GALLERY The exhibition showcases a long AMIRANI CINEMA www.kinoafi sha.ge Address: 11 Rustaveli Ave. MUSIC history of money circulation on the Address: 36 Kostava St. www.museum.ge territory of modern Georgia from Telephone: 2 99 99 55 Every Wednesday ticket: 5 GEL TBILISI CONCERT HALL the 6th century BC. to 1834. www.kinoafi sha.ge September 9-15 PERMANENT EXHIBITION Address: 1 Melikishvili Ave. Niko Pirosmanashvili, David Telephone: 299 00 99 June 11 – March 11 (2017) Every Wednesday ticket price: 5 Lari SUICIDE SQUAD Kakabadze, Lado Gudiashvili and EXHIBITION "MEDIEVAL September 9-15 Directed by David Ayer sculptor Iakob Nikoladze. TREASURY" September 12 Cast: Margot Robbie, Will Smith, Shining star of hip-hop, soul and JASON BOURNE Cara Delevingne June 24, 2016 – June 24, 2017 June 16 – December 16 reggae, the best African artist of Directed by Paul Greengrass Genre: Action, Crime, Fantasy NIKO PIROSMANASHVILI’S THE EXHIBITION “NEW 2009 - NNEKA Cast: Matt Damon, Tommy Lee Language: Russian WORKS “YARD CLEANER” AND DISCOVERIES - GEORGIAN SPECIAL LIVE ''WALKING TO Jones, Alicia Vikander Start time: 14:25 “EAGLE SEIZING A HARE” ARCHAEOLOGY” TBILISI'' Genre: Action, Thriller Ticket: 9-10 GEL Both paintings were the ownership The exhibition will be held in Start time: 20:00 Language: English of Ilya and Kirill Zdanevich until the frame of the international Ticket: 35 - 110 GEL Start time: 19:30 BEN-HUR 1930 when Dimitri Shevardnadze conference On Salt, Copper, and Language: Russian Directed by Timur Bekmambetov bought part of their collection Gold: The Origins of Early Mining Start time: 14:30, 22:00 Cast: Jack Huston, Nazanin Boniadi, (39 paintings) including the "Yard and Metallurgy in the Caucasus" September 16 Ticket: 9-14 GEL Ayelet Zurer Cleaner" and "Eagle Seizing a Hare". Genre: Adventure, Drama, History Today, both paintings are among the ELENA VAENGA MUSEUM OF SOVIET SOLO CONCERT THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS Language: Russian OCCUPATION collection of Shalva Amiranashvili Start time: 19:00 Directed by Derek Cianfrance Start time: 17:30, 20:00, 22:40 Address: 3 Sh. Rustaveli Ave. Museum of Fine Arts. Cast: Michael Fassbender, Alicia Ticket: 11-14 GEL Ticket: 30-150 GEL Vikander, Rachel Weisz PERMANENT EXHIBITION September 6-28 Genre: Drama, Romance MECHANIC: RESURRECTION THE SOLO EXHIBITION "DEEP MOVEMENT THEATER Address: 182, Aghmashenebeli Ave., Language: Russian (Info Above) September 3-11 CALLETH UNTO DEEP" BY GIA Start time: 19:30, 22:15 Start time: 19:45 EXHIBITION "VENETIAN GIFTS BUGADZE. Mushthaid park Ticket: 13-14 GEL Ticket: 13-14 GEL TO SERGEI PARAJANOV" The project "Deep Calleth unto Telephone: 599 555 260 Deep" is based on the 7th article SAUSAGE PARTY JASON BOURNE SHALVA AMIRANASHVILI of the 41st psalm and outlines September 10, 13, 15 Directed by Greg Tiernan, Conrad (Info Above) MUSEUM OF ART the drama which lies in the JAM SESSION AT MT Vernon Start time: 11:50, 14:45, 17:10, 20:05, Address: 1 Lado Gudiashvili St. confrontation between the internal LEADERS: Cast: Kristen Wiig, James Franco, 22:30 Telephone: 2 99 99 09 and external worlds. The exhibition RESO KIKNAZE QUINTET AND Paul Rudd Ticket: 8-14 GEL www.museum.ge will showcase four different cycles: PAPUNA SHARIKADZE Start time: 21:00 Free Entry

September 15 TANGO EVENING “MILONGA, LA CUMPARSITA” ARGENTINE TANGO DANCE NIGHT Start time: 21:00 Ticket: 5 GEL

FABRIKA Address: E. Ninoshvili Str.

September 11 Electronic music & contemporary art festival at Fabrika HIMMLISCH OPEN AIR An exhibition of artworks, paintings and installations of young Georgian artists: Erekle Kiparoidze, Irakli Nakudaidze & Nikusha Amirkhanashvili DJ's & Producers MONKEY SAFARI, ADELINA & GIO SHENGELIA Start time: 14:00 Ticket: Just a smile

BASSIANI CLUB Address: 2 A. Tsereteli Ave.

September 9 BASSlANI OPENlNG NlGHT KONSTANTlN HVL Start time: 23:00 Ticket: 20-40 GEL GEORGIA TODAY 14 SPORTS SEPTEMBER 9 - 12, 2016 Georgia’s World Cup Dream Already Fading after Spirited Loss to Austria

11th minute as Alaba’s free-kick was one in the 56th minute. BY ALASTAIR WATT headed over by Marc Janko from close- The home support was spurred into range. The home defence were found life by the outstanding Vako Kazaishvili, wanting on that occasion, and there was who headed against the Austrian post FOR SALE: BMW – 321 model wo fi rst-half headers were to be no such lucky escape fi ve minutes in the 65th minute, before Ananidze Date of issue 1936 suffi cient for Austria to later. spurned one of several shooting oppor- PRICE 10.000 USD emerge with a 2-1 victory From a similar position, 30 metres out tunities from long-range. in the opening World Cup and to the left, Alaba curled a tempting Once the golden boy of Georgian foot- 2018 qualifi er in Group D cross in between Georgian goalkeeper ball, it looked like being another fruitless Tover Georgia at Dinamo Arena in Tbilisi, Giorgi Loria and his defenders, with night for Ananidze until, out of nothing, rendering Georgia’s hopes of an historic Martin Hinteregger rising to head home he slammed a shot past Almer from 25 fi rst qualifi cation for a major tournament the opener and fl atten the atmosphere meters to half the defi cit and enliven a already bruised. but for a few hundred ecstatic Austrian home crowd that now, with 12 minutes For Georgia’s head coach, the Slovakian supporters behind the goal. remaining, sensed blood. Vladimir Weiss, this was a competitive The Georgian riposte was reasonable The Austrians, having been relatively debut following an assortment of friend- as Amisulashvili and surprise starter comfortable until this point, endured a lies which peaked with a 1-0 win over Jaba Jigauri were both denied with quasi- nervy fi nale and had to clear a Georgian Spain in early June. acrobatic efforts, the former going over corner off the line but clung on for a vital That historic victory meant that the the bar and the latter fi ring straight at opening day win, as Georgia’s players CONTACT PERSON 557 12 38 90 pre-match mood in an over half-full Austrian goalkeeper Robert Almer. sank to their knees on the turf at the fi nal Dinamo Arena was more positive than A better chance followed when Jano whistle. had been the case for some time. Ananidze volleyed feebly wide from six It proved an exciting night, but with a That enthusiasm didn’t appear to be meters in the 35th minute. Exasperation familiar conclusion – no points. The diminished by the apparently defensive fi lled the stadium, an emotion that was inclusion of Lobjanidze and solitary lineup named by Weiss, with three cen- replaced by near devastation seven min- striker Vladimir Dvalishvili leaves Weiss tral defenders, Guram Kashia, Alexandre utes later as Austria doubled their tally. open to criticism, with both producing Amisulashvili and Saba Kverkvelia, and Arnautovic tricked his way to the Geor- ineffective displays that most Georgian no place for fan favorite, Tornike Okri- gian by-line in the right-back area slug- football observers could have foreseen. ashvili. gishly manned by ageing Ucha Lobja- However, Georgia created more chances And the home side responded to a nidze, before dinking the ball over for than they have done in any qualifi cation buoyant home support with a quick start, Janko to head into an empty net. “Game game for many years (Gibraltar apart) exposing Austria’s vulnerability at cen- over” was the cry from much of the ter- and, even if a place at Russia 2018 might tral defence with a succession of crossed races. be beyond them, there was enough to balls not convincingly cleared. Upon the half-time whistle, a forlorn suggest that Georgia will draw and win Soon though, the Austrians, who home support vented their discontent games they are not expected to in this endured a dire Euro 2016 where they somewhat harshly, roundly booing a group. exited at the group stage, established a Georgian side that had competed well, Next month’s trip to play Ireland and measure of control on the game with created good chances but trailed by two then Wales might not present obvious Bayern Munich’s David Alaba and Stoke goals. point-earning potential, but with the City’s Marko Arnautovic central to their Janko nearly added a third which would same attitude and a couple of personnel slick attacking moves. have emptied the ground, but was denied changes, Weiss’s Georgia won’t be beaten The fi rst scare for Georgia came in the by a fabulous Loria save when one-on- easily. Paralympics Open in Rio Amid Low Ticket Sales, Muted Expectations

This year’s games have been marred BY NICHOLAS WALLER by a series of factors that have left organ- izers scrambling. Poor planning, a failing local economy isabled athletes from 174 that now fi nds itself in a deep recession, nations converged on Rio growing concerns about the Zika virus de Janeiro’s iconic Marac- and a general lack of interest from Car- ana Stadium for the 2016 iocas derailed the International Para- Paralympic games on lympic Committee’s hopes for future DWednesday amid serious concerns that games. poor ticket sales and a lack of support Riding high from the record-setting from the Brazilian population. Jincharadze (powerlifting) will represent London games in 2012, the organizers of Vano Tsiklauri (archery), Zviad Gogo- Georgia at the games – the 15th Paralym- this year’s event were hoping to capital- churi (judo), Lia Chachibaia (swimming), pic event held since their debut follow- ize on the newfound global interest in Irma Khetsuriani (fencing) and Akaki ing the 1960 Rome Olympics. the Paralympics. GEORGIA TODAY SEPTEMBER 9 - 12, 2016 SPORTS 15 Georgia Takes 2 Gold, 1 Silver in the World Nomad Games

BY BILLIE JEAN STIREWALT

hree Georgian athletes have earned medals in the World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan. As of Septem- ber 7, that placed Georgia asT the 6th highest medal earner in the games. Billed as an alternative to the Olym- pics, the 2nd Biannual World Nomad Games hosted over 60 countries as athletes competed in traditional “eth- nosports” that were taken from numer- ous nomadic cultures. The most pop- ular of these games has been kok boru, an aggressive sport in which two teams on horseback attempt to throw a goat carcass into a concrete pit. The Games have also showcased intellectual sports such as Mangala, horseback wrestling, falconry, and archery. Luka Sartania after Golden Eagle competition. Photo: Billie Jean Stirewalt Georgia’s delegation of athletes included falconers, dog trainers, arch- 32 countries competed in the mass- fi rst games were held in 2014 and billed ers, and mass-wrestlers. All three of wrestling competition that also doubled as a “Pan-Turkic” competition. The the Georgian medalists were mass- as the Mass-Wrestling World Champi- games were notoriously unorganized, wrestlers. Valita Gorelchniki, the gold onship. Besides Valita, Georgia’s Zviad attendance was rather low, the vast medalist in the Women’s 55kg mass- Kajaia earned a gold medal in the Men’s majority of competitors were from wrestling competition, only started 125kg category, and Valeri Adamadze Kyrgyzstan, and they received very training for the sport six months ago. earned a silver in the Men’s 60kg cat- little press coverage. This year proved Mass-wrestling, she explained, looks egory. to be a more international experience easy but requires an athlete’s entire While Georgia did not place in any with a wide array of countries compet- body to be in peak physical condition. other sport, falconer Luka Sartania ing, including the USA, Benin, Guate- In the sport, two competitors sit facing explained that athletes who were com- mala, Iceland, Sri Lanka, and 12 differ- each other with their feet against a peting with animals were at a disad- ent Russian territories. Besides the ply-wood board. They reach forward vantage. Sartania, for example, com- sports competitions, attendees were and grip a short rod – one athlete’s peted in Berkut, a hunting competition also treated to nomadic cultural show- hands on the inside of the rod, and the with golden eagles. Due to the diffi - cases, a yurt building competition, and other’s hands on the ends of the rod. culty, cost, and customs issues involved horseback stunt shows. The Opening On the referee’s signal, both competi- with transporting a bird across bor- Ceremony itself lasted 3 hours, featured tors begin to pull and twist on the rod ders, Sartania had to rent an eagle fl aming horse riders, and was attended in an attempt to score a point. A point once he arrived in Kyrgyzstan and by special guest Stephen Seagal. can be scored when they pull the rod train it in only 3 days. Despite the The organizers of the games hope to out of their opponent’s hands, pull their obvious drawbacks with this system, foster an international interest in opponent over the board, or knock Sartania still placed 6th in the com- nomadic sports, and announced at a their opponent sideways on to the mat. petition. press conference on Tuesday that The winner is chosen after scoring in The 2016 World Nomad Games are another country will be hosting the 2 out of 3 consecutive rounds. already being lauded as a success. The 2018 games.

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