Issue no: 1209 • DECEMBER 6 - 9, 2019 • PUBLISHED TWICE WEEKLY PRICE: GEL 2.50

In this week’s issue... ICC: - War Investigation May Conclude in 2020 NEWS PAGE 3 Georgian Politicians Slam Nino Burjanadze for Visiting POLITICS PAGE 4 Former President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan Charged with Corruption POLITICS PAGE 4 US State Department Offi cials, Senators Make Supportive Statements on Image source: archive.gov.ge/ Georgia ON REDJEB JORDANIA The son of the fi rst Georgian FOCUS President nears his centenary year PAGE 11 "Keep Georgia on Your Mind": MFA Zalkaliani at the NATO Summit 2019 POLITICS PAGE 6 “In Honorem” of PhD. BY NINI DAKHUNDARIDZE Professor & Academician Roin Metreveli he United Kingdom hosted NATO 7 Heads of State and Government in SOCIETY PAGE London on 3-4 December. David Zalkaliani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, made a speech Cold Storage: Etseri, Svaneti Tduring a session dedicated to safety in the ter- SOCIETY PAGE 8 ritories of the Baltic and Black seas. While highlighting the importance and chal- lenges to stability in the Black Sea region, Zal- Zaza Burchuladze Receives kaliani underlined Russia’s destructive policies and the outcomes of occupation, spotlighting Berlin City Scholarship for the Vazha Gaprindashvili case as a “humanitar- ian catastrophe.” Literary Merit “The human rights and security situation on the ground remains extremely diffi cult. People are CULTURE PAGE 9 being persecuted and illegally detained. Renowned Georgian doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili remains in illegal custody. We have already consolidated the Image source: MFA Georgia international community over this fact and con- integration with NATO is aimed at ensuring the ful aspirant country with all practical instru- Special Offer for readers tinue to do so. We are faced with a humanitarian country’s security and its democratic develop- ments for membership and is actively moving catastrophe,” Minister Zalkaliani said. ment, rather than being directed against any ahead towards the time when a political decision of Georgia Today Speaking about Georgia’s integration with third party. He told the high-ranking attendees on its membership is taken. NATO, the Minister underscored that Georgia’s of the NATO Summit that Georgia is a success- Continued on page 2 -15% off all Diet Plans! PAGE 7 GEORGIA TODAY 2 NEWS DECEMBER 6 - 9, 2019 Large-scale Demonstrations Planned in Regions of Georgia BY ANA DUMDADZE

he united opposition plans to launch large-scale dem- onstrations throughout the country, under the slogan 'All against One.' TThe representatives of the opposition parties claim that they, along with civil activists, will start marching on Rustaveli Street in Kutaisi and fi nish with a rally a fully proportional electoral system Parliament on the proportional elections, at Kutaisi City Hall on December 6. from 2020 instead of 2024. and some are pushing for snap elections. They agreed that the demonstrations The demonstrators accuse the current The united opposition has proposed will be held in all major cities of Georgia. state leadership of "breaking its promise its own model to Parliament for a new Tourist Visits to Georgia In addition, a large-scale rally is planned and cheating people" as the ruling party electoral system. in Georgia's capital for December agreed to conduct the 2020 parliamentary The draft law, developed by 30 opposi- 9. The protests in the country were elections using a fully proportional elec- tion forces, implies holding the 2020 sparked after the rejection of an election toral system during the internationally parliamentary elections through a mixed Reach Historic High in bill, proposed by the ruling Georgian renowned June protests in Tbilisi. Pro- electoral system. The new bill has already Dream party, offering the transition to testers demand the second hearing in been registered in the Parliament. January-November 2019 OECD Student Assessment: Georgia 70th among 79 Countries Armenia – 1,230,834 (5.9% increase) BY ANA DUMBADZE Turkey – 1,075,812 (4.3% increase) ranking presents results of tests on about Kazakhstan (387) and Panama (377), with BY ANA DUMBADZE The countries most international visits 600,000 students aged 15 in 79 states the top-ranked Chinese provinces of were carried out from in November 2019: across the world. Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang n January-November 2019, visits Armenia - 116,712 visits (+18.1%) Published every three years, the report at 555. of international travelers coming Azerbaijan - 114,657 visits (+8.15%) he latest international stu- follows a series of tests that students sit Ranking in mathematics saw Georgia to Georgia reached a historic high Russia - 82,029 visits (+10.9%) dent assessment from the in volunteering countries or regions to at 398 points compared to China's four of 8,690,352, which is 7.2% more Turkey - 81,736 visits (+25.3%) Organisation for Economic identify their knowledge and skills in regions at 591 and the bottom-ranked compared to the same period of International visitors in November Co-operation and Develop- reading, mathematics and science. The Philippines at 353. In science, the national Ilast year, reports the Georgian National came mostly from Kazakhstan (169.3%), ment has placed Georgia test aims to identify what knowledge the score was 383, in contrast to the OECD Tourism Administration. Kyrgyzstan (134.8%), China (52.6%), Tin the 70th place among 79 countries, students have as well as how they can average of 489. The countries most international visits Saudi Arabia (46%), and Israel (36.3%). ranking alongside Kazakhstan and Pan- use it for comprehension or fi nding solu- The scores show a decrease for Geor- were carried out from in the fi rst 11 An increase in international visitors ama. tions to scientifi c challenges. gian students since the previous PISA months of 2019: from EU countries was seen from Italy The result is found in the 2018 Pro- The national average score for Geor- report in 2015, where the country score Russia – 1,406,255 (4.9% increase) (84.8%), Poland (80.4%), France (35.5%), gramme for International Student Assess- gian students in reading was identifi ed was 411, 401 and 404 in the three catego- Azerbaijan – 1,404,028 (7% increase) German (35.4%) and Latvia (26.6%). ment (PISA). Released on Tuesday, the at 380, placing the country between ries respectively. Opposition Registers Bill on Change of Electoral System parliamentary elections through a mixed cies," said Sergi Kapanadze, a member of BY ANA DUMBADZE electoral system. the European Georgia party. “The opposition parties have submitted The bill was initiated by the National a draft law to Parliament, which suggests Movement and European Georgia par- he united opposition has the so-called German model. This is a liamentary factions. registered a new bill in Par- project aimed at reforming the electoral The representatives of the opposition par- liament regarding the system. It involves the German principle, ties claim that there is complete consensus demanded change to the which means that all parties will get seats on the opposition wing regarding the bill, electoral system. in the parliament according to the pro- so now the ruling party TThe draft law, developed by 30 opposi- portional vote results and it also involves must fi nd a solution "If they want to fi nd a tion forces, implies holding the 2020 multi-mandate majoritarian constituen- way out of this very acute political crisis.” "Keep Georgia on Your Mind": MFA Zalkaliani at the NATO Summit 2019 Continued from page 1 try for its ultimate membership. The Minister ended his speech with a “The Bucharest Summit decision clearly musical reference: “Keep Georgia on indicated that Georgia will become a your mind,” Zalkaliani urged the attend- member of NATO. All documents and ees of the summit, connecting the coun- declarations adopted following the try to Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Bucharest Summit reaffi rm support for Gorrell’s 1930 hit song. The closing of Georgia’s membership of NATO. We are his remarks was greeted with applause. fully aware of the existing situation and December 4 marked the second of the the fact that a political decision has not NATO 2019 Summits in London, the yet been taken. However, we are effec- highlight of which, for Georgia, was the UK’s fi rm support for Georgia, describ- State on the recent developments in Presidency, Christopher Pincher highly tively implementing all practical instru- Minister Zalkaliani’s meeting with UK ing the country as a successful aspirant Georgia’s occupied regions, highlighting appraised Georgia’s priorities and wished ments that lead us to membership. Geor- Foreign and Commonwealth Offi ce Min- and a valuable, reliable partner for NATO. the illegal detention of Vazha Gaprin- the country success in its capacity as gia is already acting as an ally. We are ister of State for Europe and the Amer- The parties highlighted the importance dashvili. He made sure to underline that Chair of the international organization. doing our utmost to bring the country icas, Christopher Pincher. of the Strategic Cooperation Agreement the international partners must keep The leaders of 29 countries gathered to the moment when it is ready for mem- The parties welcomed the Georgian between Georgia and Great Britain, which raising the issue of the occupation of the in London at the NATO summit on bership. Georgia’s contribution to NATO Foreign Minister’s visit to London and will be put to work following Brexit. The Georgian territories and the dire human- December 3-4, marking the organiza- needs to be reciprocated by NATO,” his participation in high-level events on agreement is yet another indication that itarian situation on the ground in all tion’s 70th anniversary. The high-ranking Zalkaliani said, adding that Georgia is the sidelines of the NATO Leaders Meet- Georgia remains an important partner formats of their relations with the Rus- attendees included the Presidents of the closely working with all partners and is ing in London. for the UK. sian Federation. USA, Turkey, the Prime Ministers of the taking active steps to prepare the coun- The FCO Minister of State reaffi rmed Zalkaliani briefed the UK Minister of Congratulating Georgia on the CoE UK and Canada. GEORGIA TODAY DECEMBER 6 - 9, 2019 NEWS 3 ICC: Georgia-Russia War Investigation May Conclude in 2020

Statute of the International Criminal BY TEA MARIAMIDZE Court and the document has not come into power,” Russia’s Justice Ministry said after Bensouda was granted the he International Criminal right to start the investigation. Court (ICC) might com- The Rome Statute is the treaty that plete the investigation into established the ICC. It was adopted at the 2008 Russia-Georgia a diplomatic conference in Rome on August War next year, July 17, 1998, and entered into force on announcedT the Chief Prosecutor of the July 1, 2002. International Criminal Court, Fatou The ICC said the types of crimes alleg- Bensouda, whose term expires at the edly committed in the 2008 war included: end of 2020. • Crimes against humanity, such as Bensouda had a meeting with the Jus- murder, forcible transfer of citizens, tice Minister of Georgia, Thea Tsuluki- and persecution; ani, in The Hague, on the sidelines of • War crimes such as attacks against the18th session of the ICC Assembly of the civilian population, willful killing, State Parties. During the meeting, Ben- intentionally directing attacks against souda noted that the investigation is peacekeepers, destruction of property active and it is not excluded that the and pillaging. process will be fi nished before her term It also noted that the crimes allegedly in the offi ce expires. happened between 1 July and 10 October The Ministry of Justice press service 2008. reports that at the meeting Tsulukiani To note, eleven years after the August talked about the Russian-Georgian war War in 2008, Georgia’s South Ossetia investigation and noted that the popu- Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda and Justice Minister of Georgia, Thea Tsulukiani and Abkhazia regions are still occupied lation of Georgia, which was the victim The elections of a judge to The Hague in The Hague for the fi rst time, and for tigation into alleged cases of war crimes by Russia. of the 2008 Russia-Georgia war and will be held in December 2020, with six that purpose, a candidate will be selected and crimes against humanity during the The war, which lasted fi ve days, brought witnessed ethnic cleansing, crimes judges from different regions to be nationally to comply with the Rome war in 2008. Georgia a human loss of 412 persons, against humanity and war crimes, is elected. Georgia intends to nominate a Statute and Assembly Resolution, which The ICC chamber authorized Ben- including 170 soldiers, 14 police offi cers, waiting for concrete results to restore judge for the Eastern European quota, will launch an active election campaign souda to investigate the war at the end and 228 civilians. Three journalists were justice. It was also noted at the meeting as the Czech judge's term of offi ce is internationally. of January 2015 after examining the killed, while six were wounded. 1,747 that the cooperation between the par- expected to expire. In her speech, Tsulukiani publicly prosecutor’s request and supporting people were wounded on the Georgian ties is at a very high level. During her speech at the 18th Assem- asked the representatives of more than material, including testimonies by or side, including 973 soldiers, 227 police Before meeting Prosecutor Bensuda, bly of The Hague Tribunal, the Georgian 100 states to support Georgia in nomi- on behalf of 6,335 victims of the confl ict. offi cers, and 547 civilians. Thea Tsulukiani met with O-Gon Kwon, Justice Minister stated that Georgia has nating a candidate from Eastern Europe However, Russia said they would not 130, 000 Internally Displaced Persons Chairman of The Hague Tribunal. The all the resources needed to nominate in 2020. cooperate with the ICC to investigate (IDPs) were created, of which 26,000 parties discussed Georgia's participa- qualifi ed and experienced candidates The investigation of the Russia-Geor- possible war crimes committed during are still being denied the right to return. tion in the Assembly's activities and who can compete with the other East- gia war has been underway since early the 5-day confl ict. 35,000 houses were burned, ruined or the nomination of Georgia as a judge ern European candidates. 2015, after Bensouda requested permis- "As of February 1, 2016, the Russia destroyed on the territory of Georgia for The Hague court. If successful, Georgia will have a judge sion from ICC judges to begin an inves- Federation has not ratifi ed the Rome while 125 villages remain occupied. GEORGIA TODAY 4 POLITICS DECEMBER 6 - 9, 2019 Georgian Politicians Slam Nino Burjanadze for Visiting Moscow

not going to sit together with Burjanadze GD ruling party faction head, Mamuka BY TEA MARIAMIDZE who is accountable before Putin and lies Mdinaradze, says that Burjanadze’s to my people,” Charkviani said, adding actions require no comment, adding the visit seriously damages Georgia’s everything is clear. eorgian politicians from image. She added that Burjanadze went “These parties are so called pro-West- both the ruling Georgian to Russia to ask for funding for her party. ern or pseudo-western forces, which Dream (GD) and opposi- , ex-Parliament once gave our territories to Russia and tion parties slammed Nino Speaker and now the leader of the oppo- then justifi ed this action. They now are Burjanadze, the leader of sition party , sitting with Nino Burjanadze and setting Gnon-parliamentary opposition party says that he does not approve of Bur- common goals. They seem to have dif- Democratic Movement, for her recent janadze’s move, but “every party has their fi culty fi nding their way to the neighbor- visit to Russia. plans and activities which no one should ing country and they cannot properly During the two-day visit in Moscow, hinder.” Usupashvili noted that the oppo- explain it,” said Mdinaradze. Burjanadze held meetings with politi- sition is united in demanding fair elec- Gigla Baramidze, political secretary of cians and representatives of the media. tions and differences in other issues should the United Georgia-Democratic Move- Since the Georgian Parliament failed not affect their common goal. ment, explains that Burjanadze's visit to to approve the new election law, which “All political forces and parties, in par- Moscow was planned about a month and would have introduced a full propor- allel, continue to take political steps, a half ago and is not related to the cur- tional system to the country, Nino Bur- focusing on the topics that they previ- rent developments in Georgia. Accord- janadze, together with the United Oppo- ously did, and visit the countries which ing to him, Burjanadze will speak about sition, has been taking part in protests they used to visit before. I do not think the details of her visit after returning to to demand proportional elections. that we should create any obstacle to Georgia. Burjanadze even joined the format cre- this on the road to unity in our quest for “As for the political forces with whom ated by the opposition forces regarding fair elections,” he added. we sit at one table, we only discuss with the election system, which unites vari- Meanwhile, Giga Bokeria, head of the them one issue – the proportional elec- ous parliamentary and non-parliamentary political council of European Georgia, tions. It is just this issue that connects parties. says that uniting the opposition does not us, because we have very different visions Tako Charkviani, the leader of the party mean that their political views have in every direction, especially with some Law and Justice, announced that because changed. He explained that all the par- political forces,” he said. of Burjanadze’s visit to Moscow, she has ties knew before creating the format that Baramidze added that the temporary quit the joint format established by the Burjanadze sometimes visits Moscow. union of the opposition has its coordi- opposition. However, Charkviani says “The opposition parties united at one nator, who was informed about Bur- she will stay as a member of the United table differ in fundamental values, yet janadze’s visit to Moscow. Opposition and continue asking for the they share the common goal of holding “Several opposition leaders were also proportional electoral system. proportional elections. We are as we aware of this visit. Everyone should “I continue demanding proportional were before and everyone knows that,” understand that no one has the right to Nino Burjanadze, source: Flickr elections. I like the German model we he said, adding that the “informal ruler prohibit us anything. We do not go there all [opposition] worked on together. I of Georgia, ,” is the [Moscow] to have fun, but to discuss Russia. The leader of the Democratic territories, the Georgian government am in favor of the protests and I remain reason the opposition has united around issues,” he added. Georgia has always claimed that in order needs to have ongoing dialogue with the participant of all the rallies. But I am the one goal – fair elections. This is not Burjanadze’s fi rst visit to to solve the problem of the occupied Russia. Former President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan Charged with Corruption

tion charges against the former president BY KAREN TOVMASYAN of Armenia “fabricated and ludicrous”. The former ruling party, well-known for its long-term tradition of conducting he Armenian Special Inves- political prosecutions against its politi- tigation Service (SIS) cal opponents, says the charges against released a statement on Sargsyan are a manifestation of “political Wednesday about corrup- persecution aimed at silencing political tion charges against the opponents.” Tthird president of Armenia, Serzh Sarg- However, Sargsyan is not the only high syan (also known as Sarkisian- 2008- ranking former offi cial charged after the 2018), who resigned as a result of the Velvet Revolution. His predecessor, the Velvet Revolution last year. second president of Armenia Robert SIS alleged that Sargsyan “organized Kocharyan (1998-2008), has been impris- the embezzlement by a group of offi cials” oned since December 2018 for overthrow- of 489 million drams (over $1 million) ing the constitutional order in 2008 by in government funds allocated in 2013 releasing an anti-constitutional top-secret for the provision of subsidized diesel order 0038, commanding the army lead- fuel to low-income farmers. ership to bring the army units to the According the investigation, the former capital and then using them against the president interfered in a government opposition movement lead by the fi rst tender for the fuel supplier to ensure president of Armenia Levon Ter-Pet- that it is won by the company owned by rosyan (1991-1998). The current PM Nikol his classmate and close friend Barsegh Pashinyan was one of the most promi- Barsegian. nent members of that political movement The government paid 1.8 billion drams until 2013, when he left and organized ($3.8 million) to the fuel supplier Flash his own political party “Civil Contract”. company, as part of the government pro- Pashinyan is known for his uncompro- gram to subsidize the fuel expenses of mising position regarding corruption. thousands of low-income farmers in to sign a formal document preventing program to subsidize the fuel expenses "Now it is evident that this was indeed Since taking the position of PM of Arme- Armenia, while another company Max- him from leaving the country pending of low-income farmers, as they saw a corrupted program, and that the gov- nia, he has been running an uncompro- hur, which was suggesting a cheaper the trial. numerous corruption risks in that pro- ernment gave the tender not to the com- mising campaign against corruption price for the same purposes, lost the During the parliamentary Q&A ses- gram, and that the low-income farmers pany which was suggesting the best price, which involved even the leading mem- tender. The price suggested by Maxhur sion with the government, Prime Min- in reality were not benefi ting from the but to the company which Serzh Sargsyan bers of his team, such as the head of State would have allowed the government to ister Nikol Pashinyan spoke about the program. He added that his government ordered them to; according to the inves- Supervision Service and the Deputy save about half billion drams, but the corruption charges against the former was much criticized for terminating tigation, a company belonging to his Minister of Health. On December 4, the government rejected the suggestion, president, saying he doesn’t know more that program by their opponents, who close friend," stated Pashinyan. National Security Service charged the giving preference to the company owned than is written in the offi cial statement claimed the government was ignoring However, the former ruling Republican Deputy Minister of Education, Science, by the close friend of the president. of the SIS and the press. He said that the needs of low-income farmers and Party, which is now out of Parliament, Sport and Culture, Gevorg Loretsyan, Sargsyan denies the charges but had his government ordered a stop to the villagers. released a statement calling the corrup- with corruption. GEORGIA TODAY DECEMBER 6 - 9, 2019 POLITICS 5 Every Woman Has A Story: A Study on Violence & Bystanders

he Embassy of the Czech capital, at almost 45%. Republic in Georgia hosted The panelists, representing both aca- an event ‘Every Woman Has demia (ISET, GIPA, CRRC, IliaUni) and a Story,’ dedicated to the agencies (MIA, ATIP Fund), along with results of the new research the UNDP and ServiceLab staff, spoke Tconducted by the UNDP in partnership of the community engagement that tends with the UN Women and the Embassy. to be predominantly female, shaping up The research presentation was a part the informal network of support. They of the larger UN undertaking, a broad emphasized the need to use the existing campaign titled “16 Days of Activism” framework and build upon it to ensure running from November 25th through the higher engagement with the victims December 10th and focused on near- themselves, who often refuse to cooper- ubiquitous violence against women. In ate with the police called to the scene. the opening remarks, HE Ambassador Overall, the fi ndings are sure to provide of the Czech Republic to Georgia, Petr a wealth of opportunities to improve the Mikyska, addressed the troubling statis- current state of affairs, to all the actors, tics. “One in seven women in Georgia both state and civic organizations. The reported having experienced domestic Ministry of Internal Affairs, despite mak- violence in their lifetime. This research ing considerable progress in approach- presents some answers on what can trig- ing domestic violence issues, could take ger bystanders to take action, what may heed from the statistics showing respond- be stopping them from intervention and ents taking on the abusers themselves, how they can help gender-based violence choosing to confront them and citing survivors,” he said. “not knowing what else to do.” Field Funded by the Czech and Danish gov- no difference in the engagement rate of interfere. respondent was the only witness to the workers have provided a feedback that ernments and conducted jointly by two the bystanders: 11.5% in Kakheti and 11% The goal of the study was to gauge the incident – probably, feeling more of a shows police offi cers less versed in com- UN agencies, UNDP and UN Women, in Guria. In both instances, the numbers range of responses of witnesses to the personal responsibility for the victim’s municating all the available options and in partnership with the UK’s Behavioural are shockingly low, and UNDP Head instances of domestic violence, and to well-being, as opposed to a somewhat recourses to the victims than one would Insights Team and the Public Service Louisa Vinton is right to express her dissect them further, in order to under- diluted one, in a collective setting. hope, after all the trainings and educa- Development Agency at the Ministry of concerns that this attitude is costing stand why some chose to remain mere The socio-demographic profi le of those tional effort in this direction. Justice of Georgia, the research covered lives. bystanders while others actively engaged who tend to engage the most mirrors As the UNDP Head Louisa Vinton the capital, Tbilisi, and two rural regions, “The research confi rms our assump- and spared no effort in trying to assist the Georgian equivalents of “wokeness”: indicated, this study is a part of the con- Kakheti and Guria. The selection of the tion that a large share of the public still victims. educationally, a Master’s degree; fi nan- tinued cooperation effort that is not research area was determined not just views domestic violence as a private Somewhat counterintuitively, females cially, a monthly income of 3,000 GEL limited to a research, but has overarch- by the geographic East-West spread, but ‘family matter,’ rather than a crime that were responding to instances of domes- or more (for comparison, average sala- ing impact in policy-making support. by the statistics on reported cases of merits police intervention,” she said. tic violence more actively than males, ries hover around 500-700); a self-iden- The panelists echoed her positive out- domestic violence across Georgia: the Indeed, with the places where such vio- indicating that it was “the right thing to tifi ed lack of formal religious affi liation, look, noting the state agencies’ openness highest in Kakheti, and the lowest, in lence occurs identifi ed as predominantly do”, the research shows. Very few feared as in church-going. Not surprisingly, the to have academia actively participate in Guria. Jumping ahead, we need to men- family abodes, many of the 400 respond- for their safety; moreover, the rate of highest level of witnesses who refuse to shaping policies regarding domestic tion that, strangely enough, this made ers felt that “it wasn’t their place” to engagement was higher when the be passive bystanders is observed in the violence. GEORGIA TODAY 6 POLITICS DECEMBER 6 - 9, 2019 US State Department Offi cials, Senators Make Supportive Statements on Georgia

famous red phone. Today, our engage- the murderous regime in Damascus, and ments with Russia are few, and there is working to subvert democratic processes a growing risk of a strategic miscalcu- in the United States, Europe, and else- lation on the seas, the ground, or in the where. skies." "Since 2014, in response to Russian Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), a rank- aggression in Ukraine and Georgia, the ing member of the Senate Foreign Rela- United States has dramatically increased tions Committee, delivered opening security assistance across the region, remarks noting that Kremlin aggression which signifi es our steadfast commit- since the invasion of Georgia in 2008 is ment to collective defense under the unacceptable. North Atlantic Treaty and our continued "First, we must make very clear that support to European Allies and partners so many examples of Kremlin aggression to counter Russian aggression and malign since the invasion of Georgia in 2008 infl uence," he noted. are simply unacceptable and cannot In its immediate neighborhood, Russia become the norm in international affairs. seeks to dominate, as demonstrated by The invasion of Ukraine and illegal its ongoing aggression against Ukraine occupation of Crimea, the attempted and Georgia. In Ukraine, Russia must assassination of regime opponents with end its belligerence and implement its chemical weapons on foreign soil, com- Minsk agreement obligations," David mitting war crimes in Syria, the attack Hale noted. "We are encouraged by the on our 2016 election. These are just positive steps Ukrainian President Zelen- some," he said. sky has taken to resolve the Russiainsti- Christopher A. Ford discussed Russia’s gated confl ict in eastern Ukraine; thus troubling diplomatic campaigns, noting far, we are disappointed by Moscow’s that formidable challenges in the current response. The December 9 Normandy security environment are the result of format summit provides an opportunity Russian behavior. to test Russia’s willingness to reverse its "Nor have I yet mentioned Russia’s harmful behavior. troubling diplomatic campaigns to under- "We condemn Russia’s continued mil- of the Senate Foreign Relations Com- free because of the Russian Federation." mine institutions of transparency and itarization of Crimea and in July 2018, BY ANA DUMBADZE mittee, convened a full committee hear- "Of course, we all know about the accountability in controlling weapons the Secretary of State issued a Crimea ing on the future of US policy towards invasions of Georgia and Ukraine over of mass destruction at the Organization declaration stating that the United States Russia, with a witness testimony from the years, and about the poisoning of for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons will never recognize Russia’s attempted he senior offi cials of the US David Hale, Undersecretary of State for Russian people on other sovereign soil. (OPCW), the International Atomic annexation of the peninsula. State Department and sen- Political Affairs at the US Department The world today is more dangerous and Energy Agency (IAEA), and the United "The construction of the Nordstream ators made supportive state- of State, and Christopher A. Ford, Assis- less free because of the Russian Fed- Nations. 2 pipeline and Moscow’s unhelpful ments towards Georgia at tant Secretary for International Security eration. As a result, the US relationship "All of this would add up to a very grim approach to trilateral gas negotiations a Senate Foreign Relations and Nonproliferation at the US Depart- with Russia is at a low point. During picture even if Russia were not continu- with the EU and Ukraine give Russia a TCommittee hearing on ‘The Future of ment of State. the height of the Cold War, our leaders ing its aggression and territorial seizures new instrument for its strategy of using U.S. Policy Towards Russia’ on Tuesday. Risch stressed in his speech that "the had a lifeline to ensure that neither side against Ukraine and Georgia, undertak- energy as a political weapon," Hale US Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman world today is more dangerous and less made a disastrous miscalculation – the ing expeditionary warfare on behalf of stressed. Georgia’s Integrity via Education be solved only on a peaceful basis. OP-ED BY NUGZAR B. RUHADZE Time is relentlessly passing by and hope for the solution remains as bleak as it has ever been. The situation becomes he , the weird- even worse because the world is getting est political protuberance used to the dire reality, plunging our on Mankind’s body, disap- most acute national pain into oblivion. peared after it turned into International formats are being depleted a lethal cancerous growth. of their geopolitical potential to help TThe monstrous empire vanished from Georgia out, with the fact that Russia the world map after 70 years of wretched dominates the arena not in our favor. social and glorious military existence, New generations are coming of age whose having disintegrated into 15 independent indifference towards the issue is simply states, Georgia one of them. frightening. Sakartvelo won independence, but not As Professor Khonelidze makes clear, without paying a price: it forfeited one- the topic has to be kept alive and per- third of its historical lands for the reasons manently discussable both internally that be, and acquired a new archenemy and externally, but not without relevant in the person of the newly created Rus- education for the coming generations of sian Federation – the offi cial inheritor , Abkhazians and Ossetians, of Soviet legacy. In a nutshell: the ruined scientifi cally elucidating every aspect of USSR triggered the ruin of Georgia. the depressing situation and looking for Was the soviet debilitating but not so new forms of confl ict resolution. And funny socio-economic conglomerate nothing can do this better than Univer- good or bad for us? There is no straight- sity Diplomacy, with its modernized forward and single-meaning answer to technique and strategy of getting down this traumatizing question, but the irref- to the nitty-gritty of the extant geopo- utable fact is that the country used to be litical problem which has put all of the wholesome, with a secured peaceful confl ict sides on the verge of misery and existence as well as guaranteed territo- misfortune. rial integrity and inviolability of frontiers. One of the most daring ideas that Thirty years have passed and the prob- sounded in the professorial speech was lem of Georgia’s territorial integrity is a thought about the possibility of reunit- still on the agenda of the Republic’s ing the once split Sokhumi University, unsolved dilemmas. Moreover, it looks which suffered the pains of compelled like the issue will stay there until the dissection as a consequence of the stupid end of time. internecine the 1990s war, managed and But there are some wise heads oper- manipulated by the big northern brother Zurab Khonelidze speaks in front of Sokumi State University ating in the country that are gingerly of all of the suffering losers. It is exactly nursing the cherished idea of the fea- University, Professor Zurab Khonelidze, the issue against the background of the territorial problems. In any interna- University Diplomacy that carries the sibility of reinstating our territorial who constructively managed to brief so called University Diplomacy, one tional format, and those are very few, educational and scientifi c power to bring integrity. I was lucky enough to have the strained audience in an exclusively of the trendiest means of executing Georgia’s future attracts serious atten- up young people of thought and reason recently encountered one of those educated fashion on the possibility of one’s diplomatic and political aspira- tion only when the runaway Abkhazia who can and would rightfully handle the bright heads at one of the conferences seeing Georgia put back in its previous tions. The main allusion was made and South Ossetia are squeezed into damage, once brought about by their in town, organized by a certain seg- territorial shape. The professor’s out- towards the fact that Georgia’s inter- the narrative. Otherwise, there is not angry and not very intelligent ancestors, ment of Georgia’s intellectual elite. of-the-ordinary geopolitical concept national image and its recognizability much to deliberate on Georgia’s fate. who have deliberately or unwittingly There, I heard a succinct speech by was presented in plain, easily under- mostly depend on how much the world The confl ict that Georgia has found succumbed to the evil imposed on their the current rector of Sokhumi State standable language, and dwelt upon wants to continue the discussion of its itself stuck in for decades will have to unfortunate heads. GEORGIA TODAY DECEMBER 6 - 9, 2019 SOCIETY 7 “In Honorem” of PhD. Professor & Academician Roin Metreveli

Professor and academician Roin Metreveli, Vice President of the Georgian National of his great deeds not only in one’s country, but OP-ED BY PHD. PROF. ACAD. also in the entire world. NICOLAE V. DURA, By his entire academic and scientifi c activity, Acad. Metreveli has proved to be a real servant to the culture of his nation, to which our forefathers, t is indeed commendable the initiative taken Antimoz Iverieli and Mihail Stephanishvili, laid the by the President of the Georgian National bases of the Georgian culture expressed in printed Academy of Sciences, Acad. Giorgi Kvesita- books. dze, together with his distinguished col- Since I am one of the “Foreign Members” of the leagues, and co-workers, to publish the papers Georgian National Academy of Sciences, who had Isent by the members of the Academy “in honorem” the honor to be invited to send a such paper, with (in honor) of our distinguished colleague Academi- this happy occasion, that is “in honorem” of Acad- cian Roin Metreveli, the Vice President of the emician Roin Metreveli, who becomes 80 years old Academy, on the occasion of his 80th anniversary, on 7th December 2019, I would like to say some in a special volume. words both about his personality, as I perceived I have to confess to fact that I received the and understood it myself, and about his outstand- announcement from the Secretary of the Georgian ing academic and scientifi c activity. National Academy of Sciences concerning said Acad. Roin Metreveli is one of the fi rst publish- 80th anniversary with both great pleasure and with ers and editors of the ‘Georgian National Universal great emotion, since, just at that moment, I was Encyclopedia,’ and that from October 2013 to pre- working on a book concerning the Prefaces of sent day, he is the Vice President of the Georgian Hyeromonk Mihail Stephanishvili, the Romanian National Academy of Sciences. typographer, the spiritual son of Saint Antimoz I am also acquainted with the fact that Prof. Acad. Iverieli, who printed the fi rst books on the Geor- Metreveli is a member of different national acad- gian land, and, as it has to be known, these two emies, among them the International Academy of outstanding personalities of the Romanian and Art, Science and Education of California (USA), Georgian cultures contributed forever to the broth- the International Academy of Higher Education of erhood of relations between our nations. Moscow (Russia), and the European Academy of Personally, I met the Academician Prof. PhD. Roin Sciences and Arts of Salzburg (Austria). Metreveli, Vice-President of the Georgian National I know also that Acad. Metreveli is not only a Academy of Sciences, about ten years ago in Tbi- great scholar with international recognition, as lisi, on the occasion of some international con- proved “à l’évidence” the fact that he was honored gresses organized under the aegis of the Georgian as a Scientist by different countries, such as the Orthodox and with the blessing of His Abkhazian Autonomous Republic in 1996; he is also Beatitude Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia. recognized a specialist not only in the history of Afterwards, I had the opportunity to participate his country and the Caucasus region, but also in in some symposiums and conferences organized the history of Christianity, which brought to him by the tutorial forum of the Georgian culture, i.e., also the highest rewards of the Georgian Patriar- of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences, in chate, namely St. George’s Gold Order, in 2011. which the erudite historian, an internationally I know also the fact that, as a parliamentarian, renowned specialist in the Georgian and Caucasian Professor Roin Metreveli signed the Act on the history and European medieval culture, organized Restoration of Independence of Georgia (9th April and chaired their work sessions. 1991). Thanks to the Acad. Giorgi Kvesitadze, President As a professor (from 1977) and as academician of Georgian National Academy of Sciences, I had (from 2005 until present), Roin Metreveli became the happy occasion to speak about Antimoz Iveri- famous in the universal and academic world (national eli and about Mihail Stephanishvili, not only in and international) both for his academic and sci- Tbilisi, in the Hall of Georgian National Academy, entifi c works (more than two hundred), mostly in when I had also a benefi cial discussion with Acad. the historical fi eld, and by his competent activity Metreveli, but also in Constanta and Râmnicu- as editor: the editor of Georgian National Academy Vâlcea (Romania), dedicated to the 300th anniver- of Sciences’ Journal “Matsne” (Herald) (Series of sary of the martyrdom death of Saint Antimoz History); the editor-in-chief of Annuals “Kartuli Iverieli. Diplomatia” (Georgian Diplomacy) (17 volumes On other occasions, in Tbilisi, I had the oppor- published) and “Kavkazika” (Caucasica) (7 volumes tunity to discuss with Acad. Metreveli topics of published). common interest (history, culture, religion, aca- Certainly, speaking both about his outstanding demic life, socio-politics, etc.). All the discussions scientifi c activity and about his remarkable uni- with him were always a real intellectual feast, which versity and academic activity, I hope that even by can be likened to Plato's Banquet. the means of my few words I have managed to At the same time, all these happy occasions gave convey to our distinguished colleague a sincere me the opportunity to fi nd out that Acad. Metrev- message of consideration and friendship, accom- eli is a perfect host, who knows how to welcome panied by my good wishes for his health, which his guests in accordance with the ancient Georgian will continue to permit him to bring other cultural custom, i.e., in the spirit of Christian hospitality, and spiritual contributions both to his great and an exceptional one, of the Georgian people, and a beloved Georgian nation and to the European his- research historian of caliber, who, through the tory. extent of his knowledge and his pedagogical tact, Ad Multos Annos, dear professor and academi- makes one decipher the millennial history of the cian Roin Metreveli, Vice President of the Georgian Georgian people and wish to become a broadcaster National Academy of Sciences! GEORGIA TODAY 8 SOCIETY DECEMBER 6 - 9, 2019 Cold Storage: Etseri, Svaneti

Snowboarding! I’ve never tried this, but my nieces BLOG BY TONY HANMER and nephews in Canada are experts at it. Building an igloo! There are many plans and teaching videos for this online, and it does draw o danger of forest fi re here now! my interest. After a ridiculously mild November, A full-on winter carnival! Snow and ice sculpting including unheard of rain instead of in addition to the above ideas. Hot foods and drinks snow, winter has settled in for the served outside as part of it, and prizes for winners long run. Our fi rst two falls of white in all categories of events. Nstuff are here to stay, and a clear cold snap is mak- Making sure your house and livestock are win- ing everything sparkle. terized! Food for them; extra preserves of fruit and The school’s outdoor sports arena is snowed vegetables for you- I make chutneys and liqueurs; under. Now the choices for activities are either the my wife makes pickles and we both make jams. indoor sports hall, or what you can do with snow: Water set up so it can’t freeze, because this would Sledding or tobogganing! Locally made wooden (and has been) a disaster for morale; winter tires vehicles are very popular, with metal runners. Plas- for the car, and chains to boot. Firewood aplenty. tic bought ones need to be able to cope with tem- This winter, for the fi rst time, I have a trapdoor to peratures down to minus 15 C, without getting the crawlspace under the fl oor, and ALL my winter brittle and breaking far too easily in the punishing wood stored there, for easy access. No more going treatment they receive. My sisters and I had tough outside and digging down to reach the tarpaulin plastic disks, lightly concave, in our early Canadian under snow, hauling out wood, and bringing it in! years, and they worked great in any direction, even Luxury, an idea long overdue. while spinning. I also gathered up all scraps from chopping the Skiing! The road running past our house is very fi rewood, put them into 15 sacks of kindling, and popular for this as it’s a nice downhill run. Sorry, have been storing them in the barn and garage to no uphill lifts, you just have to walk back up and dry out. They make ideal starter fuel: I hardly need start again. Some children start this soon after they paper, let alone diesel, though both are at hand if can walk, when their fears of speed and falling are necessary. as yet undeveloped. There’s hardly any cross- Simple determination not to let the short daylight country skiing here; I suppose it’s considered too hours and cold get you down! It can do, but if you placid for most. The small training run with its plan to fi nd the best in it, and to fi ght the rest, you own lift built on the edge of the village has turned can cope. Get enough sunlight when you can, and into a bit of a fi asco, though, as its location gets enough exercise. Winter here is unavoidable, so maximum sun, and thus will retain minimum snow one might as well jump right in and relish it! over the season. (The selling price of our house here nearly dou- Tony Hanmer has lived in Georgia since 1999, in bled on rumors that then president Saakashvili, an Svaneti since 2007, and been a weekly writer for GT accomplished winter sportsman, and a team of since early 2011. He runs the “Svaneti Renaissance” experts were considering a ski resort above Etseri. Facebook group, now with nearly 2000 members, at The price went down again after they decided www.facebook.com/groups/SvanetiRenaissance/ against it, but many locals still feel that it would He and his wife also run their own guest house in Etseri: be a great location.) www.facebook.com/hanmer.house.svaneti CULTURE Zaza Burchuladze Receives Berlin City Scholarship for Literary Merit

BY ELENE DZEBISASHVILI

aza Burchuladze, a postmodern Geor- gian novelist and dramatist, has been granted Berlin’s work scholarship for 2020 as a distinguished foreign-language writer. Burchuladze will benefi t from theZ Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Europe Scholarship, granted to a mere 10 Berlin- based authors of non-German literature. In selecting their recipients, organizers seek works that feature "quality, viability and continuity" from growing in boldness and penetration, exemplify authors looking for benefi ts to their artistic advance- the eccentricity of being and high qualities of style. ment. The scholarship also aims to "keep alive the Primarily in recognition of his fruitful, varied and literary scene of Berlin by promoting innovative outstanding production in the realm of dramatic texts and their authors". art, Burchuladze has been esteemed by many as Born in 1973, Zaza graduated from the Tbilisi State the most outstanding Georgian writer of contem- Academy of Arts before commencing his route as porary post-Soviet literature. Zaza received last a novelist and a short prose writer. He has trans- year's Brücke Berlin Literary and Translator Award lated numerous Russian contemporary novels and for bringing the acclaimed novel A Tourist’s Break- classics, including authors like Fyodor Dostoyevsky fast to the German-speaking audience. The novel and Vladimir Sorokin. Burchuladze’s narratives follows the protagonist in his wanders around Ber- often startle the audience with his experimental lin, playing with obscurity and humor to unearth way of writing and the provocative themes he takes new aspects of the human psyche. The novel has up. Burchuladze has won steadily increasing rec- been praised as a ‘masterpiece’ by Levan Berdzen- ognition for his inspired writings which, while ishvili, a well-known Georgian literary critic. GEORGIA TODAY DECEMBER 6 - 9, 2019 CULTURE 9 International Festival of Theater 2019 become more aware of the current world directors/experts, made up with infl uential BY NINI DAKHUNDARIDZE trends in theater, and get more acknowl- theater producers, professionals and fes- edged in the leading and best global the- tival directors from all around the world. atrical companies. The festival will further The council members are: Roman Doljan- he Ministry of Education, work as a networking opportunity for ski (Israel), Dariush Kosinski (Poland), Culture and Sport of Ajara those in the fi eld, making it easier than Jacek Glomb (Poland), Asta Kazlauskiene is granting the world of ever for Ajarian theater professionals to (Lithuania), Lucian Baleanu (Romania), theater a great gift: the fi nd partners for their co-productions and Andro Enukidze (Chairperson, Georgia). Batumi International international projects. The participants of the fi rst-ever Batumi TTheater Festival. On December 7-20 the And last but certainly not least, the International Theater Festival will be theatrical festival will take place for the Batumi International Theater Festival renowned theater companies and troupes fi rst time in the coastal city of Georgia. aims to popularize the modern theatri- from Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland, Launching an international festival of cal forms and tendencies in Ajara, and Ukraine, and Turkey who were selected theater was the idea of Andro Enukidze in this way nurture the professionalism through a careful judging process by the and his foreign friends, made into reality and qualifi cations of the creative minds festival council. Within the frames of the with the support of the Ministry of Edu- employed in the fi eld in this region. festival, a ‘show-case’ will take place cation, Culture and Sport of Ajara. The festival has a council of international where the audience will be able to attend Enukidze is a Georgian theater the local plays. director and currently an artistic The Batumi International director in the Batumi Ilia Theater Festival 2019 kicks off Chavchavadze State Theater. on Saturday, December 7 with a The Batumi International German production of ‘Medea’. Theater Festival has a few ambi- The other highlights of the fes- tious aims. First, it seeks to mark tival are ‘The Devils,’ based on a Batumi on the world’s theatrical book by the same name by Dos- map, and establish the city as toevsky, remastered by the Polish, place rich in theatrical culture scheduled for December 13, and and traditions. While doing that, an Italian production of ‘Divine the festival also aspires to raise Comedy’ on December 19-20. La the popularity of the region of Repubblica has written about the Ajara in Europe and the rest of latter: “Angels and Devils clash the world. in spectacular duels. Acrobatic Second, culture is a two-way- lights, fl ying actors, souls that street: as the festival is expected fall like leaves in autumn… It to introduce Georgia to the outer could be the description of a world, by bringing the interna- painting by Hescher or Bosch, tional plays to Georgia, the Batumi but it’s an Emiliano Pellisari International Festival will also show.” bring the outer world to the coun- The tickets for the festival are try. The Georgian audience will on sale on biletebi.ge. Natakhtari Platinum - Taste of 4 Grains Limited Edition! BY MARIAM MERABISHVILI

new brand has appeared on the Georgian beer mar- ket. Natakhtari always strives to offer its custom- ers a brand new recipe. In Athis case we are talking about special bottling. This is a new taste for beer drinkers, Natakhtari Platinum - 4 Grains Taste, made with four types of specially elected malts (barley, wheat, rye, oats). The new brand has already been launched and is being sold throughout Georgia. Although limited in quantity, consumers have already begun sharing their impressions with the company. After tasting this beer, a few artistic references came back to the company. This is one of them: "The lightness of oats blends harmoniously with the fl avor of the special common hop and, together with Natakhtari's natural water, creates a diverse and completely new fl avor for beer lovers." As Anna Qarchava, Senior Brand Man- ager at Natakhtari explains: “Natakhtari Platinum is made from seasonal ingre- dients (four kinds of malt) which are an autumn crop. This is why it is only avail- able in limited quantities and therefore will be on sale for a limited time. We recommend everyone act quick to taste high quality Georgian beer made from four types of selected malt. " GEORGIA TODAY 10 CULTURE DECEMBER 6 - 9, 2019

WHAT’S ON IN TBILISI THEATER December 12 kingdom: 'Lord, aid David, king Zubalashvili, as well as books with Balázs Máté- cello, Hungary SILENT REHEARSAL! of Abkhazians, Kartvelians, Rans, signatures of Ilia Chavchavadze, Program: Performance of various short Kakhs, Armenians.' Ivane Machabeli, Victor Hugo, I GABRIADZE THEATER novels: "Good Morning", Dmitri Mendeleev and Antoine- Henry Purcell- Abdelazer Suite, Z 14 Shavteli Str. "Cinemat", "Welcome-Host", Until December 9 Augustin Renouard, etc. 570, Arcangelo Corelli- Concerto "Shirley Beis", "Painter", Exhibition Grosso Op. 6, N 9, George Frideric December 6 GALLERY "Bohemian Rhapsody" MUSEUM OF CERAMICS Handel- Concerto Grosso Op. 6, N 10 THE AUTUMN OF MY Directed by Kakha Bakuradze Eight artists united around the II SPRINGTIME Language: Non-verbal idea of creating a museum of THE NATIONAL GALLERY Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Revaz Gabriadze Start time: 20:00 11 Rustaveli Ave. Cello Concerto in A, wq. 172 Directed by Revaz Gabriadze ceramics to describe the history of Ticket: 10, 15 GEL TEL (+995 32) 215 73 00 Symphony N 5, wq. 182 English Subtitles ceramics: Malkhaz Shvelidze, Nato Start time: 19:30 Start time: 20:00 Eristavi, Lia Bagrationi, Gigisha CINEMA GRAND MASTERS FROM THE Ticket: 10-30 GEL Ticket: 20, 30 GEL Pachkoria, Lali Kutateladze, Otar Vepkhvadze, Merab Gugunashvili, GEORGIAN Venue: Rustaveli Theater, Small Stage THE 20TH TBILISI NATIONAL MUSEUM December 7 Ilia Biganashvili. INTERNATIONAL FILM COLLECTION XIX – XX CENTURY CLASSICAL MUSIC IN STALINGRAD FESTIVAL ALTERNATIVE Revaz Gabriadze IOSEB GRISHASHVILI www.tbilisifi lmfestival.ge/ TBILISI DIGITAL SPACE Directed by Revaz Gabriadze TBILISI HISTORY MUSEUM ENVIRONMENT Venue: Amirani Cinema Tbilisi Mall English Subtitles - KARVASLA Start time: 20:00 8 Sioni St. December 6 The fi rst museum of digital art in Ticket: 20, 30 GEL December 1-8 TEL (+995 32) 2 98 22 81 CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT Language: Georgian, English, Tbilisi, where you will meet three Kolja Blacher (violin), different spaces: Vazha-Pshavela's December 8 English Subtitles Until January 19 Ozgur Aydin (Piano) "Dried beech", the world of torches, RAMONA See the program: www.kinoafi sha.ge Project "Contemporary Art Program: and a digital space decorated with Revaz Gabriadze Gallery" presents the exhibition Ravel- Sonata for Violin and Piano MUSEUM various graphic and visuals effects. Directed by Revaz Gabriadze "How to Catch up with a Dead in G major, Bartok- Sonata for In the main hall decorated with English Subtitles Hare" by Georgian contemporary Violin and Piano No. 1, Beethoven- video projections and mirrors Start time: 20:00 GEORGIAN NATIONAL artist ILIKO ZAUTASHVILI Kreutzer Sonata As a soloist you will discover that there is no Ticket: 20, 30 GEL MUSEUM SIMON JANASHIA Start time: 19:00 MUSEUM MUSEUM OF SOVIET boundary between Man and nature. Ticket: 35 GEL Ticket: 10-30 GEL December 12 3 Rustaveli Ave. OCCUPATION Venue: Art Palace, 6 Kargareteli Str. REZO TEL (+995 32) 299 80 22, 293 48 21 4 Rustaveli Ave. MUSIC Animated documentary fi lm www.museum.ge TEL (+995 32) 2 99 80 22, 2 93 48 21 December 8 Directed by Leo Gabriadze www.museum.ge LAUREATES OF THE BRUSSELS DJ. KAKHIDZE TBILISI English Subtitles Exhibitions: QUEEN ELISABETH VIOLIN CENTER FOR MUSIC & Start time: 20:00 GEORGIAN COSTUME AND The exhibition hall is equipped COMPETITION CULTURE Ticket: 15 GEL WEAPONRY OF THE 18TH-20TH with monitors, where visitors Opera Camerata 123a D. Agmashenebeli Ave. CENTURIES can see documentaries of various Concertmeister– Lela Mtchedlidze SHALIKASHVILI TEHATER NUMISMATIC TREASURY historical events. Conductor: Revaz Javakhishvili December 7 37 Sh. Rustaveli Ave. EXHIBITION STONE AGE Soloists: laureates of the Brussels THE CONCERT OF TBILISI GEORGIA MUSEUM OF ILLUSIONS Queen Elisabeth CENTRAL MUSIC SCHOOL December 6 ARCHEOLOGICAL TREASURE 10 Betlemi Str. Violin Competition 2019 STUDENTS STOP AIDS NEW LIFE TO THE ORIENTAL Júlia Pusker (Violin), The program includes chamber Genre: Pantomime COLLECTIONS Discover the Museum of Illusions Eva Rabchevska (Violin), works of Georgian and foreign Start time: 20:00 Be brave and jump into an illusion Program: composers performed by students Ticket: 15 GEL Until December 10 created by the Vortex, deform the Mozart– Violin Concerto Np. 1 in of different faculties An international-scale image of yourself in the Mirror B-fl at major, Start time: 19:30 MOVEMENT THEATER archaeological exhibition Room, free yourself in the Infi nity Mozart– Violin Concerto Np. 5 in Ticket: 20-50 GEL 182 Agmashenebli Ave. THE COLORS OF ANCIENT ROME. Room, resist the laws of gravity A major, MOSAICS FROM THE and size, and take selfi es in every Bach- Concerto for Two Violins MONOHALL December 6 CAPITOLINE MUSEUMS possible pose. Enjoy the collection and Orchestra in D minor, 2 D. Bakradze Str. INTRO The exhibition features 21 mosaics of holograms and discover optical Sarasate– Navarra found in Rome, covering a wide illusions. Start time: 19:00 Directed by Kakha Bakuradze December 6 chronological period ranging from Ticket: 35 GEL Genre: Musical UNIEQAV, ALVA NOTO Live, 2nd century BC until 4th century AD THE BOOK MUSEUM Venue: Writers' House of Georgia, Language: Non-verbal SAMUEL KERRIDGE, NIKAKOI 5 Gudiashvili Str., National 13 Ivane Machabeli Str. Start time: 20:00 Live, SAPHILEAUM Until December 15 Parlamentary Library Ticket: 25 GEL Start time: 23:00 The fi rst-ever exhibition of a +995 32 297 16 40 Ticket: 30-50 GEL December 10 December 8 remarkable coin from PIANO RECITAL the time of King David the Builder The Book Museum holds a TEMPEST December 7 DANG THAI SON The coin shows Kind David IV unique collection of items, Based on William Shakespeare’s VENDREDI SUR MER Program: dressed in Byzantine imperial including private libraries of "The Tempest" Start time: 23:00 C. Debussy: Six Preludes, attire, wearing stemma, and Ilia Chavchavadze, Dimitri Directed by Ioseb Bakuradze Ticket: 40-70 GEL Brouillards, Music: Sandro Nikoladze holding a Globus cruciger. On Bakradze, Giorgi Chubinashvili, La porta del vino, the reverse is an invocation in the recently recovered book Language: Non-verbal DEDAENA BAR La danse de Puck, Start time: 20:00 Georgian surrounding a cross collections of Grand Duke Michael Dedaena Park Les sons et les parfums tournent Ticket: 15 GEL and listing the extent of David's Nikolaevich Romanov and Brothers dans l’air du soir, December 7 Ondine- Feux d’Artifi ce I. CAS Paderewski: Four pieces Special Guests: CRUSHER, Sf-X, Chopin: Polonaise in C minor op. Kriss, Kay-G, Koa Mohawk, Pele 40, Start time: 21:00 Barcarolle in F sharp major op. 60, Ticket: 10-20 GEL Four Mazurkas op. 24, Rondo a la Mazurka in F major op. TBILISI STATE 5, CONSERVATOIRE Scherzo No. 2 in B fl at minor op. 31 8 Grioedovi Str. Start time: 19:00 Ticket: 35 GEL December 10 Venue: Art Palace, SOLO CONCERT OF GIGI 6 Kargareteli Str. PIANOMAN Program: MOVEMENT THEATER Works by Gigi Pianoman 182 Agmashenebli Ave. Start time: 19:00 Ticket: 5-20 GEL December 10 JAM SESSION- TBILISI BAROQUE FESTIVAL Improv played by different Georgian and December 7 foreign musicians and BALÁZS MÁTÉ AND GEORGIAN instrumentalists. SINFONIETTA Musical art director- Sandro Performers: Nikoladze Tbilisi State Chamber Orchestra, Start time: 21:00 Georgian Sinfonietta Ticket: 5 GEL GEORGIA TODAY DECEMBER 6 - 9, 2019 CULTURE 11 The Most Interesting Man in Springs

love with the art of boatbuilding. The craft. The solitude. The feel of the wood in his hands and the bright, muscular smell of resin. Every new design was a puzzle to solve. After graduating, he took a job at the South Street Seaport Museum in Manhattan, where he taught classes and frequently sailed in New York Har- bor. In 1984, at the age of 63, Redjeb was living in Lower Manhattan with his part- ner, Peggy Backman, when he heard about a job opening for a boatbuilder at the Marine Museum in Amagansett. "I drove out to see the place and it was a beautiful old barn right near the water," he says. "I accepted the job immediately. It was a dream. My title was 'director' but I was the only employee, so I spent my days alone building boats and occa- sionally teaching students. It was won- derful." Jordania has hardly slowed down since moving to the East End 35 years ago. He has written two books: ‘All My Georgias,’ a memoir about returning to his family's homeland, and ‘Escape from the South Fork,’ which is a sort of a hodgepodge collection of essays and short fi ction. The latter contains several heartfelt essays about his life on Long Island as well as a meditation on the thrill of young love and a short story titled ‘My Mother Was a Cat.’ As a writer, Jordania is quick- witted and lyrical, qualities that refl ect his personality, and he demonstrates keen literary instincts. Another story, ‘Closing the Circle,’ tells of his visit to the Jordanias' hometown in Georgia in 1990. Refl ecting on his experience in Georgia, Redjeb says, "It is a complicated feeling. Longing and Redjeb Jordania at the Georgian National Archives at an exhibition dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the independence of Georgia connection for this place where I never tury - a period spanning I7 US presiden- of his house on Driftwood Lane in Springs, library and get out into the world, to do lived but where my roots are nonethe- BY NINA CHANNING cies, World War II, Hiroshima, the Civil Redjeb begins by saying, with a wry half- something with his hands. "It was too less very deep. It wasn't an easy feeling, Rights Movement, the moon landing, smile, “Whenever people want to talk heady," he refl ects. "All those years with but it was meaningful. So it goes." the advent of color television, the jet to me about my life, I fi rst have to ask, my head in a book fi nally got to me, so So it goes. One gets the impression that edjeb Jordania would be the plane, the computer, and the internet Which one?" I decided to ditch school and build a this easygoing attitude may be a key to fi rst to tell you that he has (more things, he jokes, than could ever To begin at the beginning, Redjeb comes boat that I could travel around on." Jordania's vitality, and longevity. He is lived a good life so far, though be kept track of), Jordania refl ects on from interesting stock. His father, Noe Having never built a boat before, Jor- uncommonly loose-limbed for a man so it may be more accurate to the choices, chance encounters, and Jordania, was the President of the short- dania committed himself with newly near his 100th birthday. Jordania claims say he's lived several good twists of fate that led him, at last, to the lived but politically signifi cant pre-Soviet revitalized academic zeal to learning never to have followed a strict diet or lives.R Jordania, who will be 98 this Decem- East End. Democratic Republic of Georgia. Red- everything he could about the subject. workout program of any kind. When asked ber, has been, at various points: a pianist, Charming in conversation, always ready jeb's birth coincided with a moment of With the Yale library at his disposal, what he does to maintain his health, he a sailor, a barkeep, an academic, an author, to laugh, he has expressive blue eyes that crisis, both political and personal, for Redjeb scoured the stacks for books on responds, "I drink a lot! I'm joking. But a boatbuilder, and something of a celeb- twinkle as he talks about his boyhood in the Jordania family. As the Soviet Union boatbuilding and embarked on the con- really, I used to drink a huge amount. And rity. He has hunted boar in Dagestan, Paris. His voice is warm, with a deeply- gained power, the young country was struction of a sailboat, which he built in smoke, too. But those days are behind me. played music on a barge on the Seine, textured French accent. Jordania speaks taken over by the Bolshevik Army, and the living room of his student apartment In truth, I think I have always had a good spent time in jail in San Sebastian, com- English, Spanish, French, a bit of Geor- the family was exiled to France. in New Haven. understanding of my body and its limits." posed symphonies in Munich and sailed gian, and "a few choice words" of Rus- Redjeb was born in Paris in 1921. As a While his intention had been only to When asked what is next for him, he the Turkish coast on a catamaran. sian. boy, he spoke French and received a for- build one boat, in the process, he fell in says, "We'll see. Life is long." As he nears the summit of his fi rst cen- Sitting down in the sunny living room mal European education, studying clas- sical music, literature, and mathematics. He was a good student and excelled particularly at the piano. As a young man, he taught music composition and traveled widely through Europe, enjoy- ing many adventures. Once, while visit- ing a friend in Spain, he was mistaken, due to a similarity in name, for a K.G.B. general and spent several nights in jail in San Sebastian (an experience he recalls today as "not so bad" and "actually sort of interesting"). Upon his release, he went to Ibiza, where, inspired by the area's natural beauty and low cost of living, he decided to open a bar. The bar, which he named “The Oasis,” quickly became a haunt for expats and artists. One of his regular customers was a young American woman, with whom, in 1960, he moved to New York. A lifelong man of letters, he studied for a master's in French Literature at Yale in the 1970s, but, while writing his dissertation, found himself growing frus- Redjeb Jordania, Mirza Papuna Davitaia, Mamuka Kudava and Artchil Davrichachvili Redjeb Jordania and friends on deck of the schooner Spirit of Massassuchetts trated and distracted, eager to leave the in Leuville-sur-Orge, 2011

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