Energy Exporter Been Heard to Say That the Country Could Be Part of a Common Geologic Com- Needs to Diversify Its Gas Resources Plex

Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2015

WEEKLY PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY www.georgiatoday.ge Price: GEL 2.50 Georgia Today 24 p., Travel Today 4 p. ISSUE No.790 Ariel Cohen: Georgia IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE BUSINESS HEADLINES CouldCould BecomeBecome anan Nagorno-Karabakh: CouldCould BecomeBecome anan Peace ex Machina? PASHA Bank Sponsors Master P.4 Class by the Time Lord P.12 EnerEnerggyy ExporExporterter The Wolf of Wall Street to Advise Georgians How to Do it Better P.13 Vaping in Georgia The (breathe) ins-and-outs of the e-cig. P.10 Peter Nasmyth: From Rooftops to Glaciers Georgia Today picks the brains of the man under the flat cap. P.23

Analyzing the potential: Georgia Today met with Ariel Cohen, Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council and Director of the Center for Energy, Natural Resources and Geopolitics FINCA Bank at the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security. Georgia Launches P.8 Personal Banking Business Line P.11 Travel Happy Halloween From the Travel Georgia Today Team! Today 2 OCTOBER 30 - NOVEMBER 5 POLITICS BidzinaBidzina IvanishviliIvanishvili OpensOpens UpUp onon ImediImedi TVTV By Steven Jones and assumes Garibashvili’s emotional solely around Rustavi 2, “while there is reactions are due to his youth. a dispute among the shareholders of Last week, ex-Georgian Prime Min- “There are strong leaders in the Maestro TV as well.” ister, Bidzina Ivanishvili, made an ap- team. There are parties in the coali- According to Ivanishvili, there are no pearance on Imedi TV’s talk show tion which perform their functions. I TV channels controlled by the govern- Kronika to discuss the dissimilar inter- think Irakli is a very good leader and ment today. nal political issues of the country. in the future he will be even more ef- “Of course, there was criticism of Ivanishvili called the National fective,” said Ivanishvili. Rustavi 2, as well as of other channels, Democratic Institute’s (NDI) research, According to Ivanishvili, Georgia because we did not have our own TV ‘the National Movement’s dream.’ “The does not need leaders from the past. “We channel,” Ivanishvili said. NDI is a respected organization for me, do not need that kind of team. Of course, The ex-PM, who is accused of con- trolling the overall political processes in the country and especially the "We do not need leaders from the past. Of course, Rustavi 2 case, said that the TV Com- pany is not independent. lack of order can be seen in the [current] team, “It is the UNM’s propaganda ma- but this is much better than the order of the chine. However, they do have a right to this,” Ivanishvili said. UNM, when the party followed and repeated one Analysis by Steven Jones While the former PM disappeared man’s stupidity. This does not happen anymore. from the official scene of Georgian poli- We have a government that serves the people.” tics on his first anniversary as a governmental leader, Ivanishvili was strongly believed to be ruling from the backstage as well as the International Republican lack of order can be seen in the team, for the entire period of his official ab- Institute (IRI). However, the NDI’s sur- but this is much better than the order of sence from the governmental circle. veys are conducted by Turmanidze’s the UNM, when the rest of the team fol- Moreover, some strategic issues for the organization founded by the United Na- lowed and repeated one man’s stupid- country, such as relations with Russia, tional Movement (UNM), while IRI’s ity. This does not happen anymore. We the Abkhazia Railway, as well as the surveys are carried out by Tskitishvili, have a government that serves the recent Gazprom issue and Russia’s pos- a member of the UNM,” Ivanishvili said. people,” Ivanishvili said. sible entrance into the Georgian energy After assessing the work of Prime The former PM also discussed the market, were broadly considered to be Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Ivanishvili issue of TV Company, Rustavi 2, stat- orchestrated by Ivanishvili as an unof- Bidzina Ivanishvili, described him as a good Prime Minister ing that he was surprised by such a stir ficial person. ex-Georgian Prime Minister. Likewise, as the case regarding the possible closure of Rustavi 2, Georgia’s Ivanishvili’s continuous claim that ‘he by 14 percent. largest TV station, was directly attrib- enjoys an excess of trust” from society, Will Georgian society - which has uted to Ivanishvili and his team’s desire the NDI’s recent polls speak differently. seen a dramatically devalued Lari, in- to mute free word in the country prior According to the last opinion poll, only creased crime and a weakened interna- to the elections of 2016, the former PM 13 percent of the citizens questioned tional position– vote for the same party seems to be attempting to revitalize his throughout the study support Georgian again? Does the Ivanishvili factor still political positions in the country. Despite Dream, whereas the UNM is supported matter?

3rd South Caucasus Security Forum Held By Steven Jones ing its best to support Georgia, “Includ- territory. ing by means of their physical presence Lincoln Mitchel, who serves as a On 26-26 October, Tbilisi hosted the in Georgia.” scholar at the Arnold Saltzman Institute South Caucasus Security Forum 2015, Some high-caliber security experts of War and Peace, stated that Russia’s organized by the Georgian Foundation for and analysts, including Michael Cecire President Putin is not likely to keep the Strategic and International Studies, the from the Foreign Policy Research Insti- existing status quo in either Georgia or Georgian Defense Ministry and Center for tute, Lincoln Mitchell of Columbia Uni- Ukraine. Moreover, as Mitchell be- European and North Atlantic Affairs. versity, as well as Ariel Cohen from the lieves, the Russia-Georgian war of 2008 The event was opened by the Geor- Atlantic Council, were present as pan- was the result of “bad US analysis” and gian Defense Minister and Prime Min- elists. non-strategic approach. ister Irakli Garibashvili involving more Most of the experts and government As a summary, the South Caucasus than 300 participants from around the officials, including ones from Moldova, Security Forum 2015 was assessed as globe, including high-ranking experts Ukraine and other European countries highly positive by all parties involved. and ambassadors as well as government loudly stated that Georgia deserves The format provided a unique opportu- representatives. NATO membership and the country can nity for the international experts and James Appathurai, Special Represen- meet all the membership criteria of the decision-makers to exchange both their tative of the NATO Security General, Alliance. What remains for Georgia on scientific and professional perspectives addressed the gathering: “Georgia has the Euro-Atlantic path is a political de- and work on some common approaches all the necessary instruments to join the cision by the 28 member countries of in terms of securing peace and stability NATO Member countries.” NATO, which as yet seems far from in the Caucasus and in the wider Black According to Appathurai, Georgia achievable. Sea region, as well as in Eastern Europe. should follow the path to NATO. He Considering information warfare and The Faculty of Social Sciences, stated that the yearly program has al- threats to Georgia from the Russian side, Charles University Prague and the ready been established and instruments the panelists stated that the current hy- Czech Republic partnered the Security that are beneficial for Georgia have al- brid warfare in Ukraine is the very con- Forum along with the Antall József ready been created adding: “We need to tinuation of what happened in Georgia Knowledge Center of Political and So- help Georgia prepare.” in 2008 when Russia waged a 5-day war cial Sciences (Hungary) and the Polish He continued that the Alliance is do- against the sovereign country on its own Institute of International Affairs (PISM.)

HAVE YOUR HAIR CUT AT OUR SALON AND GET HAIR DIAGNOSTIC AS A GIFT!

MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR: On behalf of Georgia Today I would like to apologise for a mistake made on Page 2 of the October 23-29 issue whereby it was stated that the UN had rewarded the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia with 8mln Euro. In fact, the Euro- pean Union (EU) was the donor of the financial aid. This was amended on our online version of the story, available here: http://georgiatoday.ge/news/1638/EU- Rewards-Ministry-of-Agriculture-of-Georgia-with-8mln-Euro. Panelists at the 3rd South Caucasus Security Forum. Source: Defense Ministry of Georgia, FB page.

4 OCTOBER 30 - NOVEMBER 5 ECONOMY

www.iset-pi.ge/blog

The ISET Policy Institute (ISET-PI, www.iset-pi.ge) is an independent think-tank associated with the International School of Economics at TSU (ISET). Our blog carries economic analysis of current events and policies in Georgia and the South Caucasus region ranging from agriculture, to economic growth, energy, labor markets and the nexus of economics, culture and religion. Thought-provoking and fun to read, our blog posts are written by international faculty teaching at ISET and recent graduates representing the new generation of Georgian, Azerbaijani and Armenian economists. NaNaggororno-Kno-Kararaabakh:bakh: PPeaceeace eexx MacMachina?hina? Florian Biermann nomic, political, and diplomatic param- and Aram Grigoryan eters that could slowly but steadily be moved in a direction that is good for both Negotiation support systems (NSS) let sides. Finally, at the end of a long journey, computers be brokers in multidimensional after trust was built and economic ties were and highly complex negotiation problems. established, one might even talk about In the last 20 years, platforms like land; again in a piecemeal fashion, maybe Smartsettle and Inspire were used in thou- through a sequence of land swaps, village sands of serious negotiation cases around by village, square kilometer by square ki- the world, many of which were success- lometer. A comprehensive solution to the fully resolved. conflict, however, requires that both par- Some years ago, the first author of this ties want their conflict to come to an end. article was involved in an attempt to use While this seems unrealistic at the mo- NSS for settling a dispute between the Is- ment, during the long process of small raeli government, which wanted to shut changes also the attitudes of the negotia- down one of its departments, and a labor tors towards each other may change. union, which represented the employees who were affected. The main parameters PIECEMEAL PEACE SAVES FACE were the number of workers that were to Azeri tanks in Nagorno-Karabakh, cannibalized by citizens who are struck The approach featured by NSS has the be dismissed and the compensation pack- by poverty and lack of perspectives. The tanks witness a conflict that does advantage that small steps can be made ages they would receive. not lead anywhere and causes hardship and economic decline. Photo: without an immediate change of the over- In the beginning of such a process, both Wikimedia Commons/Nicholas Babaian. all rhetoric and official stances. Big parties must convey their preferences to the changes will be avoided by wise rulers, as by the negotiators (cf. Gettinger et al. tween Armenia and Azerbaijan emerged tary expenditure, the ratio of military power computer program, which is often operated they might be seen as a loss of face. (2010): “Do they agree once more? An in the last years of the Soviet Union and would remain the same and the probability by a trusted mediator. For instance, the la- Far from losing faces, Armenia and analysis of the factors that influence agree- has been a major obstacle for development of winning the war, if it would break out, bor union could have stated that in order to Azerbaijan could gain international influ- ment in the post-settlement phase”, Pro- and prosperity for both countries ever would not change for either side. This give approval, for the first 10 employees ence and prestige if only they manage to ceedings of GDN 2010). since. Besides the huge human losses on would be a Pareto improvement. Yet, as that were dismissed it would be necessary gradually sort out their dispute in a civi- NSS has been considered and applied both sides, the economies of the whole always, “the devil is in the implementation”: to pay 150,000 shekels per head into some lized way. In the eyes of the world, this most frequently for labor contracts and in region are severely affected, as the unre- if one country does not reduce military ex- social-compensation plan, while for every would be much more impressive than the business-to-business negotiations, but solved conflict yields high opportunity penses by the same proportion as the other, additional dismissal a payment of 300,000 kind of futile saber-rattling in which both sometimes also in international disputes, costs through unrealized trade and invest- the balance of power will be changed, shekels would be necessary. Also the Is- governments are currently engaged. Ar- for example relating to water distribution ment as well as through the inefficient use which is undesirable for the one who re- raeli government could state complex pref- menia would reduce its unhealthy depen- (Thiessen et al. (1999): “Computer-As- of transport and communication lines (cf. duced more. Hence, the change must be erences, for example its indifference be- dence on Russia. Azerbaijan would be able sisted Negotiations of Water Resources Terterov and Niculescu (2012): “A Prag- truly simultaneous and transparent. tween firing one worker or having two to devote a larger share of its much re- Conflicts”, Group Decision and Negotia- matic Review of Nagorno-Karabakh Con- While this is difficult, it is much easier workers transferred to other workplaces. duced (or dwindling) oil and gas revenues tion 7, and several follow-up publications). flict Resolution: Can Economic Incentives in a piecemeal approach than if one aims The complexity of admissible preferences to develop the economy and create jobs Recently, an NSS algorithm was devised Help Break the Current Stalemate?” Eu- for a comprehensive solution. One could, in NSS is virtually unrestricted, as these are in the periphery. for sharing the resources of the Caspian ropean Geopolitical Forum). Everybody for example, begin with a reduction of “explained” to the computer in a special In the short run, less of the scarce re- Sea among the adjacent countries (cf. knows that except for fierce venture capi- soldiers on both sides by, say, 2000 troops. programming language. sources of both countries would go into Madani et al. (2014): “A negotiation sup- talists, investors shy away from turmoil, Third parties trusted by both Armenia and The negotiation will begin with the the military sector, and more could be used port system for resolving an international and having a latent conflict in the neigh- Azerbaijan could play an important role – computer proposing a solution. If the ini- for schools, universities, pensions, civil trans-boundary natural resource conflict”, borhood is a liability for the whole region. both countries have excellent diplomatic tial proposal is rejected and changed by infrastructure, and many other things that Environmental Modeling & Software 51). Moreover, excessive defense spending relations for example with Israel. The one or both of the negotiators, this feed- make a country attractive. At times, the The distinctive feature of NSS, which is a burden for both countries. In the 2014 trusted party would ensure that the agree- back will be used to generate a new pro- conflict may be useful for the governments makes it so successful, is its piecemeal Global Militarization Index of the Bonn ment is kept, i.e. that the number of sol- posal. This leads to a sequence of sugges- in both countries to draw attention away approach: instead of immediately striking International Center for Conversion, diers is really reduced by 2000 on both tions in which the computer gradually fath- from internal deficiencies, but the im- a perfect deal which makes everybody which measures the significance of the sides; while Armenia would not want to oms the set of feasible outcomes, so that, provements in life quality would compen- happy, it generates a trajectory of changes, military sector compared to the whole reveal its military strength to Azerbaijan if things go well, there is convergence to sate for the dismantling of this habitual often starting with the status quo, and the economy, Armenia and Azerbaijan have and vice versa, both sides might be will- an agreement. enmity. Hence, peace would not necessar- parties only have to agree to make small Places 3 and 10, respectively. ing to give the necessary information to Once a solution is reached which is ily destabilize either government. steps one by one. As the status quo is so unpleasant for the third party. This is similar to NSS, accepted by both parties, the negotiation While a comprehensive settlement Could this approach be applied to one both sides, it becomes more likely that – where all negotiators inform the arbitra- will not necessarily stop but rather enter may be out of reach for the next decade, of the most deadly and notorious conflicts in line with the NSS approach – one can tor about their preferences. The third party the so-called post-settlement stage. Here, the piecemeal approach of NSS can bring in the South Caucasus? find a different but similar state which is could also provide military expertise to en- the computer will propose further changes about small improvements quickly, even slightly better for both. sure that the measures taken do not change of the outcome which are Pareto improve- if both parties hardly trust each other and BREAKING UP A One possible starting point is military the balance of power. ments (i.e. better for both sides), if there do not intend to resolve the conflict alto- COSTLY DEADLOCK spending. When both countries would si- Subsequent steps might go beyond are any. Interestingly, in practice these gether. It is high time to get started, be it The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict be- multaneously decrease their levels of mili- military spending. There are lots of eco- post-settlement changes are often rejected public or behind closed doors!

Tel: (995 32) 2 45 08 08 10 Galaktion Street E-mail: [email protected]

6 OCTOBER 30 - NOVEMBER 5 ECONOMY Money Rolling into the Georgian Banking Sector

By Dimitri Dolaberidze ber this year, 238 million USD in foreign currency credit was issued. There- In just one month, the net profit of fore, a major challenge for the country commercial banks increased by 85.3 is the loan dollarization, local and for- million, in addition to increased inter- eign experts say. Economists point out est income. Specialists believe that the that the National Bank should have, as banking sector profits directly relate to one of its main objectives, the reduction the devaluation of the Georgian Lari of the dollarization of the national cur- (GEL). rency devaluation, while, as a result of 2015 January-September net profit of not doing so, the current social life of the banking sector amounted to 377 mil- the population is so heavily affected. It lion GEL. Overall, bank income grew is noteworthy that at the end of Septem- to 2,643 billion GEL. In only one month, ber 24.8 billion in assets of the banking 283-million Gel profit could be ob- sector’s own funds amounting to 3.3 bil- served. According to official data from lion GEL, 13.4% of total assets. Despite the National Bank, commercial banks the fact that 19 commercial banks oper- had a successful quarter. Compared with ate in the country, the share of the five the same period last year, their revenue largest banks of the banking sector as- and profits grew. Naturally, the largest sets is 79%, and two of the Banks (the share of income for banks are loans. Bank of Georgia and TBC) share equals Nine months income from loans equaled 62%. 1,452 million GEL, or 276 million more A former member of the Board, than the same period last year. Bank in- Michael Tokmazishvili, notes that the terest in a month equaled 190 million price of money changes over time. more GEL than usual. 97.3 million GEL Banks and financial institutions are well income increased from loans to indi- aware that they do not have to disclose viduals and from legal entities, 73 mil- the amount of money for a certain In just one month, the net profit of commercial banks increased by 85.3 million lion GEL. In addition, a 40 million GEL amount of time after a currency depre- sector is one of the least cost effective is quite well-built. In addition, the coun- interest rates are an indicator of the fi- increase in income was received from ciates. In addition, commercial banks are and it is a natural process. The financial try is not in the risk zone that banks must nancial sector and other participants,” commission fees. providing loans in GEL, but getting back sector involves a relatively small expen- lend at high percentages. says Eliava. Overall, the volume of lending by in dollars. diture and revenues are growing rapidly. “To justify a bank by its insurance According to the National Bank of commercial banks (including loans to “Banks have been getting paid in “Naturally, as assets and credit and high risk of interest rates is a little Georgia, the national currency loans non-residents) reached 15.7 billion dollars according to the exchange rate amounts increase, commercial bank in- bit exaggerated. I think talking about the continue to grow. The average annual GEL. In September, 90 million in na- issued by a loan and, accordingly, they come also increases. This process con- risk happens with the justification of interest rate of loans increased by 1.8 tional currency in loans was issued, have been able to make quite a large tributes to a preference for the banking existing interest rates. The National percentage points and annually became however, the share of loans in GEL again profit from the devaluation of the Geor- sector. In addition, higher interest rates Bank can influence the commercial 20.6%. For individuals the rate is 2.1% sharply lowered and presents only 36% gian Lari,” says Michael Tokmazishvili. would lead to an increase in the profits banks on interest rates from both admin- (monthly) and 24.5% annually while (5.5 billion GEL), with 64% of loans Banking expert Lia Eliava, says that, of commercial banks, “ Eliava said, not- istrative and economic means, but does USD loans have a rate of 0.1% issued in US Dollars (USD). In Septem- compared to other sectors, the banking ing that the banking system in Georgia not do so. However, commercial banks’ (monthly) reached 10.9% yearly.

POLITICS / OP-ED PullingPulling TTeetheeth andand PushingPushing PrPresidentsesidents By Zaza Jgharkava ties… So far, it has only been recognized that Abkhazians have to visit Zugdidi and The Abkhaz are growing restless Tbilisi more often. What they used to with their President, Raul Khajimba. categorically deny in previous years, they There is still unrest in the occupied do not hide now. Speakers at rallies held region of Abkhazia. One year after the in Sokhumi often mentioned this fact and “Tangerine Revolution,” people have laid accusations against Khajimba. For rioted against the revolutionary hero and example, according to leader of the op- current president, Raul Khajimba. The positional grouping ‘Amatskhara,’ Merab Abkhazian elite in Sokhumi is demand- Jopua, people run to Georgia even to have ing the removal of Khajimba from the their teeth pulled out. “We are moving government or else they are threatening towards a worse situation every day. The a mass protest and the assembly of the country is governed by criminals; local Council of the Elders, which practically population run to Georgia to have their means that drawing a verdict and the teeth pulled out; drug abuse has almost fulfillment of that verdict is obligatory become the rule of life for young people for any Abkhazian. here. Demand for education was lost; After the presidential post of the there is no such thing as law. And after former governor of occupied Abkhazia, all that why do we need such a govern- Alexander Ankvab, was lost to the so- ment that can do nothing?… This is why called “Tangerine Revolution,” Presi- it has to resign – we have nothing to lose, dent Putin’s favorite Raul Khajimba Khajimba’s flat statements that we hinder came to power in Sokhumi. Not much the country’s development are words said changed with his coming, just like in any for saving ourselves,” Jopua said. corrupted governmental verticals: old However, it does not seem that ones replaced with new and life contin- Khajimba intends to resign from the ues as it did but with one different ‘fig- government just yet. As he says, his so- urehead’. In the local church conflict, called presidential term expires in 2019 Raul Khajimba chose to stand on the Raul Khajimba, current president of the occupied region of Abkhazia. Source: www.paginaderusia.ro. and he will resign only after that. pro-Russian side. “Taking a position in unites many people, and the majority of development of events in Sokhumi. Davitaia says. Whether Khajimba’s prognoses will the Abkhazian church conflict? Even the Abkhazian intelligentsia supports it, Paata Davitaia, Head of the Georgian No one knows how the events will prove right is hard to say. Everything Khajimba’s predecessor Alexander regardless of their affiliation – whether European Democrats, is certain that play out in Abkhazia. However, one thing will depend on the 205 million USD Ankvab did not make such a mistake,” they are Khajimbists or Ankvabists. Khajimba will have to resign. Davitaia is clear – local political experts were say- which Putin promised to Khajimba and people say in Sokhumi. Against a background of strategic part- told Prime Time News that in occupied ing back in spring that by autumn the situ- which is still only on paper, and not yet Khajimba made a crucial mistake nership with Russia, Abkhazia’s Holy Abkhazia, former president Alexander ation would be so grave that the situa- in the actual budget of occupied when in spring, the Orthodox world cel- Mitropolity is one of the brightest sym- Ankvab stands behind the rallies of the tion might lead to a change of authori- Abkhazia. ebrated the Day of Prophet Svimon bols of at least spiritual independence so-called opposition. “Ankvab stands Kananeli. Despite the fact that St. from Russia. Recently, Khajimba has behind these rallies. This is a process that Svimon Kananeli’s Day is the main holi- showed many signs of supporting the Khajimba will not be able to stop be- FOR SALE day of the New Athoni Monastery, rep- priests who are under the guidance of cause the process is initiated by the force resentatives of the government, led by Priest Besarion. At all Mass events, the that is called ‘Amtsakhara’. Warriors are 9,8 ha non-agricultural, privately owned parcel for Khajimba, attended the service, which priest stands beside the President. Con- part of this force and they enjoy high was led by Father Besarion (representa- frontation with the local elite, which respect. Behind the process stands the industrial use (cadaster code # 01.19.26.004.088) tive of the Abkhazian Orthodox does not accept the “provincial” guy Council of Elders whose words have Church), a person close to the Russian from Tkvarcheli, adds to Khajimba’s always been decisive in Abkhazia. Re- located next to Tbilisi Airport Patriarch Kirill and who did not go to strategic mistakes. In Abkhazia, Abkhaz cently, Khajimba is in practical terms not the New Athoni Monastery. Bishops of from Gudautha (next to Sokhumi) are obeying that Council. An example of the New Athoni Monstery Complex at- considered to be the elite. All predeces- that is the signing the so-called Asso- Address: Airport settlement, Samgori district, Tbilisi tribute themselves to the Abkhazian sors of Khajimba came from Gudautha. ciation Agreement with Russia, which Tel: +995 599 529 529 Mitropolity and Constantinoples Patri- In Tbilisi, people are certain that they opposed. Thus, the process of gov- archy. Abkhazia’s Holy Mitropolity Khajimba will not manage to stop the ernment replacement has started,” [email protected]

8 OCTOBER 30 - NOVEMBER 5 ECONOMY Ariel Cohen: Georgia Could Become an Energy Exporter been heard to say that the country could be part of a common geologic com- needs to diversify its gas resources plex. As a result, ongoing exploration through Russian supplier Gazprom, studies have confirmed an extensive in- the negotiations with whom were tegrated gas resource potential that is followed by public outcry. Do you see much larger than previously identified. any correlation between the two On October 8, Frontera Resources events, the Gazprom deal and the Corporation, an independent oil and gas finding of Frontera? exploration and production company, re- A: First, I think that as Georgia has a leased the groundbreaking announcement conflict with Russia over Abkhazia and of a significant upgrade to gas resources South Ossetia (Tskhinvali region) and associated with its ongoing exploration and relations are difficult, I do not under- production efforts in Georgia. stand why Georgia needs to diversify The Company says that it had con-

...even if [only] 50 percent of [the] 3.8 trillion [is extractable], it would be the size of Azerbaijan’s Shahdeniz 2 field; if it is a little bit less, still it is...very significant.

its gas sector away from friendly Azer- tinued to advance its natural gas focus baijan. Azerbaijan was a real friend, it within its eastern Georgia holdings by supplied gas to Georgia at a low price combining the technical focus of its and now Georgia has the potential to Mtsare Khevi Gas Complex and Tarib- develop its own resources and it may ani Field Complex into one integrated have an additional source of gas. Mean- 2,000 square kilometer geologic unit while, Russia, looking for additional named the0South Kakheti Gas Com- markets for export to Europe, is down plex.0 by approximately 20 percent and it may It is surprising that, in addition to slip further as Russia, including Gaz- gas resources previously identified for prom, is under sanctions from the west. subsets of this combined area, Frontera’s Thus, as they say in Russian,’ you can- ongoing work recently concluded a new not occupy the Georgian territory and estimation of as much as 135 trillion cubic become again a major gas exporter.’ How- feet (3.8 trillion cubic meters) of gas in ever, the question of why Georgia is place of reservoir targets found between pursuing such directions should be asked 300 metres and 5,000 metres in depth.0 to the decision makers. Zviad Adzinbaia0is an Analyst at To remind Georgia Today readers, a newspaper0Georgia Today0covering US independent oil and gas exploration regional politics, security, Russia-Geor- Dr. Ariel Cohen, Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council and Director of the Center for Energy, Natural Resources and Geopolitics at the and production company early this gia affairs and issues of Georgia’s Euro- Institute for the Analysis of Global Security. Source: Facebook Page of Ariel Cohen. month revealed that extensive geologic Atlantic integration. He is also a fellow and geophysical studies within and be- of a number of high-caliber programs at By Zviad Adzinbaia pendent process of confirmation of these per capita comparable with Azerbaijan tween the Mtsare Khevi Gas Complex the Georgian Foundation for Strategic reserves. If this is proven, the questions and Kazakhstan. and the Taribani Field Complex areas and International Studies (GFSIS). Georgia Today, like many of our we need to ask are: First, how much of Q: What steps need to be made by Readers, was interested in the ground- these reserves is extractable? Because if Frontera and approximately how long breaking announcement by a US inde- it is a combination of both conventional will the process of confirmation take? pendent oil and gas exploration and pro- and unconventional reservoirs, not all of A: Clearly, the Georgian government duction company Frontera Resources the 3.8 cubic meters will be extractable, and the Georgian people have an inter- over discovery of an estimated 3.8 tril- but even if it is 50 percent of 3.8 trillion, est in having Georgia as a gas producing lion cubic meters of gas in the Georgian it would be the size of Azerbaijan’s Shah- country because it will at least cover the region of Kakheti early this month. deniz 2 field; if it is a little bit less, still it internal need for gas. Even though Geor- To give a qualified analysis around is huge and very significant. The other gia is blessed with massive hydro re- the topic, Georgia Today exclusively question is what will be the costs of pro- sources in terms of wind and solar ener- interviewed Dr. Ariel Cohen, Senior Fel- duction, because we are today facing a gy - which is more expensive than gas - low at the Atlantic Council and Director low price and a low cost environment. nobody disputes the economic benefits of the Center for Energy, Natural Re- Compared to what we had 5 years ago, of being a gas exporter. Thus, as the in- sources and Geopolitics at the Institute gas prices are currently nearly three times dependent Frontera Company is dealing with the confirmation, they themselves will go and confirm it with an in- If the Georgian gas is economical, then it is a dependent reputable firm. Once it is confirmed, the second step is developing real game-changer; it will transform Georgia the field and building a pipeline. There from an importer to an exporter, and this would would be two ways of exporting this gas. The first is using the existing pipe- fundamentally change the economics of the line and putting it in the TANAP (Trans Anatolia Pipeline) and second, export- country. Moreover, Georgia, which is currently a ing the gas in a liquefied form (liquefied mid-income country, would become a high mid- natural gas - LNG) probably to Roma- nia across the Black Sea. Another possi- income country in terms of GDP per capita bility would be to use the Odessa port and supply Ukraine with gas. At the US company Frontera Resources. comparable with Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. same time, Turkey, Central Europe and the overall European market are other FOR RENT for the Analysis of Global Security. cheaper. Therefore, the Georgian gas options, so the opportunities are numer- Q: What is your opinion about the should be economically competitive ous. It could be very lucrative for both Apartment in Vake (behind the Vake Swimming Pool) in an validity of the Frontera discovery? with the gas from Azerbaijan, Russia or Georgia and Frontera. As for the period A: The main issue is the confirma- Qatar. If this gas is economical, then it is needed, it will probably take a year to ecologically clean environment with beautiful views. tion of the reserves. I know the people a real game-changer; it will transform confirm and three, five or seven years The 120 sq. m. duplex apartment on the 10th floor, newly reno- in Frontera personally, including the Georgia from an importer to an export- for development, which greatly depends vated, with a new kitchen, fireplace, balconies. CEO and the President, and they are re- er, and this would fundamentally change on politics and the Georgian government liable people with a lot of experience; the economics of the country. More- to create this revenue stream quickly. Price: 900 USD these people have been involved in the over, Georgia, which is currently a mid- Clearly, Georgia has an opportunity to business for the long time. At the same income country, would become a high benefit from that. Tel: 577521020 Tekla (English) time, as they say, they are in the inde- mid-income country in terms of GDP Q: The Georgian government has 597000109 Dato (Georgian) October in Pelion and Tandila Rugby World Cup 2015

15 players on each side - 15 khinkali with chacha ONLY FOR 15 GEL

Hilton Batumi, 40 Rustaveli street, 6010, Batumi, Georgia 0422 22 22 99 Facebook.com/pelionrestaurant 10 OCTOBER 30 - NOVEMBER 5 SOCIETY CrimeCrime andand thethe LeLeggalal SystemSystem inin GerGermanmanyy Classified report of the German Police Germany is preparing for another rica arrived without their parents and influx of refugees at the end of this year, now live on the streets, vigorously rais- according to Bild. In the fourth quarter, ing the level of crime in the city. Deal- 920 thousand people are expected, ing with them is particularly difficult due meaning that, by the end of the year, the to their status as minors. total number of migrants could reach 1.5 Stuttgart police, too, are obviously million. For comparison, last year the unable to cope with migrants, especially number of refugees amounted to 202 with people from Gambia who openly thousand. But if you take into account sell drugs on the streets. In Dresden, the facts of family reunification, and workers from Algeria, Morocco and those refugees whose applications are Tunisia took control of the area’s famous satisfied and discharged to an additional Wiener Platz, located in front of the 4 to 8 people, the number of migrants main railway station. They sell drugs may exceed 7 million. In addition, Ger- and rob passers-by. And, just as in other man authorities believe that at least 290 German cities, in the majority of cases thousand workers are on German terri- they get away with it. tory without registration, that is, ille- In the industrial center of Duisburg gally. there are areas that the authors of the In a secret report of the German po- secret police report say are generally lice, given to journalists of the newspa- called “areas of lawlessness.” The po- per “Die Welt”, it is written that among lice are afraid to stop there, because they the refugees are young people whose know that they will most likely be in- behavior towards the police can be de- stantly surrounded by 40-50 hostile na- scribed as “aggressive, disrespectful and tives from the Middle East or Balkans. contemptuous.” During arrest, they tend The drafters of the report referred to such to resist the order of the ministers. Ex- In a secret German police report it is written that among the refugees are youth whose behavior towards police is “aggressive, refugee conduct as a “deliberate chal- disrespectful and contemptuous.” actly the same attitude, the report said, lenge to the state.” Violators openly is seen towards all other government the expense of benefits, i.e. living on The detainee was released after a few sell drugs. When they have problems show their contempt for German soci- institutions of Germany. taxpayers’ money. And for a large part hours without charge. The next morn- with the law, they bribe or intimidate ety. Add to this something that most Ger- of migrants, stealing will become the ing, he returned to the crime scene with witnesses. Writer, Franz Solms-Laubach, spe- mans are afraid of - the increase in crime only way to survive. his co-attacker. They took knives and According to the newspaper Der cializing in criminal issues, says that the across the country. The threat of terror- An indication of what may lay ahead threatened to cut off the heads of the Tagesspiegel, 80% of violent crimes in German police are becoming increas- ist attacks is still high. Nevertheless, the is an incident that occurred on Septem- store employees, the report said. Local Berlin are committed by foreigners. It ingly demoralized before the rapidly authorities, in order not to provoke a ber 11 in the Saxon town of Freiberg. journalists wrote that the prosecutor’s is interesting that now thousands of the growing crime. According to Solms- further deterioration of the treatment of Two Libyans tried to steal at the gro- office ordered the police to release the capital’s police are coming on duty with- Laubach, foreigners living in Germany migrants, prefer to gloss over all the cery store Netto-Markt. Once caught detainee on the grounds that no aggres- out guns, forced to abandon them due number about 10%, and the crimes they data. red-handed by a security guard, they sive act took place during the attempted to funding problems and now resulting commit more than 25%. He believes that For crimes committed last year in staged a fight and fled. But the story theft. However, the Mayor of Freiberg, in a police force with a lower level of the way out of this situation is only one Germany, a record 38 thousand migrants doesn’t end there: the Libyans quickly Sven Krueger, publicly condemned the training in shooting, and many lacking - migrants must understand that if they were charged. Experts believe that this returned, this time armed with machetes inaction of the judicial system. the skills to wield a firearm. commit a crime in Germany, they will figure is only the tip of the iceberg and and pepper gas, and began to threaten Local newspapers, meanwhile, wrote Police in Hamburg, Germany’s sec- be deported to their homeland. that at least the same number of crimes the sales assistants. When police arrived, that such thefts occur in Freiberg daily ond city, are known to be unable to cope Perhaps the authors of the police re- remains either undisclosed, or does not the perpetrators pounced on the police and perpetrators are getting away with with the rapidly growing number of port and journalists have exaggerated the get reported. who were forced to shoot into the air to it. crimes committed by young immigrants situation, but the report is based on po- According to experts, many migrants calm the unruly attackers. One, a 27- The criminal world in Berlin runs the from North Africa, and in fact have sur- lice reports. In any case, the forecast of will never be able to integrate into Ger- year-old man, was detained while the local show with a dozen gangs of Ara- rendered to the offenders. In Hamburg increased in crime in Germany remains man society, and will count on life at other managed to escape. bic origin. They rob banks and shops and over a thousand young people from Af- undoubtedly unfavorable.

By George Surguladze uids can be purchased at 24 hour drive- thru tobacco stores, Drive Tobacco and I bought my first pack of cigarettes Nicotine, found around the city. in April, 2007, and have been abusing VVaapingping inin GeorGeorgiagia Unlike some of the small boutiques, my lungs since. As years passed and the Corsair World offers high quality vaping days added up, so did the amount of Georgia, a country where 30%, ac- A study conducted by researchers reach the voltages that were used in the devices, ranging from 25 GEL to 500 cigarettes I lit up, smoked, and flicked cording to a 2012 study, of the popula- from Portland State University tested a study. The long-term effects of vaping GEL, and e-liquids at a fraction of the away. At the peak of my habit, I was tion smokes, is seeing an increase in its brand of e-liquid and found formalde- are still being studied. price of its competitors. CWG, with its smoking three packs a day. vaping market. In the last two years hyde gas was produced when vaping the However, it is still considered to be friendly and knowledgeable staff, hip Cheap smokes and being able to light online stores, shopping mall boutiques liquid. Propylene glycol, when heated, a healthier alternative to smoking, and interior, and unbeatable prices, is doing up anywhere I wanted did not help with and shops have opened all dedicated to is known to release formaldehyde gas. despite the controversy, advocates con- it right, if you ask me. my addiction. I’ve spent many nights selling and distributing e-cigarettes, e- The higher the vaping voltage the more tinue to support e-cigarettes. The future of e-cigs in Georgia looks playing video games and smoking like liquids and other accessories. formaldehyde was detected. Formalde- The devices can be purchased around bright. The CWG owner believes it’s a a chimney. At one point I realized some- I went to one of these stores, Corsair hyde is a suspected cancer-causing town at Cig-Ara on Ingorokva Street, growing market. thing had to change, and I decided to World Georgia (CWG) - a vape shop agent. Inotech Georgia in Karvasla Shopping “Soon, our e-liquids will be available try electronic cigarettes. located on Ilia Chavchavadze Avenue in Although any harmful chemical is Center, and at shopping centers and su- at all Socar fuel stations, and we have An electronic cigarette, or e-cig, is a Tbilisi - and spoke with its owner, Paata cause for concern, critics argue that real permarket boutiques. You can also buy plans to expand into other regions of battery powered device which heats and Tsivadze. world scenarios of e-cig operation don’t them online at smoking.ge while e-liq- Georgia as well,” Tsivadze told me. vaporizes a liquid mixture of propylene “Corsair World Georgia strives to glycol, vegetable glycerin, flavorings, provide a healthier alternative to smok- and an optional dosage of nicotine. ing,” Tsivadze told me. In simpler terms, it’s basically a nico- “A British customer bought five per- tine delivery system minus the other 3,999 sonal vaporizers (PV) to take back to his chemicals a traditional cigarette contains, buddies, because they were cheaper here 43 of which are known carcinogens. Yes, than back in the UK,” Tsivadze said. that cancer causing agent you have been People don’t just start vaping because reading about in the news recently. they are done with smoking, like I was. The modern e-cig was created in A CWG employee told me that custom- 2004 by Hon Lik, a Chinese pharmacist ers purchase zero nicotine liquids for the and inventor. Lik’s invention came into experience, not to satisfy an addiction. existence after his father, a heavy “Non-nicotine, fruity e-liquids are smoker, died of lung cancer. Lik pat- becoming more popular, but Parliament ented his design in 2003, and it’s been and Golden Virginia are still our copied and reproduced illegally by US bestsellers,” the employee said. and Chinese companies. CWG offers quite a range of e-liq- Georgia saw its first e-cig commer- uids: More than 150 varieties of e-liq- cial in 2007, marketed as an alternative uids can be seen on display, ranging to conventional smoking. Initial versions from traditional tobacco flavors, to Rum, of the electronic cigarette resembled Chocolate, and Barberry. Devices from their analog counterpart, the cigarette. popular brands such as KangerTech, Today, vaping devices come in all Joytech, Innokin, Smoktech, and others, shapes and sizes, from small and dis- are also available. crete, to large and flashy. Larger devices Not everyone is a fan of e-cigarettes. offer more advanced features, such as Some argue that it serves as a gateway digital displays, longer battery life, tem- to cigarettes for kids, due to the attrac- perature control, variable wattage, and tive flavors and appeal of blowing va- puff counters. por clouds, similar to hookahs. Paata Tsivadze, owner of vape shop Corsair World Georgia (CWG) located on Ilia Chavchavadze Avenue in Tbilisi. Handcrafted Georgian natural wines and tapas style food 6, Erekle II str (old town) 0322 93 21 21 OCTOBER 30 - NOVEMBER 5 Business Every Wednesday PASHA Bank The Wolf of Wall Georgian Tapas 20% off on special Sponsors Master Street to Advise Menu at g.Vino Georgians How Georgian artisan wine! Class by the 0322 93 21 21 to Do it Better fb: g.vinotbilisi 6, Erekle II str (old town) P.12 Time Lord P.13

Austrian Company May Take Over FINCA Bank Georgia Launches Management of Three Georgian Hospitals

An Austrian company may become The winner of tender will be respon- Personal Banking Business Line manager of three major Georgian hos- sible for the reestablishment and reha- FINCA Bank Georgia has opened a pitals located in Tbilisi. bilitation of the hospitals and the train- personal banking Service Center in This company showed the most in- ing of staff. Tbilisi, on Chavchavadze Avenue, offer- terest and has presented documentation ing new, personal banking services to on time for an announced tender con- customers. cerning management and operation of The clients of FINCA Bank Geor- Tbilisi Republican Hospital, the Cancer gia new personal banking line will Center and Children’s Infectious Diseas- have access to personal financial ad- es Hospital management. visors and will join their over 80,000 On tender, three companies from fellow citizens who access financial Georgia, Canada and Austria were pre- services throughout the country. sented. At the official opening ceremony in According to the head of the Part- Tbilisi, Vusal Verdiyev, the CEO of FIN- As a driving force for financial inclu- Stock Company providing full financial nership Fund David Saganelidze, the CA Bank Georgia said: “The opening sion in the country, FINCA Bank Geor- services to more than 80,000 clients deadline of tender, which was organized of the personal banking branch repre- gia JSC has over 17 years’ experience in through 41 branches nationwide. With by the Ministry of Health, has finished. sents an important step for FINCA Bank the country and has contributed to the de- a loan portfolio of more than US$70 mil- “The tender was announced by a for- Georgia as it sustains and expands the velopment of small businesses, improv- lion at the end of 2014, FINCA Bank eign company which was invited by the services we provide for our clients while ing many lives. FINCA Bank Georgia Georgia is part of the global FINCA mi- Ministry. That company created tender staying true to the FINCA mission. The encourages development of a savings cul- crofinance network, serving nearly 2 conditions and implemented monitoring. deposits we offer are used for financing ture, as savings contribute to the creation million clients in 23 countries, with a Now we are considering the company’s micro and small enterprises, helping of a stable social and economic environ- double bottom line of financial sustain- proposal. I think that this is the one of small entrepreneurs to increase incomes ment for future generations. ability and social performance. For more the best ways to improve Georgia’s hos- The Republican Hospital, seeking a new and create jobs.” FINCA Bank Georgia is a Joint information visit www.FINCA.ge pital sector,” Saganelidze said. manager and operator. 12 OCTOBER 30 - NOVEMBER 5 BUSINESS PASHA Bank Sponsors Master Class by the Time Lord PASHA Bank has the plea- too. We strongly believe that all sure of sponsoring a long- the expectations of the attend- HotelHotelHotelHotel awaited master class on time ees will be met.” management, which to be held “We believe that the devel- on October 31st at Hotels and opment of the country’s busi- Preference Tbilisi. Attendees ness and economy significant- SympatiaSympatiaSympatiaSympatia will have the opportunity to ly depends on the profession- learn about the time manage- al growth of experienced peo- ment methodologies of well- ple who are involved in mak- known writer and business con- ing important decisions for sultant David Allen, also their companies on a daily ba- known as the Time Lord. This sis, as well as the young pro- is one of several important fessionals who are just begin- projects that PASHA Bank has ning to contribute to various sponsored during its three years business sectors,” says Anano of operation in Georgia - being Korkia, Head of PR and Mar- a financial institution that offers keting Department at PASHA corporate and investment bank- Bank Georgia. “The master ing services to large and medi- class by the Time Lord will 4, V. Daraselia Str. um enterprises, PASHA Bank definitely be useful and inter- Tbilisi, Georgia acknowledges its responsibili- esting to all attendees and we ty to contribute to the profes- are more than happy to support Tel: (995 32) 2 99 55 88, 2 37 05 90 sional and organizational devel- this event.” Tel./Fax: (995 32) 2 37 62 63 opment in the country, thus it Among the latest PASHA Hotel’s network www.sympatia.ge has been sponsoring various Bank sponsorships are the fol- “Sympatia” E-mail: [email protected] business conferences and sem- lowing events aimed at profes- inars since its inception. David Allen, also known as the Time Lord. sional and organizational David Allen is best known tended by representatives of dif- itive feedback and interest growth: for his bestseller ‘Getting ferent sectors who will get ac- among Georgian professionals - Business Café – A mutual Things Done’ which sold 2 mil- quainted with the up-to-date from the day of the announce- project of PASHA Bank and In- lion copies and brought its au- principles of time management. ment of this event,” said orga- source Car Rent thor worldwide recognition. “Consultancy company Pros- nizer, Guga Kobakhidze. “I am - Spotlight 2015 – The David Allen possesses his own pect aims to bring successful and certain that this master class will country’s main marketing time management tool – GTD top-rated speakers to Georgia. provide specific knowledge and event Tel: 599 16 16 70 - and now he will be sharing Inviting David Allen to hold a techniques for managing tasks - Seminar “A New Manage- this with Georgian profession- master class in Tbilisi serves this without stress, which practical- ment Paradigm for a New Age als. The master class will be at- very purpose and has raised pos- ly means being more productive of Managers” and “4D Brand from 35 euro per day

Tours to all directions of Georgia (with driver and Guide) for 4 person from 40 euro. Nissan pathfinder – 2004, 4X4, AT

Grant Thornton Named Mercedes-Benz Viano – 2004 Toyota RAV 4 – 2000, 4X4, AT ‘Employer of the Year’

For the second consecutive Bulletin said that Grant Thorn- the recognition practices toolkit than 130 countries, are focused year, Grant Thornton has been ton “once again impressed the to allow member firms to ac- on making a difference to cli- named global ‘Employer of judges by demonstrating its knowledge outstanding work- ents, colleagues and the com- the Year’ by the International strong commitment to employ- place contributions, the ‘Ex- munities in which we live and Accounting Bulletin. ees with the belief that experi- pression of Interest’ site to alert work. Nelson Petrosyan, Manag- ence created for staff is directly Grant Thornton people to work- ‘Grant Thornton’ refers to ing Partner of Grant Thornton, linked to the experience offered place opportunities in other the brand under which the said: “It’s a great honour to be to clients.” countries, and the ‘Illuminations Grant Thornton member firms recognised once more for our The judges went on to say: for Growth’ program to build provide assurance, tax and ad- commitment to our employ- “an example of the various in- coaching skills and create a visory services to their clients ees. Grant Thornton’s top pri- itiatives launched in 2014 is the coaching culture. and/or refers to one or more ority is growing together with Global Jam, a three day online member firms, as the context them, and we will continue to event where Grant Thornton in- About Grant Thornton requires. ‘GTIL’ refers to look for innovative ways to vited all of its 40,000 employ- Grant Thornton is one of the Grant Thornton International create a workplace where our ees from 130 countries to share world’s leading organizations of Ltd (GTIL).GTIL and each staff can unlock their potential ideas and opinions that shape independent assurance, tax and member firm of GTIL is a sep- for growth.” the organisation’s future. advisory firms. Grant Thornton arate legal entity. GTIL is a In presenting the award, 14,000 people registered and firms help dynamic organiza- non-practicing, international the International Accounting 34% of those logged a com- tions unlock their potential for umbrella entity organised as a ment, producing a total of growth by providing meaning- private company limited by 13,000 posts. From there Grant ful, forward-looking advice. Pro- guarantee incorporated in En- Thornton developed a series of active teams led by approachable gland and Wales. GTIL does actions and initiatives, such as partners in these firms use in- not deliver services in its own the global flexible working sights, experience and instinct to name or at all. Services are de- practices toolkit, to help with understand complex issues for livered by the member firms. all stages and levels of offer- privately owned, publicly listed GTIL and its member firms ing and implementing flexible and public sector clients and help are not agents of, and do not working practices at a local them to find solutions. More than obligate one another and are level.” 40,000 Grant Thornton member not liable for one another’s Grant Thornton also created firm employees, across more acts or omissions. BUSINESS OCTOBER 30 - NOVEMBER 5 13 The Wolf of Wall Street to Advise Georgians How to Do it Better By Meri Taliashvili with the should realise that saving capital is cru- contribution of Beqa Kirtava cial. It should be diversified. The most common way to save is through banking “No matter what happened to you in deposits. There are also other alternative your past, you are not your past, you are sources though, like bonds, company’s the resources and the capabilities you stocks, etc. In this regard we regularly glean from it. And that is the basis for all organize various trainings and master change.” – Jordan Belfort. classes in Georgia. As we are witnessing some progressive steps towards the de- Jordan Belfort has already proved the velopment of the capital market, we de- verity of his words by his life work and cided to invite the “Wolf” of Wall Street, will prove them again to Georgians here, Jordan Belfort, to Tbilisi. He will be shar- in their homeland, on November 28th. For ing his extensive experience with the au- the first time Georgia will host the worlds’ dience. Incidentally, due to the high lev- one of the most successful motivational el of interest in Belfort, we have decided speakers, entrepreneur, author Jordan Bel- to hold his master class in Tbilisi’s Phil- fort aka The Wolf of Wall Street. In the harmonic Hall. 1990s, Belfort built one of the most dy- The project is being implemented in line namic sales organizations in Wall Street with the CSR activities of AGH. Taking care history. Accordingly, he soared financial- of future generations and contributing to ly and reached the highest points. He economic and social development forms would earn over $50 million a year, a feat the groundwork of all our activities. Bring- that coined him the name “The Wolf of ing up a new generation in line with ethical Wall Street.” As the owner of Stratton business standards is one of our main goals. Oakmont, Belfort employed over 1,000 In this regard we have been actively coop- stockbrokers, earnt over $1.5 billion and erating with leading universities for years. started more than 30 million-dollar com- The price of admission to the Wolf of Wall panies from scratch. He’s served as a con- Street’s master-class was determined with sultant in more than fifty public compa- these circumstances in mind. Therefore, the nies. Every major newspaper and maga- cost is unprecedentedly low. A total of 677 zine in the world, including The New York students will be attending the seminar for Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Los the competitive price of just USD 29. We Angeles Times, The London Times, The are glad to see such hugh interest from stu- The ‘Wolf of Wall Street,’ Jordan Belfort will be holding a master class for a 2300-strong audience in Tbilisi Concert Hall, November 28th. Herald Tribune, Le Monde, Corriere del- dents. By the time the deadline for regis- si Concert Hall on how to use the most la Serra, Forbes, Business Week, Paris tration had passed, more than 850 students es, we understand that diligence and ex- fer a comprehensive approach designed powerful business system ever devised. Match and Rolling Stone have written had already signed up for it. The cost of perience matter in all aspects of invest- to meet specific client needs. Through a The results speak for themselves. about him. During that time, he suc- tickets for business representatives range ment management and consulting. AGH combination of experience and creativity On November 28th, Belfort will be de- cumbed to some of the traps of the high- from USD 109 to USD 279. Jordan Bel- was established in 2005 by Georgian, with exceptional service and quality, we livering his master class on: flying Wall Street lifestyle, going through fort is one of the most exclusive trainers in American and European shareholders. The pride ourselves in offering a consultative 1) The FOUR core elements of the in- a spectacular—and well-publicized—fall the world. If we look at the prices of tickets company manages seven subsidiary com- approach and low-cost solutions. Alliance ner game of sales. (These four elements from grace. Taking invaluable lessons from Belfort’s previous world tours we see panies with diversified core businesses in Group Holding invests in the most sound are absolutely essential to your success. If from the mistakes he made and the prices that the cost stated in Tbilisi is really very various financial and consulting sectors – and prospective projects that create value you lack even one of them, you will end he paid, he has re-emerged as a globally reasonable. Therefore, we call upon every- Microfinance, Leasing, Investments, Real for its customers, shareholders, the local up sabotaging your own success!) recognized powerful force behind extraor- one to take advantage of this unique chance Estate, Energy, IT, Business Information economy and its employees. Projects im- 2) How to achieve instant rapport with dinary business success. Today, his pro- and not to miss the highest rated master- and Credit Ratings. In a relatively short plemented by the company to date have your prospects and how to use that rap- prietary Straight Line System enables him class of the year being held in Tbilisi. time, Alliance Group Holding has devel- played an important role in the develop- port to gain massive intelligence. (Your to take virtually any company or individ- The topic of the master class itself is oped into a fast-growing and reliable part- ment of the financial sector in Georgia. prospects will be predisposed to trusting ual, regardless of age, race, sex, educa- of utmost importance – the Straight-line ner in the financial sector in Georgia. For further information about the event you, so they’ll tell you what their highest tional background or social status, and persuasion and sales techniques is essen- Through our diversified services, we of- visit: http://wallstreet.ge/ values are and where their pain lies.) empower them to create massive wealth, tial nowadays for everyone raging from 3) The art and science of Straight Line abundance, and entrepreneurial success, students to businesses. This 5-hour train- Generics Function the Same Way as Brand Drugs Do prospecting. (You’ll learn how to develop without sacrificing integrity or ethics. Jor- ing will give our Georgian fellows the best a multimillion-dollar sales pipeline free of dan’s two international bestselling mem- possible assets. The business sector is very tire-kickers, so never waste time again.) oirs, The Wolf of Wall Street and Catch- keen on attending and we hope that Bel- 4) The four key elements to creating ing the Wolf of Wall Street, have been pub- fort’s master class will help Georgian busi- ethical presentations that actually close the lished in over forty countries and translat- ness to move forward. deal. (To be blunt, most sales presentations ed into eighteen languages. His life story Q: How difficult was it to persuade are totally misguided and actually stop you was made into a motion picture by Acad- Belfort to come to Georgia? from closing the deal.) emy Award winning director Martin A: It was very, very difficult. He knew 5) How to instantly squash objections Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio. almost nothing about our country. It took and limiting buying beliefs, turning skep- Georgia Today met Salome Kukava, several months to get him to agree to come, tics into buyers. (This proprietary belief- Project Manager of the master class and but we did not give up and made him say busting technique is the secret sauce of the Corporate Communications Manager of a final YES! Jordan Belfort is one of the Straight Line System, and will empower Alliance Group Holding, the company highest rated speakers in the world. He your clients to make positive buying de- which is organizing the Jordan Belfort holds 5-6 master classes annually in dif- Increasing demand on generic drugs in Georgia is expected to make the existing cisions). master class in Tbilisi and talked to her ferent cities around the globe. Sales man- pharma companies decrease prices on their brand medicines. 6) The secret to closing calmly and about the event. agers, marketing leaders, branding experts, The Ministry of Health recently an- ated. Attaining this level of advance- consistently every single time without Q: How did the idea to bring Jor- business development managers, and nounced its intentions to introduce ge- ment would be a revolutionary step for even the slightest bit of high pressure. (It’s dan Belfort to Georgia come about? management specialists are welcomed to neric drugs on the Georgian market. Georgian pharmacology. elegant, it’s classy, and it’s ridiculously A: We are devoted to raising the liter- such master classes. Using his signature According to the Ministry, this step will Doctor Tinatin Gigauri: “Given effective.) acy of people involved in business, as direct, humorous and passionate style, Jor- regulate the existing prices of drugs in Georgia’s social conditions, our pa- 7) The ten-step formula for building a well as ordinary citizens. Any citizen dan will train up to 2300 attendees in Tbili- the country. tients often demand lower cost drugs never-ending stream of customer referrals In pharmacology, the original brand because they cannot afford the brand and creating customers for life. (You’ll drug is an innovative synthesized for- medicine. When we offer generic make your life a thousand times easier with mula, the creation of which requires at drugs to our patients as an optimal this proven, paint-by-numbers formula) least 10-12 years of research and study- way-out, we often have to convince 8) How to raise money through Ven- ing of the markets. them that the generics are as effective ture Capital and Angel Investors, so you After their creation, such drugs are as the brand medicines and are not can start using Other People’s Money to protected by copyright. Their owners, harmful. This is because the Georgian fund your ideas and grow your business. as a rule, enjoy a 20-year exclusive pharmacological market is not devel- 9) The step-by-step process of Straight right to produce and sell the drug. This oped enough to have a wide variety of Line Negotiating, including the seven often leads to high prices once it reach- generics. People are not familiar with magic words that allow you to get the low- es the market. Once the copyright ex- such drugs, hence they feel uneasy est price every time) pires, other manufacturers are given the about them.” 10) And, again, this is just the begin- right to also produce this drug. Generics range from low, average, ning. Once you’ve been through Jordan’s That is precisely how the first ma- to high quality, depending on the pro- Straight Line Persuasion training, you will jor generic drugs are produced. Cre- ducing country, production process be literally unstoppable! ation of generics no longer requires and the appropriate certification. In- Alliance Group Holding (AGH) is an expensive studies to be conducted. Af- creasing demand on generics in Geor- independent, performance driven invest- ter the biological equivalence to the gia is expected to make the existing ment and consulting company. Founded, reference drug is proven, second, third, pharma companies decrease prices on owned and operated by a team with ex- Salome Kukava, Project Manager of the master class and Corporate Communications etc., generations of generics can be cre- their brand medicines. Manager of Alliance Group Holding. tensive backgrounds in financial servic- GrGrandand openingopening 2424 octoberoctober

Rustaveli 40, Batumi, Georgia; Tel: +995422 210 021; +995422 230 023 Join us on facebook casino international batumi; www.cibatumi.com SOCIETY OCTOBER 30 - NOVEMBER 5 15 Books for Every Village at AA SocialSocial EnterEnterpriseprise thathatt Wendy’s Georgia ShouldShould NotNot BeBe ClosedClosed Locals often say that they are totally against IS, but cannot do anything about the outflow of people. The existence of this issue in the region underlines the importance of such a projects as ‘Matsne’, which help children’s development and rejection of IS. Gulnazi Gunashashvili argues that in particular during her work she had to face many challenges posed by religious and ethnic features. “According to our religion, we cannot sing and draw. In my opinion, this is wrong as such capabilities help the child develop and interact with the outside world, and we are very pleased that we were able to overcome this problem; now By Nina Ioseliani over to Wendy’s at 36 Tsintsadze Street, all our children sing, dance and draw,” formerly Saburtalo Street, where you’ll noted Gunashashvili. “Some of children Fast food restaurant Wendy’s Geor- find animators and illustrators and found their ability to draw in our center, gia, together with publishers Palitra L, plenty of fun for all your family and simply because at home they had never Diogene and Bakur Sulakauri, proudly friends. been engaged in it,” she added. present a fun and charitable new event. Not only can you choose from a se- ASB’s project coordinator Giorgi The charity event, titled Books for lection of discounted books, you can buy Arsenidze said that one of the main ob- Every Village, will give book lovers an some books for those who can’t afford jectives of the Social Enterprises Sup- The ‘Matsne’ Center’s children. Source: the Matsne Center’s official Facebook page. opportunity to purchase their favorite them. Visit Wendy’s from 2pm on Oc- port project is to involve public authori- books discounted by 20% to 90%. If you tober 31st to 8pm on the 1st of Novem- By Eka Karsaulidze school tasks, but also to develop their ties in helping solve the problems of the haven’t planned your weekend yet, head ber. other abilities. population. Through this program, the Three Social Enterprises was created “We help children to do their home- first year is fully funded by the Euro- in the Pankisi Gorge this year whose aim work, for example, in foreign languages, pean Union, and from the following is to improve living conditions in the because not all parents know them, or year, local governments must take on EU Week of Culture Kicks off in Georgia region and develop vital services. Yet in the villages we have a lot of multi- their guardianship. By Nina Ioseliani Culture is something that we all share despite the good work of all three children families, and parents do not Despite the fact that ASB have suc- and enjoy – in this spirit the European projects, unfortunately, two of them look have time to deal with all of their off- cessful examples when local govern- The EU Week of Culture offers a Union is proud to present this year’s EU as if they’ll be closing within the next spring. In addition, we watch movies; ments fully took on funding of Social plethora of cultural activities and events Week of Culture in Georgia. few months. One of them is the Matsne children themselves are connected to the Enterprises in regions such as Kvemo across Georgia from October 31st. More Events will be held in the following children’s daycare center. film selection process. We also tried to Kartli and Samegrelo, the situation in than 30 artists will participate in 20 cities: “Our children spent all their time on pay attention to their physical activity – Pankisi Gorge is a little more compli- events in seven cities throughout the Tbilisi - Oct. 31 - Nov. 7 the streets or in the mosque; they had children swim in the pool or in the river, cated. At the moment, local authorities country. Visitors will have free access Telavi - Nov. 1 - Nov. 2 no capacity to identify and develop their in good weather we always play in the have agreed to support only the Medina to a variety of performances, from clas- Rustavi - Nov. 7 abilities. We do not even have a normal yard: football, volleyball, dominoes and center, which is dealing with the prob- sical music, contemporary DJ sets, and Sighnaghi - Nov. 4 - Nov. 8 entertainment infrastructure – no sports so on,” said Gunashashvili. lems of people with disabilities. That modern visual arts. Theatrical perfor- Kutaisi - Nov. 3 - Nov. 4 fields or playgrounds or even libraries,” It is worth noting that the Pankisi means that ‘Matsne’ is likely to be closed mances with Georgian and European Poti - Nov. 6 said Gulnazi Gunashashvili, founder of Gorge has always been in the media next year. troupes will also be held. Akhaltsikhe - Nov. 6 the Matsne center whose idea in open- spotlight. More than 90% of the popu- “It is impossible to continue to work ing the center came from the desire to lation are from an ethnic group called without financial assistance: we have to raise a better generation and show chil- Kists, of Chechenya, who are descen- pay salaries to the cook, the teachers; dren prospects in life. dants of immigrants who came during we have to buy children’s exercise In the framework of the Arbeiter- the Chechen war. According to various books, drawing supplies, etc. Most par- Samariter-Bund’s project, which pro- sources, the unstable situation in the re- ents are not able to provide even mini- motes the development of Social Enter- gion leads to the fact that a large num- mal financial assistance. It will be a pity prises in Georgia’s regions, the Matsne ber of residents are sent out to fight as if we have to close the center. We really center was founded in the village of part of the Islamic State (IS). And one don’t want the children to be forced back Dumasturi, Pankisi Gorge, Georgia, at of the leaders of IS, Tarkhan Batirashvili, out onto the street, it is extremely im- the begging of 2015. The center works also known as Abu Omar al-Shishani, a portant to give them an opportunity to on weekends and helps school-age chil- native of Pankisi Gorge, still has an in- grow and nurture the right values,” said dren not only to cope with different fluence in the region. Gunashashvili.

Why should a girl get an education? sake of education. There is a religious Is it possible to see ethnic Azerbaijani Women Fighting for Higher Education factor, too. People who live in the prov- women living in Georgia in business, ince think that people living in big cities cultural and public life? Are the stories and tidy the house then she is ready for decided to support me in my ambitions. educating a daughter is a waste of time. are mostly Christians and feel that their we hear about early marriages of young marriage. For years girls are inspired so After a few months I appeared on screen I also know families of teachers who have girls will be surrounded by different val- girls aged 13-15 just one side of the coin? they only dream about marriage. Getting presenting the news program. My father a worse attitude regarding a girl getting ues. They also think that if a girl stays How much attention is paid to the edu- an education is boys’ business. In our was really proud of me. It’s important to an education, especially if she has to go alone she could begin to live an immoral cation of young ethnic Azerbaijani girls region they think that a man should pro- have the support of your family. It’s im- to the city to do it- they think she has a life. They understand education as a free- living in the capital city Tbilisi and to the tect the family. According to the average possible without it. My father supported higher change of becoming immoral. dom and freedom is understood as im- regions densely populated by the statistics, families prepare girls for mar- me a lot. I came home late, I took inter- Higher education means independence moral life. In rare situations, rich fami- Azerbaijani ethnic group. Do the girls riage and boys for shopping and trade. If views in the streets, I sat with men in tea- and the ability to think. Educated women lies want to give their daughters an edu- who want to get a higher education, build a boy wants to get an education, he can, houses, prepared reportages, visited ohter ask questions, which is not appreciated cation. The reason is not that they want a career and establish themselves in life but it is not considered necessary for girls. countries. All these things didn’t worry by father, brother, or by her future hus- their daughters to have a specialty, but get support from their families and rela- The only things meant for girls are mar- him. But there are so many girls who band. Boys look for a girl without any they want it only for prestige and for a tives, or do they face challenges? riage and giving birth to a healthy baby. didn’t have such an opportunity. We are education. Parents know this that is why diploma. There are families that don’t We talked with three women to find They think that if a girl is educated she growing up in a community where par- they try to give their daughters away in even know which faculty their daughter answers to these questions. These may get used to an independent lifestyle, ents decide their child’s future- be it marriage at an early age to prevent it. I is studying at- they are only interested in women, who have been able to get a making it difficult to marry. In my fam- bright or dark. was lucky that my family wasn’t against the final diploma. In such conditions a higher education and build a career, were ily neitherr my father nor my mother were 24 year-old Gulferi Mahmudova is it but I have lots of friends who could not girl has only one way – being maximally born into the families of ethnic able to get a higher education. They made a dentist by profession. At the same time finish their education because of pressure stubborn and hard-working. Only you can Azerbaijani. it their purpose to give us something she co-operates with different organiza- from their families. achieve everything by yourself. You must Turaj Ibrahimova is 29 years old. which they could not get from their par- tions aiming to improve the educational Aida Tagieva is Azerbaijani from withstand a thousand complications. My She is a historian and journalist and pro- ents and as a result of their support I was and cultural level of young people. Her Tbilisi. She graduated in TV journalism. parents weren’t against my education but ducer of an Azerbaijani language news enrolled in the faculty of history. After path was not without challenges. Right now she works in her specialization they didn’t support me. This was some- program on local television. She is the two years I understood that I wanted to “ I am the first girl to come from the and as Chief of the Marketing Department thing second-qualitative. A daughter is head specialist of the department con- get into television . One day I saw an province and get a higher education. In for one of the mobile operating compa- like burden, money spent on her is an nected with PR, information and com- advertisement seeking someone to work our village everybody was surprised. nies. Aida remembers her experience: expense. Tomorrow she will get married munity in Marneuli. Turaj comments on on the computer. I decide to apply and They were asking my parents how they “I studied by believing in myself and and the money spent on her will have education and the problems related t hav- was chosen. The next day I began train- could let a young girl live in a strange insisting! In my family nobody made an been for nothing. A boy is a different is- ing a career: ing, which was lasted until late at night. nation. They didn’t like these questions effort towards education. They under- sue: if he gets an education, he’ll earn “ In our region girls from the major- Neighbors started to gossip. They com- and ignored them because they wanted stood that I was motivated so they were money and look after his parents. I’m ity of families do not want to get an edu- plained to my father, asking how a young me to get an education. When I meet my forced to support me. I was lucky to live grateful to my parents that they weren’t cation. Girls are prepared from childhood girl could come back so late at night, tell- relatives and acquaintances they only in the city already. It’s more difficult to against my education. It is distressing to to be ready to make a family at the age of ing him not to let me go there. I told my want to know if I’m married when I’m come from the province as the mentality study hard when there is no need for your 13. Families think that if a girl is already father that I wanted to work in TV with planning to tie the knot: no-one asks there prevents them from sending their education neither in your family nor for able to do washing-up, prepare a meal tears streaming down my cheeks and he about my education or work. For them, daughters to the city to live alone for the the person who wants to marry you. 16 OCTOBER 30 - NOVEMBER 5 SOCIETY Roma People, a Stateless Community in Georgia

By Tamar Svanidze complex problems are limited access to education, human rights, social integra- Even in the 21st century there exist tion, access to health and social assis- people who do not have an Identity and tance, unemployment and so on. They are not recognized by the legal institu- need special support from the Govern- tions of the country. ment and non-governmental organiza- The Roma minority group which has tions to improve their life conditions,” been living in Georgia since the begin- Gelevana said. “Without ID cards they ning of the 20th century has problems cannot get the benefits of social services unlike those of other ethnic minorities under state programs. Many elderly living in collective conditions in vari- Roma people cannot get a pension be- ous districts of Georgia. cause of a lack of documentation,” she Once Georgia was formed as an in- added. dependent state, the Roma found them- Gelevana emphasized that no single selves in an extremely difficult situation. project to support the Roma people’s Following the 1990s civil war, most of integration into Georgian society has the Georgian population was left unem- been carried out by state organizations ployed and the majority of the Roma in Georgia. turned to fortune-telling to earn a liv- “Some non-governmental organiza- ing. However, those working in govern- tions are implementing various projects mental structures were dismissed be- to improve Roma people’s rights, but it cause they did not know the Georgian is not enough. The Roma community is language. an ethnic group facing difficulties and Official data has revealed that 1,500 challenges in Georgia and they require Roma are registered in Georgia, most a special approach,” Gelevana said. of whom live on the outskirts of The Human Rights House in Tbilisi Georgia’s capital city Tbilisi. A second (HRHT) has provided free legal aid to large group of this ethnic minority has the Roma people living in compact settled in Gachiani village of the settlements to assist them in obtaining Gardabani municipality, Kakheti region. ID cards. Roma people are considered one of According to HRHT Lawyer Eka the most impoverished ethnic groups in Kobesashvili, these people do not offi- Georgia, having a common problem: the cially exist anywhere in the country and The Roma minority group has been living in Georgia since the beginning of the 20th century. majority of them have no access to edu- so they cannot benefit from state social cation, jobs and healthcare services, be- services. “We invite witnesses who confirm person will receive rights and social ben- “We met the head of the House of cause most of them do not have ID cards. The HRHT has already provided the that the applicant was really born in efits equal to a person with Georgian Justice and his deputy but they could Director of organization ‘Disarma- birth details of two citizens from the Georgia and his/her birth details. After- citizenship,” Kobesashvili said. not change the procedures so that ap- ment and Non-violence’ Rima Gelevana Navtlugi settlement while the process is wards, the status of the person is esti- The HRHT lawyer went on to speak plicant Roma did not need visits to the said that it is worrying that groups of on-going with six more cases. mated. For example, if an applicant has about the difficulties of the procedures. House of Justice. Roma people do not national minorities still exist in Georgia According to the lawyer, a person has lived in the territory of Georgia since She said applicants need several visits want to go to the House of Justice be- who are illiterate and without access to to carry out a number of procedures to ob- March 31, 1993, he/she will get Geor- to the House of Justice to estimate birth cause they do not have time. They want primary education. tain an ID card – among them an estima- gian citizenship, but if it is not con- details. Roma people are eager to take to take IDs but do not want to make “The Roma community is facing tion of birth details, something which can firmed, that an applicant gets the status documents but are unwilling to visit the the necessary effort to get them,” many difficulties in Georgia. These involve a long and challenging process. of a stateless person. In this case, the House of Justice. Kobesashvili said. CULTURE OCTOBER 30 - NOVEMBER 5 17 Romantic Soiree to MaMatissetisse andand thethe FFauvauveses Ultramodern Lady-Explosion, Rock&Roll and Smooth Jazz Review of Tbilisi Jazz Festival 2015 By Maka Lomadze and the same day. Trumpeter Cohen — voted a Rising Star three years running in The 18th Tbilisi Jazz Festival has come the DownBeat Critics Poll — has earned to an end, having been highly attended renown as a musician with an individual and having satisfied the tastes of every sound and a questing spirit, an ever-cre- gender, age and ethnicity. ative player-composer open to multiple Minister of Culture and Monument strains of jazz and active internationally Protection, Mikheil Giorgadze, congratu- as a leader, co-leader and sideman. The lated the Georgian audience at the launch New York Times described him as “an as- of the Tbilisi Jazz Festival and promised sertive, accomplished trumpeter with a that all would find their own favorites, taste for modernism,” while The Chicago most likely as the event was as colorful Reader has deemed him as “arguably the as ever in genre and musical dimension. most exciting Israeli Jazz musician in the Diana Krall, the initial star of the gran- world.” Triveni, the trumpeter’s current diose occasion, did not fail to meet the primary touring project, has been praised expectations of her fans. As sparkling as far and wide for its sonic telepathy, with ever, she offered a particularly romantic NPR saying: “The essence of Triveni’s soiree with a lot of new songs and very airy sound is how, aware of one another, popular tracks, including “Fly Me to the each player creates interesting, flowing Moon”, “Just the Way You Are”, “Look lines and lets the space participate. Think of Love”, “Temptation”… Her unique of artists sketching and drawing together.” smoothly velvet voice was on for almost Anzic Records releases Dark Nights, the two hours, with three songs at encore, trio’s third album — and Avishai’s sev- bringing the most tender melodies to re- enth recording as a leader — in autumn verberate around the Tbilisi Concert Hall, 2014. The trumpeter also records and tours with a total sell out. The aristocrat-look- the world as part of the prestigious ing lady, with the most humble introduc- SFJAZZ Collective, the Mark Turner Le bonheur de vivre (The Joy of Life) by Henri Matisse, 1906. tion, was undoubtedly the most charm- Quartet, and with the 3 Cohens Sextet — ing of the festival, together with her ar- the hit family band with his sister, clari- By Lily Fürstenow-Khositashvili with green, pink and yellow under a of a two painting commission, the other tistic manner and mild style. netist-saxophonist Anat, and brother, saxo- hairdo in brick red and cobalt blue, as painting being ‘Music’ in 1910. An ear- The next performer, 31-year-old phonist Yuval. With the 3 Cohens, Avishai October can hardly be imagined well as a giant purple hat with multi- lier version of ‘La Danse’ (1909) is in Esperanza Spalding, was a total contrast has twice headlined the hallowed Village without the Salon d’Automne – the Au- coloured feathers. In spite of severe cri- the collection of the Museum of Mod- to Krall – a lady-explosion, an ultra-mod- Vanguard, as well as appeared on the cover tumn Salon founded in Paris in the base- tique and discouragement, Matisse’s ern Art in New York City. The painting ern star representing all the technique and of the January 2012 issue of DownBeat. ment of the Petit Palais, initially Woman with a Hat, was bought by shows five dancing figures, painted in a technology that modernity can offer, to- The Festival’s culmination Fourplay in organised by artists Georges Rouault, Gertrude and Leo Stein. Matisse was strong red, set against a very simplified gether with her non-exhaustible energy fact turned out the last but one participant, Andre Derain, Henri Matisse and Albert recognised as a leader of the Fauves, green landscape and deep blue sky. It and extravagant look. Esperanza gave the as Edmar CasTaneda Trio’s performance Marquet as a reaction to the conserva- along with André Derain and Maurice reflects Matisse’s incipient fascination audience a treat of 1 hour and 15 min- was postponed and took place on Thurs- tive policies of the official Paris Salon. de Vlaminck; the two were friendly ri- with primitive art, and uses a classic utes non-stop, shifting from guitar to key- day, following the veteran band’s evening. The exhibition almost immediately be- vals, each with his own followers. Other Fauvist color palette: the intense warm board without even taking a seat. She was Fourplay on their tour dedicated to their came the showpiece of developments members of the Fauvist movement were colors against the cool blue-green back- enjoying her own performance so much 25th anniversary on stage, featuring the and innovations in 20th century Georges Braque and Raoul Dufy. The ground and the rhythmical succession that it easily infected the audience. It veteran Bob James on piano, Nathan East painting and sculpture. The Salon Symbolist painter Gustave Moreau was of dancing nudes convey the feelings of seems that she is a strong jazz-addict. “It on Bass and Vocal, Harvey Mason on d’Automne shaped modern and contem- the movement’s inspirational teacher. emotional liberation and hedonism. was an absolutely natural concert. I have Drums, another veteran, and Chuck Loeb porary art in the 20th century. At the Le bonheur de vivre (The Joy of Life) Later, when painting and sculpture heard her in Paris before,” said Oliko on Guitar, is the one and only band that expense of the riotous scandals, the Sa- is another world famous masterpiece by became physical challenges for the art- Babluani, actress, TV-presenter, former was rewarded by the US Congress. lon established its reputation and avant- Henri Matisse. It is regarded as one of ist due to illness, Matisse turned to a new expat, daughter of famous Georgian film The main sensation of the festival – garde movements: Fauvism, Cubism, the pillars of early modernism. The type of medium. With the help of his director Temur Babluani, exclusively told quite a young jazzman from Colombia, Surrealism, Dadaism, the School of monumental canvas was first exhibited assistants, he began creating cut paper Georgia Today. “The only difference is Edmar Castaneda playing on the Latin Paris, Abstraction, Op Art, and so on. In at the Salon des Independants in 1906. collages, or decoupage whereby he between our and the French audience is harp, finalized the chief jazz event of this article we would like to focus on In the picture are shown a number of would cut sheets of paper, pre-painted interactivity: if we prefer to have a pose Georgia. “Mr. CastanÞeda strummed, one of the founders of Salon d’Automne, nude women and men in a landscape with gouache by his assistants, into of just-observers, they are much more plucked, rubbed, jabbed and pounded on artist Henri Matisse. drenched with vivid color. Its cadmium shapes of varying colours and sizes, and interactive and involved with the stage.” his cobalt blue Llanera harp as he con- On seeing the work of Matisse in colors and spatial distortions initially arrange them to form lively composi- The third concert was on the Event jured different shaped notes, harmonic Room VII at the Salon d’Automne in caused public protest and outrage. The tions. Initially, these pieces were mod- Hall stage, which offers a club-like at- textures and steady bass rhythms from Paris in 1905, the critic Louis Vauxcelles decline of the Fauvist movement after est in size, but eventually transformed mosphere and is meant to resemble the the instrument’s 34 strings. About the named it “un Donatello parmi les fauves, 1906 did not affect the career of Matisse. into murals or room-sized works. The national jazz environment of the US. On only thing he didn’t do was light it on ‘Donatello among the wild animals’ Many of his finest works were created Henri Matisse Museum in Nice features the 26th October, the Jeff Ballard trio per- fire.” – reads Wall St Journal. “A master which gave the name “Fauves” to the between 1906 and 1917, when he was a wonderful collection of his early formed a fusion of jazz, blues and rock& of beautifully complex timing, lush col- group of artists that painted in a style an active part of the great gathering of works, sculptures and cutouts. Situated roll. The critics declared it quite a rare ors and dynamic spirit, Edmar has been similar to Matisse. The wildness lay in artistic talent in Montparnasse. on a picturecue hill overlooking Nice, it case when musicians are on a tour with called “almost a world unto himself” - the lurid colours and aggressive execu- Matisse had a long association with offers insights into the artist’s career, drum, sax and guitar, without bass gui- The New York Times writes. tion of the paintings. Matisse’s portrait Russian art collector Sergei Shchukin. various stages of his work, as well as a tar. But the experiment worked and left As always, Eastern Promotion holds of his wife, ‘Woman in a Hat’, for in- He created one of his major works ‘La wonderful collection of vases that no real music-lover or professional indif- the high class quality and this is why they stance, showed her with a face blotched Danse’ especially for Shchukin as part Matisse created in his house. ferent. The American drummer Jeff have acquired a respectable international Ballard has played with Ray Charles, Pat reputation. Diana Krall, who was hesi- Metheny, and Reid Anderson. His first tating as her favorite FourSeasons hotel Duruji Award Winners Revealed fascination with jazz began by listening was not in Georgia, finally accepted the to the joint performance of Ella invitation, and that happened thanks to cial prize of GEL 10,000 from the Min- Fitzgerand and Louis Armstrong. the great musicians who had played be- istry of Culture and Monument Protec- The fourth jazz evening belonged to fore, since 1996, in Tbilisi. The list com- tion of Georgia to stage a play for the Avishai Cohen on the same stage on trum- prises Ray Charles, James Brown, Tanya 2016-2017 season. pet, with a duo of Yoni Zelnik on bass. Maria, Al Jarreau, Bobby McFerrin, Joe Best Modern Georgian Playwright – And then for the surprise! Jezz Ballard Cocker, Jamiroquai, Chris Botti and Paata Tsikolia, who told Georgia Today: appeared and made a trio with them, which many others. Good bye with the hope to “I honestly didn’t expect to win. In to- gave a wonderful chance to this evening’s see other interesting old and rising stars tal, three plays were presented. One of guests to listen to both musicians on one next year! them I hadn’t even read so I could only guess how the competition would be. Unlike Otar, this was a debut for me and one of the reasons I had low expectations. But as you see, we won!” “Duruji is the appreciation and recognition of labor and energy invested Otar Katamadze and Paata Tsikolia at Tbilisi Event Hall. Source: Redix facebook. during the seasons and knitted in the work of art by the artists,” – said Lasha Tbilisi Event Hall hosted the 8th Best Modern Georgian Playwright – Papashvili, the Prize founder and Gen- Duruji Theatre Award ceremony on Oc- Paata Tsikolia and Otar Katamadze; eral Director of Redix Group. tober 24th. The winners were named in Best Actress – Marina Kakhiani; Duruji Prize Award has been held an- five nominations following a two-month Best Actor – Vano Iantbelidze; nually since 2008 on the initiative of char- evaluation by the five member jury of Best Production Work – Levan ity organization “Tsiskari” and “Redix the nominated plays. Tsuladze; Group” to encourage Georgian directors, This year’s awards were granted in Best Young Director – Nikoloz actors, playwrights and set designers and the following nominations: Sabashvili. The latter was given a spe- to promote and advance Georgian theatre. Diana Krall in Tbilisi. Photo by Beka Javakhishvili.

CULTURE OCTOBER 30 - NOVEMBER 5 19 SashaSasha WWaltzaltz andand GuestsGuests PPerferforormm inin TbilisiTbilisi fforor GIFTGIFT ffestiestivvalal By Ana Akhalaia “This is a wonder in the history of modern dance,” Art Director of the GIFT German choreographer Sasha Waltz Festival Keti Dolidze commented. and her dance company performed “Sasha Waltz is the same as Ostermeier ‘Travelogue 1- Twenty to Eight’ on the or Peter Brook in the theatre today. And Rustaveli Theatre stage for the Geor- this kind of high-level person is visiting gian International Festival of Arts (GIFT) Tbilisi and the GIFT festival! It truly is 2015. an outstanding event.” The GIFT festival was opened Oc- Sasha Waltz studied dance in tober 17th and will last until November Amsterdam and furthered her education 17th. Georgian art lovers have the op- in New York. She went on to collaborate portunity to see some of the world’s with various choreographers, musicians, finest art masterpieces including: Sasha artists and dancers and created her first Waltz, Dmitry Krimov, Dada Masilo, independent choreographies. Rimas Tuminas and many more. The humour, aggression and sensual- Waltz is a German choreographer, ity of her choreographic work captures dancer and leader of the dance company the attention of the audience. She uses ‘Sasha Waltz and Guests’, which works concrete objects, sets, film editing tech- with a constantly developing interna- niques and the grotesque movements of tional network of production partners the silent movies in her work. and guest performers. It shows approxi- “I try to understand the world. I mately 70 performances worldwide ev- observe a lot how people are with each ery year, currently consisting of 20 pro- other. I try to solve problems. I see ductions. what I don’t understand. So we work The company was named an official with these ideas on stage,” said Sasha ‘Cultural Ambassador of the European Waltz. Union’ during its anniversary in 2013. Life in ‘Travelogue 1- Twenty to Sasha Waltz and her dance company perform ‘Travelogue 1- Twenty to Eight’ on the Rustaveli Theatre stage for the Georgian International One of Waltz’s earlier works- ‘Trav- Eight’ is symbolized by the kitchen Festival of Arts (GIFT) 2015. elogue – Twenty to Eight’ was per- where five residents meet. Their lives, “It’s the question of how we live to- human. I have the feeling it will be un- and their negative sides revealed. This formed on the Rustaveli Theatre stage like their dances, are sometimes synchro- gether; with different love scenes fea- derstood by the Georgian people. I have reflection forms the relationship between on October 27th and 28th. nized and sometimes chaotic. The move- tured. And it’s also about a conflict of the feeling from the people I’ve met that the characters. Often nervous and lonely, “Passionate and rough, painful and ment vocabulary is expressive and emo- living in the communal apartment and there is an incredible curiosity and open- they can’t find a way out from becom- bizarre, aggressive and ironic, loaded tional. The music is an important driv- sharing one kitchen,” Waltz said. “We ness.” ing the prisoners of a social structure. with sex and full of the absurd,” Badische ing force in the story. ‘Travelogue’ has have performed this piece in a variety of As a room, the kitchen can be a mir- “It’s our first time and I would love Zeitung, a German newspaper, wrote on an original composition by Tristan countries and I think it’s something uni- ror of their lives where their rituals, hab- to come again. I’m open to any sort of the piece. Honsinger. versal that we are talking about. It’s very its, behaviours and manners are observed adventure,” Waltz enthused.

WHAT'S ON IN TBILISI THEATRE Directed by Rezo Gabriadze Language: Georgian Cast: Vin Diesel, Rose Leslie, ARCHAEOLOGICAL TREASURE GEORGIAN INTERNATIONAL English Subtitles English Subtitles Elijah Wood Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy FESTIVAL OF ARTS Start time: 20:00 Start time: 20:00 MOMA TBILISI ZURAB Language: Russian ‘GIFT’ IN TBILISI Ticket price: 10, 15, 20 Lari Ticket price: 10 Lari TSERETELI Start time: 17:15, 20:10, 22:30 Address: 27 Rustaveli Ave. Address: 164 Agmashenebeli Ave. Ticket price: 9.50 – 12.50 Lari Telephone: 235 0203, 551 17 68 18 November 1 CIRCUS Telephone: 298 60 30 AUTUMN OF MY SPRING Address: 1 The Heroes Sq. www.giftfestival.ge RUSTAVELI CINEMA Rezo Gabriadze Telephone: 2 98 58 61 Address: 5 Rustaveli Ave. October 9 – November 15 October 30 Directed by Rezo Gabriadze www.krakatuk.eu Telephone: 255 50 00 OLEG TIMCHENKO’S EXHIBITION English Subtitles MADAGASCAR www.kinoafisha.ge GALLERY Marius Ivashkevich Start time: 20:00 October 31 - November 1 Directed by Rimas Tuminas Ticket price: 10, 15, 20 Lari CLOWN ASSEMBLY BLACK MASS THE NATIONAL GALLERY Executive stage director: Vilma Start time: October 31 – 17:00, (Info Above) Address: 11 Rustaveli Ave. Dabkiene MOVEMENT THEATRE November 1 – 13:00, 17:00 Start time: 22:15 www.museum.ge Ticket price: 10.50 – 12.50 Lari A play in two acts Address: 182, Aghmashenebeli Ave., Ticket price: From 10 Lari Mushthaid park October 16-31 Start time: 20:00 CINEMA THE LAST WITCH HUNTER Telephone: 599 555 260 THE PERSONAL EXHIBITION BY Ticket price: From 30 Lari (Info Above) AMIRANI CINEMA TURKISH PHOTO JOURNALIST Venue: Tumanishvili Film Actors Start time: 17:45, 19:45, 22:30 Address: 36 Kostava St. Theatre October 30 - November 1 Ticket price: 9.50 – 12.50 Lari ARA GÜLER FAN DO’S MAGORY Telephone: 299 99 55 Widely recognized as the “Eye of October 31 Directed by Kakha Bakuradze www.kinoafisha.ge THE WALK Istanbul,” Ara Güler is an Armenian- UNCLES AND AUNTS Start time: 20:00 Directed by Robert Zemeckis Turkish Photo journalist from Small State Theatre of Vilnius presents Ticket price: From 10 Lari October 30 – November 5 Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Istanbul. He was awarded a number of The premiere of Gabriele Tuminas’ BLACK MASS Charlotte Le Bon, Guillaume times for his contribution to the Directed by Scott Cooper production October 30 Baillargeon development of culture. Cast: Johnny Depp, Benedict Start time: 20:00 ADDAMS FAMILY Genre: Adventure, Biography, Drama Cumberbatch, Dakota Johnson Language: Russian Ticket price: From 25 Lari Fantasy EUROPE HOUSE GEORGIA Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama Start time: 12:30 Venue: Tumanishvili Film Actors Start time: 19:45 Address: 1 Freedom Sq. Language: English Ticket price: 7.50 – 8.50 Lari Theatre Ticket price: 25 Lari Telephone: 2 47 03 11 Start time: 19:45 Venue: Tbilisi Concert Hall CRIMSON PEAK Language: Russian October 30 – November 1 November 3 Start time: 17:30, 20:05, 22:45 Directed by Guillermo del Toro ALEXANDER GRIBOEDOV MARIAM SITCHINAVA’S FIRST EUGENE ONEGIN Ticket price: 10.50 – 12.50 Lari Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Al. Pushkin STATE RUSSIAN DRAMA Chastain, Tom Hiddleston SOLO SHOW IN TBILISI Opening: 19:00 Stage director, author of the idea and THEATRE PARANORMAL ACTIVITY: Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Horror Language: Russian scenic version: Rimas Tuminas Address: 2 Rustaveli Ave. THE GHOST DIMENSION 3D MUSIC Start time: 20:00, 22:30 Start time: 19:00 Telephone: 293 11 06 Directed by Gregory Plotkin Ticket price: 11.50 – 12.50 Lari MTKVARZE Ticket price: From 20 Lari www.griboedovtheatre.ge Cast: Chris J. Murray, Brit Shaw, Venue: Griboedov Theatre Ivy George PARANORMAL ACTIVITY: October 30 October 31 Genre: Horror THE GHOST DIMENSION 3D JULIAN BOMM (rheinrhythmik / GABRIADZE THEATRE A GENTLE CREATURE Language: Russian (Info Above) DE) • BACHO • COBERT • Address: 13 Shavtelis St. Fyodor Dostoevsky Start time: 22:30 Start time: 20:25, 22:45 LUNA989 • MANGIPHERA @ Telephone: 298 65 93 Directed by Avtandil Varsimashvili Ticket price: 11.50 – 12.50 Lari Ticket price: 11.50 – 12.50 Lari Small Stage MTKVARZE Start time: 23:00 October 30 Start time: 18:00 THE MARTIAN 3D THE MARTIAN 3 D Entry price: 15 Lari RAMONA Ticket price: 5 Lari Directed by Ridley Scott (Info Above) Rezo Gabriadze Cast: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Start time: 11:45, 14:34, 22:25 October 31 Directed by Rezo Gabriadze ROYAL DISTRICT THEATRE Kristen Wiig Ticket price: 7.50 – 12.50 Lari HALLOWEEN @ MTKVARZE with English Subtitles Address: 10 Abesadze Str. Genre: Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi SHXCXCHCXSH (Live) • BOYD Start time: 20:00 Telephone: 299 61 71 Language: Russian MUSEUM Ticket price: 10, 15, 20 Lari Start time: 14:30 SCHIDT • NEWA • ZURKIN • GIO October 30 Ticket price: 8.50 – 9.50 Lari SIMON JANASHIA MUSEUM SHENGELIA • GIORGI October 31 WOMEN OF TROY OF GEORGIA MOZGOVOI MARSHAL DE FANTIE’S DIAMOND Directed by Data Tavadze THE LAST WITCH HUNTER Address: 3 Rustaveli Ave. Start time: 23:00 Rezo Gabriadze Documentary Directed by Breck Eisner Telephone: 2 99 80 22 Entry price: 20 Lari

SOCIETY OCTOBER 30 - NOVEMBER 5 21

By Tony Hanmer mineral springs! The few towers... and all the details which make any village I had been casting about for another worth getting to know, whatever your school to volunteer in as an English particular interest might be. And you teacher, because suddenly the TLG con- BacBackk toto BecBechoho shouldn’t feel cheated, especially if you tract by which I do this job requires three live only 10 km away and can come here co-teachers, one more than Etseri offers thus had few relational ties to it. Well, often. me. The village of Pari, conveniently a we’re quite settled where we are in Etseri, So... when I know I’ll get at least that half-hour walk away, failed to call back no changing that now, and no regrets from short look at The Mountain, I let it domi- expressing interest. Becho? I also con- me either. I have, however, an hour or nate, and plan my after-school outing sidered Ushguli, seat of the beginning two to kill after every day’s lessons, be- accordingly. I still have a great amount of all this, even predating TLG’s exist- fore my minivan returns from Mestia; so of exploring to do here off-road, with a ence as a program. But it’s 75 km away, I prowl about photographically. view to seeing Ushba from here or there. and I’d have to overnight it there or But Ushba... the thing is, when it’s When I know that there’s almost a zero more: no longer so easy for my wife oth- there, glowering at you fantastically chance, I ignore it (only checking it out erwise alone to run house, shop and huge from the top of the village, there’s from the corner of my eye occasionally) farm. really nothing else to notice; the moun- and concentrate on other things. Sort of Becho, then? They do have English tain totally crowds out all other compe- like Mt. Fuji in Japan. Ushba gives one too, and they’re 10 km away. I could get tition for your attention, to the point that a completely different view from Becho there via Etseri’s twice-weekly minivan other sights simply don’t exist. Ah, but to Latali (45 degrees of turn) to Mestia run to Mestia, and back the same way. when it’s not there... either partly or (90 degrees), and then is similar to other A call to the school director revealed that completely obscured by cloud? You places from Etseri or Mulakhi or K’ala they were keen for a visit to talk it over. might wait, hoping for a glimpse, the or high above Ushguli. I suppose I’m The school is only a few minutes’ veil to slip to one side for a few seconds building up a whole album, a whole walk from the Becho bus stop, and my of view of anything. You might also be book, of views, seasons, lightings, transport gets me there in time for the rewarded in this, or you might merely moods of this creature over the years it second lesson each time. I take a pack be frustrated. It might be days or longer is my privilege to see it. And I try to see lunch with me. There are actually two before you see it. it not only through the camera co-teachers there for me, as well, cov- It’s at those “Ushba-less” times that viewfinder, as well, but to really see it. ering all grades, and I’m now working you are forced to notice other things, But as huge and powerful as Ushba Mt. Ushba. out a schedule to accommodate them humbler but no less worthy of your at- is, it isn’t and shouldn’t be my only rea- both as much as possible. They seem and apathetic ones contrasting. I imme- views of magnificently shy Mt. Ushba, tention. The people, for goodness’ sake! son for coming to Becho. I’m here to grateful for the partnership. diately feel comfortable, having seen perhaps the one thing that draws almost The fall colors on the trees at the mo- teach English, after all, and the rest is The school, built with two floors for this situation in three other places in all foreign tourists to this village. The ment, forests on fire with autumn! The cake icing. But what icing! over 300 pupils, now has to settle for Svaneti now, and find myself fitting in other teachers expressed regret that my 72, a similar predicament to Etseri’s. easily with staff and children alike. I’ve wife and I, when house-hunting in Tony Hanmer runs the “Svaneti Renaissance” Facebook group, now with Many rooms have murals painted onto done so much of the learning already, Svaneti, hadn’t even considered Becho. over 1250 members, at them, and the place has a happy feel. much of it is transferrable to here. The reason was simply that I had visited www.facebook.com/groups/SvanetiRenaissance/ The level of English is up and down, like A bonus, far from the main reason it once or twice by then, knew no-one He and his wife also run their own guest house in Etseri: our village’s, with the usual bright stars why I’m there but always a plus, is the there, was known by hardly anyone, and www.facebook.com/hanmer.house.svaneti

Tricks n Treats in Tbilisi this Halloween

By Nina Ioseliani

Not up for carving out your own pumpkin and handing out candies this year? You’re in luck- Halloween is growing in popularity in Tbilisi and this year there is a monstrous feast of events to entertain all the family. So grab a costume and head out into the city- and let someone else clear up the cobwebs and ghoul slime the next day! Here are some of our suggestions for Halloween 2015: 1. Cafe 1940 opens its doors at 8pm and is inviting you to come along with your friends to enjoy a night of spooktacular entertainment. There will be a prize for the scariest costume! Address: 10 Ingorokva Str. 2. Fly over to the creepy Halloween party at Latino Bar “If you’re tired and haven’t a clue what to do, then visit Latino Bar to find your inner peace...and meet some of the spookiest people ever!” Address: 14 G.Akvlediani Str Doors open at 8:00PM 3. “Grab your masks and fly your broom, come to a party under the moon!” Canudos Ethic Bar invites you to enjoy delicious food and drinks with a sprinkling of magical music! Address: 31 Javakhishvili Str. 4. Famous Restaurant and Music Salon is wishing you a Happy Hal- loween and invites you to enjoy the scariest Halloween in Tbilisi with them. Address: 1 Abo Tbileli Str Doors open at 9PM 5. One for the kids: the annual Trick or Treat at the Ethnographic Museum. 1 Lari entrance, costumes and a bag of candies a must! Satur- day, October 31, 4:00-5:30p.m. Costumes can be rented at the following locations: Children’s Theatre, 8 Kievi St. 295 41 83 Centre Barbare, 67 Vazha Phshavela St. 232 43 25 Centre Babulia, 2 Laghidze St. 555576730 Centre Alica, Tetelashvili St. 296 61 43 Opera House, 25 Rustaveli Ave. *Costumes can be purchased at Pepela, 22 Kostava St.247 9891 Keep an eye on georgiatoday.ge for updates on more ‘scaretakular’ events this Halloween weekend! Happy Halloween from all the Team at Georgia Today!

SOCIETY OCTOBER 30 - NOVEMBER 5 23 Peter Nasmyth: From Rooftops to Glaciers

By Katie Ruth Davies up Propsero’s bookshop&cafe? What then I have watched it evolve, first to a is your vision for Prospero’s in future? virtual no-go region due to banditry, ‘I have a genuine affection for Geor- A: The idea of Prospero’s actually thence to its nadir today. I just came back gia. I am not cynical about the country came about via my friend Irakli Topuria from Mestia and can, hand on heart, say and this I think helps the understand- who created and still runs International that it’s now becoming the place I ing. Georgia is not like us (the West) with House. I’d helped him set up his school dreamed it might all those years ago - a desire to be all neat and regulated. bookshop and as we were toasting its with a fully functioning tourist economy. Neither is it a shining example of politi- opening, I jokingly lifted my glass say- This has been a relatively recent devel- cal stability. It is a country proud of its ing: ‘Here’s to our next bookshop on opment but has always seemed about as emotional originality and contrariness.’ Rustaveli Avenue.’ It was Irakli who inevitable as the steady shrinkage of the [Interview with Peter Nasmyth, Tbilisi, then found the site at 34 Rustaveli [the Chalati glacier (about 40 metres this October 2008] soon-to-be bookshop was empty and the year). I have been recording both. Georgia Today met up with Peter café section was purchased later and Q: You are a founder member of Nasmyth- writer, publisher and a converted from a failed clothing store] the Tbilisi Heritage Group. Where founder member of the British-Georgian and sent me a video saying: ‘Were you does your love of architecture come Society and the Tbilisi Heritage Group serious?’ I realised that we probably from and how do you view the cur- - on one of his frequent visits to Geor- were - at this time Tbilisi had no proper rent architecture scene in Tbilisi? gia. Warding off the autumn chill with a coffee, almost no English language A: I’ve watched Georgia transform warm mug of Blue Lady tea in books or a foreigner-friendly meeting in the most extraordinary way, from Prospero’s café on Rustaveli Avenue, I place with a notice board - so we bought Soviet paradise resort to civil war-zone got to know the Englishman beneath the the property between us. I then ran out with no water and electricity, then to a flat cap who has been enamoured with of money and couldn’t find any co-in- super right-wing free-market in the early Georgia since 1987. vestors, until Steve and Eric came along 2000s. Throughout the entire period Q: How did your love affair with and did a fantastic job at creating the people didn’t really trust money, prefer- Georgia begin? Prospero’s you see today, aided and sus- ring, if they could, to put their savings A: I came as a tourist, although at tained by Steve’s wife Tamara. into property. This received a massive the time I was also a journalist specia- boost in the Saakashvili era with the lising in perestroika, writing mainly fea- Having spent a large amount of his President’s love of what he believed was tures from and about the former Soviet time in Georgia rambling about the modern architecture and a massive and Union for various British newspapers Caucasus Mountains and discovering furious construction boom. This led to and magazines (Observer/Guardian/In- and documenting numerous walking the partial destruction and rebuilding of dependent/Times etc.). routes (to be included in his guide: the Kala region of the old town. Heart- Q: What kept you coming back? ‘Walking in the Caucasus’), Peter seems breaking to those of us who treasured A: I was asked to write a book about to have found his favourite destination the unique historic ambience of Tbilisi, the country in 1990– but it didn’t come in Svaneti (the northernmost region of but supported by many of the inhabit- Peter Nasmyth. Source: www.budlitfest.org.uk. out until just as the civil war began: Georgia bordering Russia to the north ants who had their houses done up for ‘Rebel in the Caucasus’ (Cassell ‘92), and Abkhazia to the West). free. However, there was a catch: the mation more vividly than the local in- standing empty, unsold, because nobody whereupon I became a pundit by acci- methods used for renovation were the habitants. It was like a nightmare mani- likes them. Their charm has been killed. dent rather than design (‘Can you pre- Q: You visit Svaneti almost every quickest and simplest, usually requiring festing before our eyes - the nation’s And historic charm is an increasingly dict which way the civil war will go?’ trip here. What is your attraction to the house to be knocked down and re- leaders making all the mistakes we had rare and significantly bankable com- etc. Luckily for me, although not Geor- the region? built as a pastiche of itself (still happen- made in the West during the 1970s. Tour- modity. With every old house that is re- gia, I got that one right: “Considerably A: I first visited Svaneti in the Com- ing today). A kind of epic reconstruc- ists were, and still are, blinking and ask- moved and replaced by a new, taller pas- worse!”). The book was republished in munist times. Illegally as it turned out – tion that transformed the old town into ing themselves ‘what happened here?’ tiche, the whole region loses a few more 2006 as ‘Georgia in the Mountains of so I borrowed a typewriter and typed the a new town. The slower, more cultur- when walking round Kala. dollars per square metre - and the city Poetry’ with a new, post-Communist word ‘MESTIA’ onto my Soviet visa. It ally sensitive methods were not used - Q: If you could say a few influen- its historic ambience and attraction to section. But at the time Tbilisi had ab- worked a charm. Mestia at the time was as in other post-Soviet capitals like tial words to the Tbilisi city planners, tourists (its most genuine, sustainable, solutely nowhere to sell it. This was an a dump-like Soviet town surrounded by Budapest of Prague - because instant, what would you say? long-term industry). This will happen in impetus towards starting a bookshop, the most extraordinary paradise of a dramatic results were required. Those of A: The most important action for the the bath region if the Mirza Shaffi de- which I did with two excellent Ameri- landscape. My trip is described in ‘Geor- us leaving and coming back to the city nation’s planners and investors is to velopment goes ahead. I feel that those cans, Steve Johnson and his brother Eric. gia in the Mountains of Poetry.’ Since every few months noticed the transfor- realise that redevelopment can be done of us belonging to nations who have less quickly, and more cheaply and sen- made these mistakes of our own should He is referring to the well-known and sitively. Also, for the inhabitants to be try and tell the authorities not to repeat well-loved Prospero’s Bookshop and told this and not be bamboozled by the what we have done, but engage in some Cafe on Rustaveli. Nestled in a tiny building propaganda. To restore a house truly modern development - which is to courtyard behind number 34, the two- properly can be done far more cheaply keep the historic ambience while creat- part bookshop is said to most likely have than demolishing and reconstructing it. ing clean, efficient, functioning, 21st the widest selection of English language However, this prevents the building of century interiors. The international fund- books in the Caucasus. additional floors and therefore a quick ing authorities should also be reminded Prospero’s Books took its name from profit in extra square metres. But the of this - like the World Bank - who need the 1991 movie by the same name, which developers also don’t realise that profit to police their beneficence more care- bears the name of a character from drops when the historic ambience is lost. fully in Georgia. If this is done, then Shakespeare’s play The Tempest. This was fortunately learned by the city Georgia stands in very good stead for The bookstore has a large selection authorities in Budapest when they dis- the future as a tourist destination. of books in English (and a few in Geor- covered that historic properties were gian!), specializing in history and ge- fetching much higher prices than the Peter Nasmyth continues writing both ography of the region, travel guides, as larger-square-metred rebuilds. Ironi- books and articles, heading up his own well as a selection of fiction and non- cally, this process is also happening in publishing house in London- MTA Pub- fiction, reference books and children’s Tbilisi’s historic properties (some ridicu- lications – and discovering trails around books. The cozy café has an indoor-out- lous prices are being paid for Georgia. You may see this charming De- door section to suit all weather. undemolished hovels), but still the mes- von-born gentleman on your next visit to sage isn’t getting through - which is why Prospero’s- keep an eye open for the flat Q: What made you decide to set The old Lermontov house prior to its demolition. so many of the new builds in Kala are cap and blue-eyed smile.

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.

See answers in the next issue www.sudoku.com Answers to previous puzzles Address: 1 Melikishvili Str. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF - Katie Ruth Davies Reproducing material, photos and Tbilisi, 0179, Georgia advertisements without prior editorial GENERAL MANAGER - George Sharashidze JOURNALISTS: Tony Hanmer, Tamar Svanidze, Zviad Adzinbaia, Beqa Kirtava, Meri Taliashvili, Eka Karsaulidze, Tel.: (995 32) 229 59 19, 294 55 24 permission is strictly forbidden. The Baia Dzagnidze, Zaza Jgharkava, Ana Lomtadze, Maka Bibilashvili, Nina Ioseliani, Tatia Megeneishvili, Karen Tovmasyan, Advertising, Subscription: author is responsible for all material. Nino Gegidze, Dimitri Dolaberidze, Nino Japarashvili, Maka Lomadze BUSINESS MANAGER - Iva Merabishvili PHOTOGRAPHER: Zviad Nikolaishvili 597 970444; 597 955565 Rights of authors are preserved. The TECHNICAL SUPPORT: Misha Mchedlishvili E-mail: [email protected] newspaper is registered in Mtatsminda CIRCULATION MANAGERS: David Kerdikashvili, David Djandjgava MARKETING MANAGER: Mako Burduli district court. Reg. # 06/4-309