VISIT WEBSITE & READ DAILY NEWS FEBRUARY 1, 2016 N10 yovelkvireuli orenovani gazeTi saqarTveloSi WEEKLY BILINGUAL NEWSPAPER IN GEORGIA DUTCH AMBASSADOR: WE SHALL THE NEW PRESIDENT OF PACE: IN WHAT CONTEXT OVERCOME OUTDATED HAS PEDRO AGRAMUNT MENTIONED GEORGIA? TRADITIONS EXCLUSIVE P. 3 P. 5 The implementation by authorities is a formal thing. But then again I come to hearts and minds of people ICC STARTS TO where the reforms should be internalized; i.e. that is more difficult, because sometimes you have to overcome INVESTIGATE AUGUST old traditions, prejudices and sometimes an opinion that you’ve always had. It is a difficult process. We have one WAR CRIMES P. 7 program where we, together with our partner NGO, in- form clergy and people affiliated with the Georgian Or- thodox Church about what Europe actually means. NATO REPORT GIVES HOPE TO GEORGIA POLISH GOVERNMENT GRANTED P. 8 1 MILLION EURO FOR DEVELOPMENT TIFLIS PALACE HOTEL PROJECTS IN GEORGIA EXCLUSIVE P. 4 NAMED WINNER OF TRIPADVISOR’S 2016 I would like to mention the Polish support to Geor- gia in terms of sharing experience concerning the EU TRAVELERS’ CHOICE AWARD integration process. Because we have that experience, EXCLUSIVE P. 10 we have received support from the Netherlands and then offered this experience to Macedonia. Georgia is the second country andthe first in the Eastern Partnership WHY WAS THE HEAD COACH with whom we want to cooperate on the same basis. OF GEORGIA’S NATIONAL This means that we are ready to give our full support, providing experts, and assistance across all areas of EU FOOTBALL TEAM FIRED? integration. P. 15 2 FEBRUARY 1, 2016 WWW.OBSERVER.COM.GE NEWS GEORGIAN TROOPS WILL CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS Consultations with partner countries will be held We also discussed Resolute support Mission in Af- in order to continue Georgian military participation ghanistan and Georgian soldiers’ participation in in international missions, – it was said after meet- the cooperation “, – said the Prime Minister. ing of Security Council. President Giorgi Margvelashvili said that he The council discussed two issues: the prepara- heard a lot of positive information on Georgian tion for the NATO summit in Warsaw and the in- soldiers participating in international missions. ternational military missions. According to him, at the meeting there was no “There was talk about further strengthening of discussion on Central Africa peacekeepers, which country’s defense, deeper integration with NATO. are accused in sexual harassment by the UN chief. GEOSTAT: GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT GREW 2.8% IN 2015 Geostat published the information about the GDP operative data. In those fields where the monthly growth 0,3% in December 2015 compared with the data (eg. Agriculture) is not available, the estima- same period last year, while the IV quarter of 2015, tions are based on the previous data. Respectively, GDP grew 2.9%. In total, according to preliminary real quarterly calculations may differ from the pre- data in 2015 the GDP increased by 2.8%. liminary estimates “, – explained the facility. “Since January 2012, the state statistics office According to the National Statistics Office, there produces monthly preliminary estimation of eco- could be a correction in the previous months of the nomic growth. The estimate is an internationally VAT taxpayers’ turnover, which would result in accepted practice, which is used for short-term pre- proper corrections of real GDP growth estimates. GEORGIA IS A LEADER IN THE REGION IN TERMS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REFORM The EU appreciates the public administration re- public service and its implementation”, Georgia’s form carried out in Georgia, – it was noted at to- public service reform process, the need to develop day’s regional conference. public service legislation and its implementation, At the meeting it was underlined that Georgia is as well as the experience of foreign countries will a leader in public administration reform in the re- be discussed. gion. The ministries and non-governmental organiza- In the frame of the conference, which is called tions, invited guests and international experts are “Civil service reform: legislation in the sphere of participating in the event. 3 FEBRUARY 1, 2016 WWW.OBSERVER.COM.GE POLITICS DUTCH AMBASSADOR: WE SHALL OVERCOME OUTDATED TRADITIONS ANA ZANKALIANI EXCLUSIVE It is already twelfth time that are our collective representa- tations and that you accept each the kingdom of the Netherlands tives. Of course, they interact other. It takes time though, that holds the Presidency of the with us a lot, because they act on these values are not just written Council of the European Union. behalf of the European Union. on paper, but in your hearts. There are expectations that the You have seen a very detailed You actively support business changes within these six months report about Georgia’s visa lib- relations between Georgia and will reflect positively on political eralization action plan imple- Netherlands, in which areas and economical status of Europe- mentation. Anti-discrimination do Georgian and Dutch com- an Union. Netherlands have four is one of the topics therein. Our panies cooperate and what are priorities from which the first Embassy and all the Embassies your future commitments in one is related to migration and of the EU Member States, inter- this area? international security. The other act with government and society, Georgia is a really small mar- three fields are employment, en- especially, with the civil society, ket, but it is very challenging and ergy policy and strengthening to bring forward what we call interesting one. There is a Dutch the Euro zone. How these chang- the European values indeed and export volume on one side and es will affect on Georgia and what you have mentioned spe- the investment volume on the expert, or become interested in open to people. You can see it in what plans does the Netherlands cifically - the antidiscrimination other side. We were the number it, then there’s Georgia again. our office space, how we actual- embassy have towards Georgia? aspects. What we’ve noticed is one investors in 2014, down to Two Georgians are playing in ly do that and how people relate Observer talked about these is- that Georgia has come a long 330 million US dollars; these are one of our football teams in the to each other. We want to have sues with the new ambassador of way and has made lots of pro- the latest figures that we have. Netherlands, Vitesse. We have an open approach, open office the Netherlands Jos Douma. He gress, but the emphasis should When you can zoom into what a wonderful chess couple: Sop- space and open Facebook page. already enjoyed 4 months now in be on true implementation now; we actually do here, then you iko Guramishvili, who is one of We also have a website but that Georgia, together with his wife which means that it should not can see that we are active in ag- the major female chess players is much more static and it gives and started active work of diplo- only be written on paper, but, riculture, real estate and retail. in the Netherlands and her hus- basic information about the Em- macy. most importantly, in the minds Despite not having abounding band, Anish Giri, of Indian ori- bassy. The third is Twitter, that is The Netherlands holds the of the Georgians and noticeably Dutch companies in Georgia, gin, who is our youngest grand more my personal activity. With Presidency of the Council of in the acts of citizens and of au- our business companies play an master and Dutch greatest asset Twitter I try to relate to policy the European Union from thorities. important role in Georgian mar- in chess. I should also mention makers, policy thinkers in Geor- January 1 until June 30, how it How do you assess Georgian ket and their presence has been Georgian musicians: Qeti Roin- gia and beyond; express ideas, will affect on Georgia? way to the European and Eu- evident. ishvili, Mariam Batashvili and developments and the views The relevance of the Dutch ro-Atlantic integration, how What do you mean in pres- Nino Gvetadze. A filmmaker from the Netherlands. While we Presidency of the European Un- successful and visible are the ence? Zaza Magalasjvili considers the have the Presidency of the EU, I ion for Georgia is very limited. reforms that have been carried Take for instance shopping Netherlands as his home, but try to involve the Georgian audi- We preside over meetings in out and where do you see the malls. Recently opened Shop- Georgia as his motherland. ence in what it actually means. Brussels, mostly technical. We need for improvement? ping mall Isani is a joint French- Does it mean that cultural re- I believe, and the Embassy be- host ministers and guests in Am- The implementation by author- Dutch investment, with Dutch lations are close between Neth- lieves, that this type of interac- sterdam and sometimes in other ities is a formal thing. But then know-how in the background. erlands and Georgia? tion can indeed bring people to- places, on specific subjects and again I come to hearts and minds The Spar shops that you find Yes, I think so. Whether you gether and that’s what we notice then we try to bring forward Eu- of people where the reforms here, is a Dutch concept. Not can say that for two countries I especially through our Facebook ropean integration and the Eu- should be internalized; i.e. that only as a brand name, but more don’t know, but people know page. The audience both in the ropean Union in particular. That is more difficult, because some- so as a concept of retail manage- how to find each other.