Issue no: 1011 • DEC. 28 - JAN. 8, 2017/18 • PUBLISHED TWICE WEEKLY PRICE: GEL 2.50 In this week’s issue... WHERE to Go, Stay, Eat, Drink & Buy This Winter NEWS PAGE 3 Disappointed: President of the Eastern Partnership Institute on Georgia’s Jerusalem Stance Whenever I read Vazha-Pshavela, POLITICS PAGE 4 I’m more and more assured in the Saakashvili as an Inspiration simple truth that you can’t always POLITICS PAGE 9 be a hero, but you should always remain a human being Psych War Xmas: Svaneti SOCIETY PAGE 12 Cancer Control Measures: ON PM KVIRIKASHVILI’S Raising Awareness in Georgia FOCUS PRIVATE LIFE & PAST Exclusive comments from the Georgian PM on his private life and New Year memories PAGE 8 SOCIETY PAGE 12 Tifl is Meidani: A Gastronomic Christmas & New Year in Georgia: Journey at the Crossroads CULTURE PAGE 13 What Do Foreigners Think? Georgian Alphabet INTERVIEWS BY TOM DAY Brought to Life hristmas and New Year are the most through Art anticipated celebrations of the year CULTURE PAGE 15 for Georgians, probably because it is yet another excuse to lay out an enormous feast (or ‘supra’)! The CNew Year Supra starts on December 31 and con- tinues all the way up to January 14 (including Bedoba [Day of Luck] on January 2 and Christ- mas on January 7). Celebrating New Year over two weeks and Christmas on this day are strange concepts for expats and tourists. It’s not just the dates that are different; the Georgian traditions are too. The Western cultures are compelled to buy a Christmas gift for everyone they know, whereas Georgian’s only give gifts to close family and friends. Continued on page 10 GEORGIA TODAY 2 NEWS DECEMBER 28 - JANUARY 8, 2017/2018 Tbilisi Mayor Talks about Structural Reforms & Future Projects Mikheil Janelidze, Vice Premier, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia with Dursun Hasanov, Ambassador of Republic of Azerbaijan to Georgia Georgia and Azerbaijan Celebrate 25 Years of Photo source: Kakha Kaladze Tbilisi Mayor Diplomatic Relations local government have been cancelled, ings had been issued in the last month BY NINO GUGUNISHVILI enabling Tbilisi Municipal services to by the municipal supervision agencies, bilateral relations; the neighborhood and work more effectively. related to construction safety violations BY NINO GUGUNISHVILI cooperation that we have today is exem- The Tbilisi Mayor also talked about and illegal constructions. Further, 500 plary. This cooperation is important and bilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze the Orbeliani Square rehabilitation pro- illegal land constructions were identi- resultative not only for our countries discussed the structural ject, noting that a parking lot will be built fi ed, 270 of which submitted to legal eorgia and Azerbaijan but also for the region. We have man- and future projects planned, on the territory, alongside pedestrian actions. celebrated the 25th anni- aged to realize strategic projects together; during a weekly city gov- streets and the renovation of the build- Kaladze stressed that special vehicle- versary of mutual diplo- projects that link Europe and Asia,” ernment meeting on ings in the area. cleaning areas need to be established on matic relations on Decem- Janelidze said. TDecember 26. “The project will cost approximately construction sites to prevent said vehi- ber 26, with a concert of “In the future, we will undertake more Kaladze announced that 35 families GEL 52 million and 2000 people will be cles taking construction dirt beyond the Gthe Ganja State Philarmonic Orchestra steps for this partnership, to make this living in the Tskneti area will now legally employed. It’s very important for us that site. at the Shota Rustaveli State Theater, friendship more visible to all our part- own homes for a symbolic price. people that have been living there for “Every construction site must have organized by the Embassy of Azerbai- ners and friends, so as to bring even “We’ve started working in this direc- many years feel comfortable and, most such areas and no construction permits jan in Georgia. more tangible results for our country tion actively lately, giving families a pos- importantly, safe. The condition of the should be issued without them,” the Mikheil Janelidze, Vice Premier, Min- and for all countries interested in part- sibility to own their homes for a symbolic buildings there needs to be much better Mayor said. ister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia nership and cooperation,” he added. price. These are the families that have and, after the rehabilitation, this will be Kakha Kaladze also talked about the addressed the attendees of the event, Dursun Hasanov, Ambassador of Repub- been living in Tskneti for years and had one of the best places in our city,” Kaladze upcoming New Year celebrations to be noting the deep historic links existing lic of Azerbaijan to Georgia, also deliv- no previous chance to legally own their said. held in three different locations through- between Georgia and Azerbaijan and ered a speech, highlighting the strategic homes,” Kaladze said. In the last month, At the weekly meeting, the Mayor also out the city: in Gldani, Varketili and Old the growing potential of relations between partnership and talking about future this amounts to 132 families. talked about illegal constructions and Tbilisi, pointing out that public transport the two countries. perspectives of the relations between He went on to note that 19 previously stricter rules to be established for con- is to work free of charge on December “We have surely achieved the peak in Georgia and Azerbaijan. existing commisions established by the struction norms. He noted that 216 warn- 31. New Dormitory for Tbilisi State University Students Opens at Lisi 100th anniversary. TSU Deputy Chan- includes a library and areas for sports BY THEA MORRISON cellor, Lasha Saghinadze, says that at and other activities. present the campus has 50 university “We received the fi rst wave of students students, but the building can accom- at Lisi dormitory on December 1. Grad- European standards dormi- modate 320. ually, we will increase that number. We tory for Tbilisi State Uni- The monthly fee for campus residents also plan to accommodate students of versity students was offi - is 150 GEL, but for socially vulnerable exchange programs here,” the TSU cially opened near Tbilisi’s students or those who live on campus Deputy Chancellor said. Lisi Lake on December 26. with their siblings, the fee will be reduced He added that the next stage of online AThe building was opened by the Edu- to 120 GEL. Students with an excellent registration for dormitory use will be The new dormitory already houses 50 students but is able to accommodate 320 cation Minister of Georgia, Mikheil academic record will also see benefi ts announced in January 2018. the restoration works at the old campus toration works of the Bagebi campus and Chkhenkeli, and Tbilisi State University in terms of dormitory payment. Saghinadze said that the majority of will start as soon as the Ministry of its infrastructure will be launched,” he (TSU) Rector, Giorgi Sharvashidze. 20 of the dormitory rooms have been students still live in the Bagebi dormi- Economy hands the buildings to the State added. The campus building was transferred adapted for people with disabilities. tory, which was built in 1975, and needs University for disposal. At present, around 300 students live from the Education Ministry to TSU The TSU Student City at Lisi consists renovation. “Negotiations have already begun and on the old campus where the monthly in connection with the university’s of four buildings. The campus also The Deputy Chancellor explained that as soon as we reach agreement, the res- payment is 50 GEL. GEORGIA TODAY DECEMBER 28 - JANUARY 8, 2017/2018 NEWS 3 WHERE to Go, Stay, Eat, Drink & Buy This Winter responsible work we do. give us an even more important reason BY GEORGE SHARASHIDZE, The WHERE.ge December-January to spread the word on the Georgian tra- PUBLISHER & GENERAL MANAGER issue is full of recommendations and dition of feasting, with a focus on the updated information about Where to Go special must-have dishes of the season, and Stay during the wonderful winter which in Georgia lasts from December he Winter issue is out! Check season in our famous and rapidly-devel- 25 to ‘Old New Year’ on January 14, with out the Where.ge team’s oping ski resorts, including Bakuriani, two major holidays in between – New top tips of what to do and Gudauri and Svaneti. Year’s Eve on December 31 and Orthodox see this holiday season! Our Eat and Drink sections are always Christmas on January 7! We close the current year full of the best gastronomic ideas, but In 2018, we pledge to keep to our mis- Tcelebrating that your favorite travel guide the New Year and Christmas holidays sion to provide travelers from around PASHA Bank Funds Planting WHERE.ge now stands the world with the most as winner of the pres- accurate information about tigious ‘Welcome to Where to Go, Stay, Eat, Drink of 2018 Trees within Georgia! National Tour- and Buy in Georgia. This ism Awards 2017!’ in the ambitious goal will be nomination of Best Mar- achieved through the ‘Aghadgine’ Campaign keting Campaign of a recently launched web por- Tourism Destination! tal www.where.ge, with an s a New Year gift for its lecting paper for recycling, where com- On behalf of the whole innovative service compo- partners, PASHA Bank is panies donate used paper and in return team of WHERE.ge, I nent embedded in the web- to plant 2018 trees as part for each kilogram, 13 Tetris are trans- would like to thank the site - a 24/7 travel consul- of the ‘Aghadgine’ campaign ferred to the ‘Aghadgine’ campaign; jury members, leaders tancy and service providing that aims to recover the • 1,000 Georgian Oak (Quercus Iberica) and opinion-makers of by WHERE.ge professional Aburnt territory of Borjomi forest.