12-18 December, 2016 ISSUE № 8

•The President of Opens “ Strategic Discussions” •Prime Minister of Georgia met with Ambassadors of EU •MFA of Georgia welcomes the extension of the mandate of EUMM Georgia •Statement by the MFA of Georgia on the 38th round of the Geneva International Discussions •Foreign Minister attended first French-German Regional Ambassadorial held in Tbilisi •Council of Europe’s Action Plan for Georgia 2016-2019 presented at the MFA of Georgia •Turkish company invests $90m in Georgia’s Kheledula 3 Hydro Power Plant •Meeting of the BSEC Council of Foreign Ministers in Belgrade •Nomination of Georgian diplomat for Secretary General of the UNWTO

POLITICS The Opens “Tbilisi Strategic Discussions” 15.12.2016; Tbilisi - The President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili opened the conference of “Tbilisi Strategic Discussions” at the Presidential Palace. The conference dealing with the issues of national and regional security, was initiated by the President of Georgia and the National Security Council.

"Tbilisi Strategic Discussions" aims to offer to the representatives of the defense sector the inclusive format through which, as a result of professional discussions, priorities and challenges will be identified with regard to the country’s policy of regional security. More: http://e.gov.ge/tJHYF

Prime Minister of Georgia met with Ambassadors of EU 14.12.2016; Tbilisi - EU Ambassador to Georgia Janos Herman hosted the Prime Minister of Georgia and the ambassadors of EU member at his residence. The heads of diplomatic missions congratulated on the advancement of Visa Liberalization for Georgia's citizens to the final stage and emphasized Georgia's significant progress. The discussion at the meeting involved issues under the 2017-2020 Association Agreement. The parties also discussed Georgia's ongoing and planned reforms.

More: http://e.gov.ge/AqmSx

MFA of Georgia welcomes the extension of the mandate of EUMM Georgia 12 .12.2016; Tbilisi - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia

welcomes the decision of the Council of the European Union on the extension of the mandate of the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia until December 14, 2018.

The EUMM is the only international mechanism in Georgia, which significantly contributes to security and stability, confidence building and prevention of escalation of situation on the ground after the war between Georgia and Russia in 2008. More: http://e.gov.ge/wUpZR

Statement by the MFA of Georgia on the 38th round of the Geneva International Discussions 13-14.12.2016; Geneva- Within both Working Groups intensive discussions were held on severe security, human rights and humanitarian situation on the ground.

The participants from Georgia raised the issue of ongoing occupation of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions and condemned the ratification by the Russian Federation of the so-called agreement on the joint group of armed forces, which represents another step towards the annexation of the occupied territories of Georgia. More: http://e.gov.ge/rsHTb

Foreign Minister attended first French-German Regional Ambassadorial held in Tbilisi 16.12.2016; Tbilisi - Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze delivered a speech on French-German regional ambassadorial meeting and expressed his gratitude on the decision of France and Germany to hold the regional ambassadorial meeting in Tbilisi that highlights the special Georgia-France-Germany relations. More: http://e.gov.ge/qZbbn

“Our relations with France and Germany have been highly successful since the restoration of Georgia’s independence and the two countries have made a very important contribution towards the democratic development of our country as well as towards strengthening Georgia’s economic ties on its European and Euro-Atlantic integration path” - Mikheil Janelidze

Council of Europe’s Action Plan for Georgia 2016-2019 presented at the MFA of Georgia 14.12.2016; Tbilisi – Georgian Foreign Ministry hosted the presentation of projects under the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2016-2019 that underlines the cooperation with the Georgian Government in the implementation of reforms in such areas as human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The aim of the meeting was therefore to obtain funds for the implementation of the aforesaid projects. More: http://e.gov.ge/qpSdr ECONOMY Turkish company invests $90m in Georgia’s Kheledula 3 Hydro Power Plant 15.12.2016; Tbilisi - Georgia’s Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Energy and Anadolu Tasıt Ticaret A.S. Energy Group Coordinator Tugban Izzet Aksiyom signed a deal to start construction of the new power station “Kheledula 3” which will be built on Khedula River in Georgia’s lower Svaneti region. Turkish company Anadolu Tasıt Ticaret A.S. will invest $90 million to build the 50.77 megawatt Hydro Power Plant (HPP) in Georgia. More: http://e.gov.ge/UTXLH

Meeting of the BSEC Council of Foreign Ministers in Belgrade 13.12.2016; Belgrade - The 35th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) member states was held in Belgrade. The Georgian delegation was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister David Jalagania gave high assessment to the progress Serbia has achieved during the period of the BSEC chairmanship in the spheres of the development of the BSEC-EU co-operation, as well as sectorial co-operation. It was underlined that the existing conflicts in the region impede the development of the economic relations of the BSEC member states. More: http://e.gov.ge/mLqCG

GEORGIAN MISSIONS ABROAD Nomination of Georgian diplomat for Secretary General of the UNWTO 13.12.2016; Madrid – An event dedicated to nomination of Georgia’s candidate – Zurab Pololikashvili for Secretary General of the UN World Tourism Organization was held in Madrid. During the nomination Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Mikheil Janelidze highlighted the priority importance of tourism in Georgia, which plays a leading role in the economic development of the country. More: http://e.gov.ge/viSif