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16 - 22 JULY 2018 ISSUE N: 80 Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze Paid His First Working Visit to Brussels 18-20.07.18 BRUSSELS • The Georgian delegation headed by Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze held meetings with Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg, President of the European Council Donald Tusk, European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Johannes Hahn, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Belgium, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Didier Reynders and other officials. • Discussed: With NATO - all key issues within the scope of the integration of to NATO, including the results of the Brussels Summit and ways to implement it's the decisions. With EU - the positive trend in the wide array of aspects and current relations between the Council of Europe and Georgia, along with the prospects of future cooperation. “EU remains a strong supporter of Georgia's successful reform process[...] Georgia is situated in a challenging neighborhood, where it plays a crucial role as a facilitator and bridge builder” - Donald Tusk said. “We fully support Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations. At the Summit last week all 29 allies reaffirmed that Georgia will become a member of NATO.” - Jens Stoltenberg stated. MORE President of Italy Sergio Mattarella Paid His First Official Visit to Georgia

16.07.18 • In the framework of his official visit, President Sergio Mattarella together with the delegation held meetings with President , Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze, Speaker of the Parliament and other government officials. • Discussed: Bilateral relations, political, trade-economic and defense, situation in the occupied territories of Georgia as well as cultural and educational cooperation and regional projects. • Georgia-Italy Business Forum was held, bilateral memorandums signed. “I am proud and honored that I am the first President of Italy to visit independent Georgia, especially in the year marking the centennial of the First Democratic Republic of Georgia[...] We appreciate Georgia's European aspirations and the European path” - President Mattarella said. MORE Georgia Hosted the 5th Open Government Partnership (OGP) Global Summit 17-19.07.18 TBILISI

• Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze opened the Summit and addressed the participants. Discussions were held on civic engagement, fighting against corruption, public service delivery and etc. • The leaders from OGP’s 76 participating countries, local governments to exchanged ideas on how to make governments more transparent, accountable, and responsive to citizens. • Sophia - Hanson Robotics’ most advanced human-like robot addressed a plenary opening and took part in a panel discussion on public services. • Georgia assumed the role of the lead co-chair of the OGP Steering Committee in September 2017, taking over the chairmanship from France. MORE The U.S. Congress Held a Hearing on the Occupation of Georgia

17.07.18 WASHINGTON, DC • The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe held a hearing about the illegalities committed by Russia on Georgian territory. The hearing was titled "On Violations of the OSCE Principles and Commitments by the Russian Federation, and FOLLOW US ON: Severe Human Rights Situation in the Illegally Occupied Regions of Georgia – and Tskhinvali Region/”. • Ambassador of Georgia to US David Bakradze, Executive Vice President of the Atlantic Council Damon Wilson and /mfageorgia/ Director of the Allison Center for Foreign Policy of the Heritage Foundation Luke Coffey participated in the talks. /MFAgovge Ambassador Bakradze spoke about Georgian Government’s peace policy and an importance of the international /DZalkaliani community’s engagement in the peaceful resolution of the conflict. /MFAGEO “It is the absence of security for Georgia and Ukraine that has tempted Russia to occupy and annex their territory” - Damon Wilson stated. DEVELOPED BY: Strategic Communications Department “10 years later we should not forget that it was Russia that invaded Georgia, not the other way around. Russia is the MFA of Georgia aggressor, and Georgia is the victim” - Luke Coffey stated. MORE [email protected]