ON TRUMP SOCIETY PAGE 10 Fears On-Going About Trump's National Interests Vs
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Issue no: 897 • NOVEMBER 18 - 21, 2016 • PUBLISHED TWICE WEEKLY PRICE: GEL 2.50 Source: Stephen Crowley/The New York Times In this week’s issue... Stoltenberg to Russia: NATO- Georgia Joint Drills Carry No Regional Threats NEWS PAGE 2 Ukraine Fears Termination of US Funding POLITICS PAGE 5 Forced to Be a Hero: Ogden on Re-introducing Conscription POLITICS PAGE 7 Believe Foundation Hosts Third Sector Trainings in Georgia BUSINESS PAGE 8 Public Private Partnership Fund FOCUS Launched by San Diego State University in Georgia ON TRUMP SOCIETY PAGE 10 Fears on-going about Trump's National Interests vs. the foreign policy on which Georgia so much Tbilisi Zoo Presents depends PAGE 4-6 New Zoo Latest Developments Transparency International: Georgia is Leader SOCIETY PAGE 11 Unprecedented Italian in Region in Terms of Low Corruption Rate Glamor in Tbilisi CULTURE PAGE 13 BY THEA MORRISON Japan Comeback Gives Georgia on-Governmental Organization (NGO) Transparency Interna- a Cold Shower tional (TI) Georgia presented the results of the Global Corruption Ahead of Samoa Barometer 2016, which revealed Nthat Georgia is the regional leader for a low rate Clash of corruption. According to TI Georgia Executive Director SPORTS PAGE 15 Eka Gigauri, the reforms implemented in Geor- gia in the past are still effectively working against corruption now, but challenges remain. “While, generally, our citizens do not have to pay bribes anymore, there are some negative TI released the report People and Corruption: Europe and Central Asia. tendencies, particularly the government's anti- Source: Transparency International corruption steps which are assessed negatively. about their daily life experiences with corrup- (56 percent) said their governments had failed We have received recommendations related to tion. The report was presented in Berlin, Ger- to curb corruption. The governments of Ukraine prosecution and judicial independence. Further- many, on November 16. (86 percent), Moldova (84 percent), Bosnia and more, we need to set up an independent anti- The survey was conducted by the head offi ce Herzegovina (82 percent), and Spain (80 per- corruption service,” Gigauri stated. of the TI and its fi ndings show that over half the cent) were judged worst by their citizens. The new Transparency International report people in European Union (EU) countries (53 According to the survey, 12 percent of Georgian ‘People and Corruption: Europe and Central percent), EU accession candidate countries (53 respondents named corruption among the coun- Asia’ says that they spoke to nearly 60,000 citi- percent) and Commonwealth of Independent try's three main problems. zens in 42 countries in Europe and Central Asia States (CIS), and former Soviet Union countries, Continued on page 3 GEORGIA TODAY 2 NEWS NOVEMBER 18 - 21, 2016 Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of NATO. Source: radioiasi.ro Stoltenberg to Russia: NATO-Georgia Joint Drills Carry No Regional Threats on Tuesday, which claimed that the 10-day joint BY THEA MORRISON NATO-Georgia exercise near Tbilisi represents a threat to regional peace and stability. "Georgia’s neighbors Abkhazia and South Ossetia ecretary General of North Atlantic Treaty have also expressed concern. We all remember that Organization (NATO), Jens Stoltenberg, the statements made at the NATO summit in Bucha- has stated that the NATO-Georgia joint rest encouraged Tbilisi’s attack on the Russian military exercise underway from Novem- peacekeepers and civilians in Tskhinvali in August ber 10 to November 20 in Georgia, carries 2008,” the Russian statement said. Sno threats to regional peace and stability. Moreover, the Russian side stresses that the role The statement came in response to concerns that Tbilisi is trying to play prevents improvements expressed by Russia’s Foreign Ministry this week. in Russian-Georgian relations and underlines that “What NATO does is defensive, proportional and NATO “is doing nothing to hide its goal of military in full line with the Alliance’s international com- cooperation with Georgia, regarding it as part of mitments. We will continue cooperation with our its containment policy towards Russia.” close partner - Georgia,” Stoltenberg’s statement The NATO-Georgian drills are being conducted read. according to the cooperation package adopted at Georgia’s Foreign Ministry (MFA) also responded the NATO summit in 2014. The military exercise to Russia, saying the NATO-Georgia cooperation is being held on the territory of the NATO-Georgian is aimed at providing peace, stability and develop- Joint Training and Evaluation Center in Krtsanisi ment throughout the region, serving the interests on the outskirts of the country’s capital of Tbilisi. of all parties. The exercise involves over 250 servicemen from According to the MFA, the NATO-Georgian drills 13 countries and is the fi rst NATO-Georgia joint confi rm the fi rm Euro-Atlantic course of Georgia multinational brigade-level, Computer Assisted, as well as deep cooperation with the Alliance itself. Command Post exercise (CAX/CPX), which is Bollywood Masala “The NATO-Georgian drills allow us to make a included in the NATO exercises list. more important contribution in terms of strength- This is the second NATO-Georgia exercise to ening international security,” the MFA said. take place through the SNGP (Substantial NATO- Indian Restaurant The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement Georgia Package) framework. 2017 Tbilisi Draft Budget Criticized by City Council Opposition BY THEA MORRISON inority MPs of Tbilisi City Coun- cil (Sakrebulo) do not approve the 2017 draft budget for the capital city, published by Tbilisi Mayor Davit Narmania on Tuesday. Find your next great lunch or MThe opposition MPs say that the budget does not cover citizens’ interests or problems and is merely a pre-election document, as the local elections are dinner dining experience featuring to be held in 2017. The opposition United National Movement (UNM) members at the Sakrebulo stated they will not sup- time-honored recipes at New port the draft budget because the social sphere funding is being reduced by 29 million GEL (USD 11.62 million). Bollywood Masala Indian Restaurant “While unemployment has increased and the sary,” stated Elisashvili. majority of our citizens are in extremely critical The draft budget implemented by the Mayor’s conditions, the Mayor decided to reduce social Offi ce enlists several priorities. Development of funding. This means that either he does not know Tbilisi public transport is the top priority. In this what truly troubles Tbilisi residents or he just does direction, Tbilisi City Hall plans to allocate over not care,” UNM MP for the Sakrebulo, Irakli 62 million GEL (USD 25 million) while the total Nadiradze, said. budget will be over 800 million GEL (USD 322 mil- An independent MP of the Sakrebulo, Alexander lion). Elisashvili, also criticizes the Mayor’s Offi ce and Moreover, the budget draft also includes infra- says that they also reduced fi nancing for building structural projects and maintaining the historic preservation. Elisashvili is also one of those calling districts of the city as well as building more kin- on the Mayor to suspend the contract with parking dergartens and transforming Tbilisi into a greener regulatory company C.T. Park, whose work has and more ecologically-friendly city. been criticized heavily by Tbilisi residents many The draft budget also envisages reduction of times over and which has the exclusive rights to administrative costs by 16.1 million GEL (USD 6.44 arrange parking in the capital. million) and sharply reducing the bonuses fund by Tel: +995 551 526 000; +995 592 900 002 “Traffi c problems in Tbilisi will never be solved 9.3 million GEL (USD 3.72million). unless the contract with C.T. Park is suspended. I Tbilisi City Council MPs have until December 31 Add: Str. Kostava 44, Tbilisi, Georgia invite Mayor Narmania to a TV debate, where I to approve or reject the Tbilisi Budget for the fol- Email: [email protected] will prove to him that taking such step is neces- lowing year. GEORGIA TODAY NOVEMBER 18 - 21, 2016 NEWS 3 IWAG Announces 17th Winter Fair he International Women’s Transparency International: Georgia is Leader Association Georgia (IWAG) has announced in Region in Terms of Low Corruption Rate that the annual Winter Fair 2016 will be held at the Continued from page 1 policy decisions can be better scruti- TRadisson Blu Iveria Hotel on Saturday, nized; December 3, from 10 am to 6 pm. “Corruption is a signifi cant problem • Ensure the independence of the judi- The aim is to raise funds with a view all across the Europe and Central Asia ciary, particularly in EU accession and to supporting projects in Georgia with region,” said José Ugaz, Chair of Trans- CIS countries, by reducing the infl uence a focus on women, children and elderly parency International. “In EU countries, of the executive over the judiciary and people who are at risk due to poverty, many citizens see how the wealthy and prosecutorial services and including poor health and disabilities. those in government distort the system transparent and objective systems for Most projects deal with social, educa- to their advantage.” the appointment, transferal and dismissal tional or medical issues all over Georgia. Transparency International makes four of judges and prosecutors; All the work accomplished for this key recommendations to reduce politi- • Adopt and enforce comprehensive purpose by IWAG and its partners is cal corruption and help people speak up