Historic Sections of Mestia, Ushguli to Be Renovated Accessible Infrastructure To
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Issue no: 1155 • MAY 31 - JUNE 3, 2019 • PUBLISHED TWICE WEEKLY PRICE: GEL 2.50 In this week’s issue... China Set to Increase its Infl uence in Georgia POLITICS PAGE 4 Georgian Wine & Gastronomy in Japan FOCUS BUSINESS PAGE 7 ON SAAKASHVILI Meet Fred Smits, the GM at Back in Ukraine, what will he do next? PAGE 2,6 the New Sheraton Grand Image source: Kyivpost Tbilisi Metechi Palace BUSINESS PAGE 8 Historic Sections of Mestia, Ushguli to be Renovated Accessible Infrastructure to BY SAMANTHA GUTHRIE be Installed in Tbilisi BUSINESS PAGE 10 he Georgian Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure CENN Hosts EU-Supported has announced the next location in its plan for renovations of historic First National Seminar on towns nationwide. The town of TMestia and the village of Ushguli have been tar- Human Rights for Water, geted for rehabilitation and restoration works by the ministry. Sanitation & Hygiene Mesti and Ushguli are located in the Svaneti region. Mestia is the region’s largest town, with a year-round population of less than 2,000 peo- Image source: Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure ple, and an elevation of 1,500 meters above sea Earlier this week, the Ministry of Regional and possibilities for expansion and development. level. Mestia is 128 kilometers northeast of Zug- Development and Infrastructure announced the The Folklore Center will be a cherished place didi, the nearest city. Ushguli is counted as one completion of another project in Mestia: the not only for Mestia residents, but for its guests of the highest continuously inhabited settlements rehabilitation of the Leo Pilpani National and as well,” said Tskitishvili. in Europe at 2,100 meters above sea level. For Folklore Theater. At the opening ceremony on In an article written by Tskitishvili in April, most of the year, the road connecting Ushguli Tuesday, Vice Premier, Minister of Regional published by The Economist in Georgia, she to Mestia is unpassable, covered with snow and Development and Infrastructure of Georgia explains that “The MRDI strategically looks at ice. Approximately 70 families call the isolated Maya Tskitishvili, Executive Director of the Georgia’s history to identify potential develop- village home, many relying on income from busi- Municipal Development Fund of Georgia (MDF) ment hot-spots, targeting old resorts…for reno- nesses that cater to tourists who make the trek Giorgi Shengelia, Adviser to Prime Minister of vation and revival, hoping to create a tourist- SOCIETY PAGE 12 up, curious to see a glimpse of traditional Geor- Georgia Sozar Subari, and representatives of driven eco-system for a variety of businesses to gian high-mountain culture. Svaneti’s most dis- local authorities celebrated the center’s rebirth. thrive.” She adds, “Unfortunately, we are still tinguishing architectural feature is undoubtedly The GEL 4.7 million ($1.68 mln) project was busy building basic infrastructure in many set- One for the Diary: its stone towers, which were built attached to funded by the World Bank. tlements. There are villages where there are no homes as a watch tower and defense mechanism. “This is a Culture Center that will serve as a internal roads or water,” however, “in addition Echowaves 2019 The Municipal Development Fund will restore home for the residents of Mestia and Svaneti, to infrastructure, strong self-governance is nec- several towers in both locations, focusing on the but fi rst of all it will house the 90-year-old essary for the development of the regions.” Electronic Music Festival Lagami district of Mestia. The project will also Ensemble ‘Riho.’ This is an ensemble with a The ministry has several major rehabilitation renovate roads, install lighting systems, and con- great future and the renovated space will enable projects planned, among them in Abastumani, Set for August 22-25 struct a parking lot for visitors. its numerous members to consider new plans Dusheti, Gudauri, and Kutaisi. CULTURE PAGE 15 GEORGIA TODAY 2 NEWS MAY 31 - JUNE 3, 2019 Georgia’s Ex-President Saakashvili Is Back in Ukraine general who now leads the Movement BY THEA MORRISON of New Forces, earlier told Ukrainian news website Apostrophe that the party would run for parliament on July fter nearly two years fol- 21. lowing expulsion, the ex- Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chairman of the president of Georgia and Georgian Parliament, said he advises the former Governor of Ukrainian authorities not to appoint Ukraine’s Odessa Region Mikheil Saakashvili to any position, but AMikheil Saakashvili returned to Kiev on said that if it happens, this should not May 29. affect relations between the two coun- Saakashvili’s decision came after tries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelen- “You know how it worked out last time,” sky restored Saakashvili’s Ukrainian he said. “The result will be the same citizenship on May 26, which was deprived when it comes to the appointment of an from him in July 2017. avanturist to any position.” Upon his arrival at the Borisapol Air- Saakashvili served as the third presi- port, Saakashvli’s supporters met him dent of Georgia in 2004-2013 and the with a small concert and chants of "Misha, Governor of Ukraine’s Odessa in 2015- Misha." 2016. He supported Ukraine's Euromaidan “I have not come to Ukraine for revenge movement and the 2014 Ukrainian revo- or destruction: I came here to build,” lution. On 30 May 2015, then-Ukrainian Saakashvili told the media. President Petro Poroshenko appointed He said his arrival in Ukraine was very him as Governor of Odessa Oblast. He emotional as he had spent 12 years of his was also granted Ukrainian citizenship life in that country. The former Gover- but due to restrictions on dual national- nor of Odessa thanked President Zelen- ity under Georgian law, was stripped of sky for restoring his citizenship and his Georgian citizenship. named him a strong and independent On 7 November 2016, Saakashvili politician. resigned as Governor, blaming Saakashvili also noted he would do his Po roshenko for enabling corruption in best to bring new politicians to Ukrain- Odessa and in Ukraine overall. Four days ian politics. later, he announced the creation of a new “The only country where I am refused Image source: Kyivpost political movement. entry is Georgia, and I will soon go back lighted that there have as yet been no are fl oating his name as a possible can- Saakashvili, who has a political party On 26 July 2017, Saakashvili, at the time there too,” Saakashvili said, noting that talks about his possible appointment to didate for Prosecutor General to replace in Ukraine, the Movement of New Forces, staying in the US, was stripped of his when he was expelled from Ukraine two any posts in Ukraine. Yuriy Lutsenko, who has not prosecuted also claimed he personally wouldn’t Ukrainian citizenship by Poroshenko, years ago, he did not even take his belong- “I am not in negotiations about any anybody of signifi cance for corruption. participate in the upcoming parliamen- which was reinstated by Zelensky a few ings, because he believed he would be positions,” he told the crowd standing Lutsenko claimed he would leave his tary elections. days ago. back. outside the airport. post after the parliamentary elections However, his ally David Sakvarelidze, Saakashvili cannot return to Georgia The ex-President of Georgia also high- However, Kyivpost reports that some scheduled for July 21. a former Ukrainian deputy prosecutor due to the various charges against him. GEORGIA TODAY 4 POLITICS MAY 31 - JUNE 3, 2019 China Set to Increase its Infl uence in Georgia its railroads, roads and ports infrastruc- BY EMIL AVDALIANI ture inside the country, will become more attractive to China and its BRI. Indeed, there are signs proving this hina-Georgia relations since scenario. On 24 May, the Chinese Foreign the break-up of the Soviet Minister Wang Yi visited Georgia. This Union in 1991 have been is crucial as it is the fi rst offi cial visit of positive in both the eco- a Chinese foreign minister to Georgia nomic and overall political in 23 years. According to the Georgian Csense. However, they are often overes- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the focus of timated by analysts in Georgia and else- the minister’s visit was to understand where. Bilateral trade growth as well as more about Georgia’s future and its a gradual increase in Chinese investments potential as an important transit state. in Georgia have oft been hailed as excep- The visit to Georgia came as a part of tional and a marked sign of increased the Chinese delegation’s regional trip. Chinese infl uence over Tbilisi. China and Armenia on Sunday signed True, economic growth has been tak- an agreement for mutual visa exemption ing place, but this has been but a small for ordinary passport holders. portion of the real potential. In fact, The Georgian Ministry of Foreign despite analysts’ positive views, Georgia Affairs said that the visit to Georgia con- and the South Caucasus transit corridor fi rmed the “clear vision” of China regard- has yet to feature in offi cial versions of ing Georgia and its role in China’s plans the Chinese Belt & Road Initiative (BRI). for large-scale projects. Here, most likely Overall, China has been cautious. Rus- BRI was meant, a clear emphasis on sia’s factor too might have been at play Georgia’s potential as a transit state. when Beijing only minimally involved “Trade, investments, transport, as well ereignty and territorial integrity of Geor- The Chinese delegation’s visit follows was only paid to offi cial statements; no itself in the economy of Georgia. But the as partnership within the frames of inter- gia and other countries." the Georgian Minister of Infrastructure analysis has yet been made.