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www.georgiatodaygeorgiatoday.ge.ge IssueIss no: 821 • FEBRUARY 26 - 29, 2016 • PUBLISHED TWICE WEEKLY PRICE: GEL 2.50

In this week’s issue... Read. Learn. Enjoy. Introducing Georgia Today/ Education NEWS PAGE 2 UK PM Strikes Deal over Special EU Status, Possible Brexit Looms POLITICS PAGE 5

Lying in Kim Chang-Gyu, the acting Wait: Camp Ambassador of South Korea to Georgia explains Burjanadze FOCUS how South Korea became ON DEVELOPMENT the success it is today, and what Georgia could learn AND EDUCATION from it PAGE 8 POLITICS PAGE 6 Meet the AlphaMedic Personal Data Protection in Georgia Consortium Members Approaching World Standards BUSINESS PAGE 9 Child Brides, Child Mothers BY MAKA LOMADZE PersonalData: arcserveafrica.co.za SOCIETY PAGE 10 ecently, a number of videos were shown on TV to educate citizens about personal data protection and Artist of the Month: The their rights. The Personal Data Protection Inspector’s Offi ce has Animal Portraits Rexisted in Georgia since 2013. According to the statistics of 2015, around 120 people applied, over of Tama 1200 consultations were given and 65 trainings and public lectures were delivered in which 1600 citizens took part. GEORGIA TODAY inter- Popkova- viewed Nino Tsagareishvili, representative of the Foreign Relations Department of the Inspec- Kapanadze tor’s Offi ce. Continued on page 2 CULTURE PAGE 15 GEORGIA TODAY 2 NEWS FEBRUARY 26 - 29, 2016 Read. Learn. Enjoy. Introducing Georgia Today/ Education

ear friends and future readers, For us the process of Dlearning is so important that we’ve decided to dedicate an entire publication to it. Now this is unusual, actually it is an anomaly when it comes to global trends, because every year, every day, there are fewer and fewer newspapers in print on the planet. News is becom- ing digital. And that is a good thing because it indicates pro- gress in technology. It is the difference between the world that you’ve grown up in and the one that we (we’re 30-something years old!) have watched change and evolve so quickly. Just imag- ine this: antibiotics, perhaps the most important medical technol- ogy, did not exist until World War II. We were around ten years old when we fi rst heard about the inter- net. We marvel at the technology that for so many of you is just normal. We also know that not all of it is a good thing. You see, so much tech, data and sheer information came into our lives so quickly that sometimes phones, but it is for that very stories. We hope that you will interact we have to take a step back and really reason that we continue to learn. with us and become more than just read- talk about what it means for the people Each month we are going to ers through Twitter, Facebook and email. we care about the most. Also we want bring you stories about people, The bottom line (another English term) to tell you this: There is power in the about technology, about inno- is that we want to connect with you and printed word, in holding something like vative new kinds of business to share some stories each month that this very newspaper in your hands. It in Georgia and even some- we fi nd fascinating. Sure, it’s strange to means that not just one person wrote times about how it all fi ts into be reading about technology in a printed their feelings on Facebook or in a Word- the larger global picture— newspaper, but irony can be a beautiful press blog, but that a lot of people- the what fancy people call ‘for- thing. It reminds us that the world around writer, the editors, the publisher, the eign policy.’ We are going to us is not constructed in binary code: designers, etc., all believed in the power include an English dictionary at the bot- black and white, off and on, right and of those words too, believed enough to tom of the page to explain the words wrong, one and zero. So if you fi nd your- print them. you see in bold, an Info Box to explain self reading about technology in a news- That is why this article is sitting in rub”: It never ends. We think that every about the company or person in the arti- paper or about Lebowski on a laptop, we front of you right now. We wanted to about education, hence the title. Sure, human being on earth is still a student. cle in more detail, and a Food for Thought hope it brings a smile to your face and say “Hello” on paper and to make it offi - this means that we hope that students The cleverest people out there already box to get you thinking and debating that you know we are smiling, too. cial, to connect with you and tell you a are going to read it—we even hope that know this, and they never stop learning. “outside the box.” And we are not going little bit about what we are going to do this may end up in some classrooms. But We at GEORGIA TODAY are students, to write long pedantic articles to try and Until next time, in our new monthly publication, what here’s the thing about being a student, too. We may have some grey hairs and convince you that we are smart. We Will Cathcart and Katie Ruth Davies we hope to do together. This paper is or what in English slang we call “the remember what life was like before cell simply are going to share some exciting Editors, Georgia Today/Education Personal Data Protection in Georgia Approaching World Standards

Continued from page 1 HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO data controller to update the data if the APPLY TO THE PERSONAL data is incomplete, inaccurate, not WHY WAS IT DECIDED TO DATA INSPECTOR? updated, or was illegally collected and ESTABLISH THIS SERVICE? An individual can submit a complaint processed. Sucha request may be sub- The Law of Georgia on Personal Data regarding an alleged violation of data mitted either in writing, orally or by Protection, which entered into force protection rights online (by sending an electronic means. Within 15 days of the in 2012, foresees the establishment of e-mail or via Facebook) or call request being received, a data controller a supervisory authority - The Personal +995322421000. is obliged to update the data or to inform Data Protection Inspector in order to the data subject of the grounds for refusal. eral remedies to data subjects: this could • Insist on temporary or permanent supervise and monitor the lawfulness WHERE CAN SOMEONE The service is free of charge. be through the Court or the Offi ce of the termination of data processing; of data processing and the implemen- FIND INFORMATION ABOUT Personal Data Protection Inspector. The • Insist on termination of data process- tation of data protection legislation. THEIR PERSONAL DATA? WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE latter mechanism is cost effective and ing, their blocking, deletion, destruction The establishment of this institution Generally, one can get such information BETWEEN THE APPROACHES of course takes less time than cases dealt or depersonalization; was also an obligation under the 2001 from the organization that processes the TO FOREIGNERS AND with in Court. The Inspector can utilize • Insist on termination of data transfer Additional Protocol to the Council of data. Various categories of data processed GEORGIANS IN YOUR SYSTEM? different measures to enforce the Law, to other states and international organ- Europe Convention 108 regarding by public or private organizations are There is no difference between foreign- such as: izations; supervisory authorities and cross- also available online on the Inspector’s ers and Georgians in our system. We • Force the elimination of the violation • Give written advice and recommen- border data fl ows. Further, the visa website through the Filing System Cat- treat each and every complaint and case and the defi ciencies related to data pro- dations; liberalization process with the Euro- alogues. If someone is interested what equally, without distinction. cessing; • Impose fi nes. pean Union necessitated carrying out is implied by personal data and how to comprehensive reforms in the fi eld of control such data, he/she can apply to HOW CAN WE BE SURE data protection, including the adoption the Inspector’s Offi ce for a consultation. OUR PERSONAL DATA MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR of relevant legislation, its practical IS WELL-PROTECTED? I would like to apologize for the incorrect photograph which accompanied the implementation, effective operation of CAN A PERSON UPDATE In case of alleged violation of data pro- article “Polish Foreign Minister on Ukraine, Georgia and Russia” in this week’s the Inspector’s Offi ce and raising pub- THEIR PERSONAL DATA? tection rights, the Law of Georgia on printed issue of GT/Business (#820/15) which showed Frank-Walter Steinmeier lic awareness. A data subject is entitled to request the Personal Data Protection provides sev- instead of the interviewee, Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykovsky. GEORGIA TODAY FEBRUARY 26 - 29, 2016 NEWS 3 Ownership of Paris Leuville Let’s Read Aloud writers of the project, Toresa Mossy, it is BY EKA KARSAULIDE Chateau to Be Transferred to a unique opportunity for authors to meet their readers and potential readers. “Mostly, reading a book is a relationship or the fi rst time Georgia joined between reader and book, the writer is the World Read Aloud Day, always somewhere apart. However, today Georgia which is celebrated in more we had an opportunity to communicate than 100 different countries on with the readers and understand what February 24. Thirty-fi ve Geor- they like or not and their experiences,” Fgian authors visited schools, universities, she said. bookstores, libraries and read their works In the framework of World Read Aloud BY EKA KARSAULIDZE aloud to audiences. Day in Georgia, besides public readings, The World Read Aloud Day was fi rst the puppet show ‘Travelling through organized in 2010 by the Lit World organ- Books,’ was organized, with one actor he ownership of the Leu- ization. The main aim of the project is to performing parts from different children’s ville Chateau, which is motivate children, teens, and adults world- books. “When we were children, all of us located near Paris, is wide to celebrate the power of words and dreamed of travelling into the worlds that expected to be transferred create a community of readers taking books opened to us. Perhaps today we to Georgia on the county’s action to show the world that the right don’t read aloud, but we will bring books TIndependence Day. The announcement to literacy belongs to all people. The to life and hope that after the performance came during the visit to the Georgian organization does not have strict rules of children be tempted to read the books Embassy of France of State Minister for signing a contract. And how this day should be celebrated; each themselves,” said Magda Revishvili, the Diaspora Issues, Gela Dumbadze, and it would be signifi cant country does it in its own way. creator of the Travelling through Books Minister of Justice of Georgia, Tea Tsu- to have the moment “Naturally, our main goal is to raise the project. lukiani, mid-February. of transfer coincide issue of the promotion of reading and its At the end of the day, the winner of the Descendants of the members of the with the 25th anniver- importance. In addition, many are not Best Book Supporter Award was fi rst government of the Georgian Dem- sary of Georgia’s inde- familiar with our modern authors who announced in the Writers House, Tbilisi. ocratic Republic, Members of the Board pendence, which will write excellent works. That is why we It was given to a person who has been of Trustees of Leuville, attended the be celebrated on May decided that these people should read most actively involved in the process of meeting along with the ministers. The 26,” said Minister Tsu- their works on that day,” said Gvantsa popularizing reading in recent times- fi nal meeting and the agreement regard- lukiani. Jobava, organizer of World Read Aloud Georgian politician, Doctor of Philology, ing transfer of ownership of the Leuville The fi rst information Day in Georgia and the Head of the Geor- and Professor, Levan Berdzenishvili, who Chateau is expected in April. about the Leuville Georgia for Diaspora Issues announced gian Publishers and Booksellers Asso- conducted about 150 lectures in different The Georgian Government first Chateau’s return to Georgia came in that the Leuville Chateau is to be turned ciation. universities of Georgia as well as in pub- acquired the Leuville Chateau at the 2004, when the Board of Trustees of into a Georgian academy for Georgian Georgian writers read excerpts from lic spaces in 2015. beginning of the 20th century, when Leuville sent a letter to the Georgian artists and historians. “It will be a kind their books, and then initiated lively dis- “Psychologists have proved that while members of the Menshevik government government in which they said that they of analogue of the Roma’s Villa Medici,” cussions with audiences in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, reading, a person experiences the same left Georgia due to the Sovietization of had never considered the Leuville as stated the Ministry. Minister Dumbadze Batumi, Zugdidi and Telavi on February emotions as if they actually took part in the country, emigrating to France in their property. “According to the deci- himself noted that the Leuville Chateau 24. Jobava also noted that their project the story. Thus, reading gives you a unique March 1921. Also on the territory of the sion of the fi rst government of the Geor- is a place of extreme importance for has aroused such interest among the opportunity you should not miss,” said estate is a Georgian cemetery ‘Leuville- gian Democratic Republic, we only tem- Georgia, a little part of Georgia in France. citizens that where they were unable to Berdzenishvili. sur-Orge,’ where the remains of hundreds porarily owned the estate until the The Government of Georgia has allo- arrange a meeting, people themselves Organizers of World Read Aloud Day of immigrants have been laid to rest. restoration of our country’s independ- cated more than EUR 100,000 to maintain gathered, invited local authors or just stated that it is to become an annual event “This is tremendous progress for us to ence,” the letter said. the venue and carry out works towards read their favorite books aloud. in Georgia and they are going to reward be able to talk about the possibility of The Offi ce of the State Minister of the above-mentioned future project. According to one of the participant book supporters each year from now on. GEORGIA TODAY 4 POLITICS FEBRUARY 26 - 29, 2016 America and NATO Supporting Georgia’s Security

Giorgi Kvirikashvili Prime Minister of Georgia, and Milos Zeman President of the Czech Republic A Brew of Interest: PM Visits Czech Republic The White House. During the visit to the Czech capital, the PM-led Source: www.tastemade.com BY ZVIAD ADZINBAIA Georgian delegation also held a working dinner with leading Czech companies that plan to invest At an August 2015 meeting between Georgia’s BY ZVIAD ADZINBAIA in Georgia. Defense Minister Tinatin Khidasheli and US Defense eorgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kviri- In the informal environment, Georgia’s economy Secretary Ash Carter, the US announced plans to kashvili met with his counterpart, and the investment opportunities were broadly allocate USD 20 million to assist in the develop- Czech Prime Minister Buhuslav discussed. For one it was decided to build a Czech n February 11, the US White House ment of Georgia’s armed forces. Sobotka and President Milos Zeman, brewery and a factory in Georgia. announced that the US will spend “This includes more US troops in Georgia, more as part of an offi cial two-day visit to In addition, as part of the visit, the Georgian PM USD 4.3 billion in Eastern Europe support to the Georgian army, Georgian defense theG Czech Republic on Monday. met with Georgian students studying in the Czech and the former Soviet Union in 2017 and security, in order to be ready for all the chal- PM Kvirikashvili and PM Sobotka discussed Republic. The dozens of undergraduate and grad- to combat Russia’s aggressive behav- lenges that exist in our region – that’s the main deeper political and economic cooperation between uate expat Georgians enrolled in the top Czech iorO in the region. pledge of this partnership. Every day brings more the countries, as well as the EU’s upcoming visa institutions, spoke with PM Kvirikashvili about The statement said that the decision comes as a progress and results in this regard,” said Minister liberalization process for Georgian citizens. various social, political and economic topics. response to Moscow’s increasingly confrontational Khidasheli. At a joint press conference following the meet- “You are vitally important to our country and we and bellicose approach to its neighbors, most of Meanwhile, amid the Middle East tension and ing, PM Sobotka reaffi rmed Prague’s support for think that you should engage in the development whom were once Russian imperial dominions. Ukraine’s hybrid war with Russia, NATO has sent Georgia’s territorial integrity as well as Tbilisi’s of your country as soon as possible,” the Georgian The White House said the funds will be spent on four naval war ships to Georgia’s Black Sea port of Euro-Atlantic integration aspirations, saying Geor- Prime Minister told the Georgian youngster. “This shoring up the US’ political, economic and diplo- Batumi as part of a scheduled month-long training gia had proved its reliability as a stable partner. is inevitable, since our country is becoming increas- matic leverage in the region. mission. PM Kvirikashvili stated that his government values ingly interesting to youth who have acquired edu- The funds also provide for increasing military The naval contingent is part of NATO’s Rapid more robust political and trade relations with the Czech cation in Western universities.” support to the countries most at risk from Russia’s Response Forces (RRF), which is currently under- Republic as part of the EU’s Eastern Partnership. The PM briefed the future leaders about economic aggressive posturing, such as Georgia. going an Alliance-wide overhaul of its defensive Along with the government and the President, and infrastructural projects in Georgia and dis- Known as the European Reassurance Initiative, capabilities in light of Russia’s belligerent actions the Senate of the Czech Republic expressed its full cussed adopted foreign policy related measures. the plan will enable the US to expand its number in Ukraine and Syria and Moscow’s ongoing major support toward Georgia’s European and Euro- He added that considerable success achieved by of military exercises and training, sustain a larger military buildup in the Black Sea region. Atlantic aspirations. The Georgian delegation and Georgia in the visa liberalization process is posi- continuous rotational presence in Eastern Europe, The ships are participating in joint exercises and Chair of the Senate, Milan Stech, discussing pros- tively assessed by the EU member states including enhance its preparedness to reinforce NATO allies training missions with Georgian naval and marine pects of deepening relations between the two states. the reforms conducted by the government. The through the prepositioning of equipment and build forces. Stech emphasized the reforms implemented in PM declared that the reforms, namely, the 4-pillar the defensive capacity of partner states in the for- NATO’s United Naval Forces commander Giorgio Georgia and the country’s success achieved on the plan will move the Georgian economy to a new mer Soviet Union to enhance their inter-operabil- Lazio said in Batumi on February 12 that “the mis- path to European integration. stage of development. ity with the US military and NATO in order to sion has come to demonstrate NATO’s support as strengthen regional security. well as stress our strong and mutually benefi cial “This will include bolstering our capabilities cooperation with Georgia.” across the region to counter Russian aggression, Late January, the Washington Post in a publica- with a particular focus on Ukraine, Georgia, and tion stated that Georgia is not on the verge of a Moldova,” the White House document says. Kremlin-inspired political takeover, but nor is According to Euro News Georgia, the amount growing Russian infl uence a fantasy. will, along with democracy promotion, economic According to the publication, the government in development and Euro-Atlantic integration, help Tbilisi is doing just about everything right. “But Georgia resist Russian aggression. expansion fatigue in the United States, and espe- The information says the fi nancial aid will be cially Europe, is breeding fatalism in Georgia, and focused on enlargement of energetic and economic incubating a political environment where pro- possibilities for the population that tend to Russia’s Russia factions’ anti-west crusades are gaining infl uence. traction. “NATO Does Not Need To Be Everywhere”

deploy permanent BY ANNA KALANDADZE bases in its front- line states because of the gross nature he Washington DC-based expert com- of threats. And munity gathered at the Heritage Foun- while I do not dation to discuss new ways NATO think NATO could defend its member states and should provide show more support to non-member Article 5 protec- George Benitez, Atlantic Council Tcountries. Voice of America’s Georgian team were tion to non-member states, it should help them to able to catch some exclusive comments regarding more actively increase their defense capabilities, this topic and more specifi cs on Georgia: strengthen domestic resilience and help them pro- tect their national sovereignty, because its in NATO’s GEORGE BENITEZ, ATLANTIC COUNCIL and in Europe’s interests to keep the national sov- I think NATO needs to have a more proportionate ereignty of all states in Europe. response to Russia’s threat in Europe. It needs to Continued on page 8

Tel: (995 32) 2 45 08 08 10 Galaktion Street E-mail: [email protected] GEORGIA TODAY FEBRUARY 26 - 29, 2016 POLITICS 5 UK PM Strikes Deal over Special EU Status, Possible Brexit Looms

BY NICHOLAS WALLER

K Prime Minister David Cameron emerged from marathon negotiations in Brussels last week with a deal that gives Britain an unparalleled amount The question for British voters this coming June will of autonomy within the European be whether they see the country’s future through the UUnion. prism of imperfect 21st century cooperation or 20th Cameron walked into the negotiations with a bevy century isolationist sovereignty, Source: independent. of demands and came away with promises, but not co.uk legally binding agreements, from other members sia and the Islamic State while Britain’s business of the world’s most powerful economic bloc. community has warned that a Brexit would severely The drawn-out continuous talks with sceptical harm the UK’s position as a global fi nancial center, continental EU members ended with several con- isolate the country from its lucrative trade with cessions from Brussels that would keep the UK out the EU and diminish the pound sterling’s privileged of the EU’s doctrine of ‘ever closer union’, allow it position on the global currency market. and other non-Eurozone countries to trigger debates Further compounding the problem, nationalists over European economic policy and an immediate in Scotland, who were trounced in a September seven-year moratorium on in-work benefi ts for EU 2014 referendum on the country’s independence, citizens residing in the United Kingdom. have said a Brexit would immediately trigger a new Cameron faces a stiff uphill battle as he attempts drive to dissolve the United Kingdom. to sell the package of agreements to the British Johnson, one of the country’s most popular poli- public in the race towards a June 23 referendum ticians, and the No camp argue a Brexit would on Britain remaining a constituent part of the EU. restore Britain’s historic sovereignty and demo- Opponents who advocate for the UK to leave, a cratic accountability for governmental decisions, so-called ‘Brexit,’ argue that the European court of both deeply rooted institutions that many in the justice could overrule Cameron’s EU deal. country believe have been compromised by the Downing Street steadfastly claims the agreements bureaucratic nature of a Britain-skeptic European are legally binding and can be only overturned with Parliament. the full consent of the British government. The No’s can point to widespread support for Opposition to Britain’s continued membership Britain opting out of its EU membership. Recent in the bloc is led not by the opposition Labour Party polls have shown that roughly half the voting pub- and its resolute leftist leader Jeremy Corbyn, but lic has a viscerally negative view of the European by Cameron’s own Conservative Party, with Lon- Union. don’s fl amboyant Tory mayor Boris Johnson lead- Cameron has called the impending referendum ing the ‘No’ campaign. a watershed moment in recent UK history. The Cameron and his supporters, including the top question for British voters this coming June will brass in the military, warn that leaving the Euro- be whether they see the country’s future through pean Union could hinder the UK’s ability to deal the prism of imperfect 21st century cooperation or with global threats including Vladimir Putin’s Rus- 20th century isolationist sovereignty. GEORGIA TODAY 6 POLITICS FEBRUARY 26 - 29, 2016

Nino Burjanadze’s decision is not to ‘leave Lying in Wait: the battlefi eld’ but rather to ‘lurk’ and wait for the favorable moment when the UNM and Georgian Dream will once again annoy the majority of voters Camp Burjanadze

stand on a completely dif- Movement and the Georgian Dream will ferent political platform. once again annoy the majority of voters Patriotic Alliance and its with their squabbling in the Kutaisi Par- leader Irma Inashvili would liament, voters who like certainty and be a good example, not to unambiguousness. This, plus some gen- say anything about the ret- eral confusion and obscure political rograding wing of the ruling I always say that moves from the ruling party added to Georgian Dream (GD). It seems the mix. that the electorate that is oriented Saakashvili was a As Gia Khukhashvili says, exactly this towards the Kremlin really appre- obscurity might lead to failure for GD ciates the straightforwardness of sadist, but he had a because if the ruling political party does Ms. Nino, as the December NDI not know what it really wants, it is surely polls showed- a solid 4% for Bur- goal and a target. doomed to be defeated. “I always say janadze over Inashvili’s Patriotic that Saakashvili was a sadist, but he had Alliance. Obviously, 4% is not He had a fi gurative a goal and a target. He had a fi gurative enough for success in the Par- gun and fi red at his enemies. Today, this liamentary elections. How- gun and fi red at his gun is in the hands of GD, but due to ever, for such an experienced their mentality, they neither fi re it at political fi gure as Nino Bur- enemies. Today, this others nor want to give it up. That is janadze, it still means a lot, why, from time to time, they accidentally especially if we take into con- gun is in the hands shoot themselves in the foot,” says sideration that the same NDI Khukhashvili. It is truly hard to guess poll revealed some 36 % of vot- of GD, but due to what the governing Party really wants. ers have not yet decided who Not so for Burjanadze, who has made a to vote for. Political analyst Gia Khukhash- their mentality, they clear point of her choice in favor of the also the Speakers of Duma and the Fed- vili says that if we imagine that today’s Kremlin. OP-ED BY ZAZA JGHARKAVA eration Council. Burjanadze claims her government is somewhere in the street, neither fi re it at Therefore, it is too early to “write off” frequent visits merely serve the purpose it is not unimaginable that exactly Nino Nino Burjanadze: she hasn’t gone any- of “melting the ice” that has formed Burjanadze would be that leader to pick others nor want to where far – she is merely lying in wait ino Burjanadze was in between Tbilisi and Moscow since 2008. up at least part of the majority from the for an ambush. For four years already, Moscow. Again. For the Nevertheless, it is obvious that her vis- pro-Russian camp. give it up. That is the 60 % - 40 % proportion, formed in former Speaker of Parlia- its serve a completely different purpose: The sincerity of a politician about what October 2012, has been creating turbu- ment, this is already the the upcoming Parliamentary elections. his or her goal is and how he or she wants why, from time to lence and a constant sense of contro- fourth meeting with the If we closely observe the political moves to achieve it makes it easier for voters versy which adepts of democratic NRussian authorities in the last seven that Nino Burjanadze, the leader of the in any country to make their choice. time, they romanticism call ‘pluralism” and what months. Although this time Burjanadze Democratic Movement-United Georgia Therefore, everyone who thinks that in reality is categorically unacceptable didn’t meet Vladimir Putin, she did have takes, we will see that she is the only Nino Burjanadze is a politician of the accidentally shoot to the socio-psychology of our people. time to visit high ranking offi cials dur- active politician who openly and unde- past is deeply mistaken. The ex-Speaker’s Just the right moment for the ex-Speaker ing her week-long stay. Deputy Foreign niably cooperates with the Kremlin. decision is not to “leave the battlefi eld” themselves in the to appear on the stage holding her Rus- Affairs Minister – Giorgi Karasin, for Unlike leaders of other parties who but rather to “lurk” and wait for the sian vector with a big chance of a suc- example, who is overseeing Georgia, and secretly express their fondness yet openly favorable moment when the National foot cessful hunt!

GEORGIA TODAY 8 POLITICS FEBRUARY 26 - 29, 2016 In Endurance, Grow Strong: A South Korean Lesson for Georgia

looking to deepen our cooperation with the public economy. What made us achieve that? I think the BY VAZHA TAVBERIDZE and civil sector, share experience, and learn from safest bet would be to say that we relied on the each other. We are working in several fi elds, among brains of a young, open-minded generation. In the them export of Georgian goods to Asian markets, sixties, the government asked every South Korean f there is a genuine success story of 20th improving aspects of public transportation here, student that was studying abroad, mainly in the century state-building, it has to be that of and sharing know-how in technology. An interest- US, to come back to teach what they’d learned. We South Korea’s, a war-torn country without ing aspect of our collaboration could also be the created a very attractive environment for them – any natural resources or geographical advan- tourism sector – for example, South Korea, like the salary of a university professor was at times tages, armed only with the iron will and Georgia, is a mountainous country. We have a mod- higher than that of a minister and the President! – WOULD YOU ALSO SAY THAT THERE Idesire to improve - rising to prominence and becom- ern, well-developed winter resort system – in fact, South Korea became an education-driven country, LIES ANOTHER LESSON FOR GEORGIA? ing one of the world’s most advanced states. South we are preparing to host the 2018 Winter Olympics. which in turn led to the success in the fi eld of tech- I would say it is only natural to assume that you Korea’s is an example Georgia could learn much We are ready and eager to share our experience in nology that our country is so proud of today. should be ready to defend yourself. In South Korea, from. The diplomatic residence of South Korea this fi eld with our Georgian colleagues, as winter it’s mandatory to serve several years in the army was recently opened in Tbilisi, and GEORGIA sports and tourism happens also to be one of Geor- SPEAKING OF TECHNOLOGY, in your youth. Of course there are young people TODAY sat down with the Kim Chang-Gyu, the gia’s chief tourism priorities. All in all, I believe YOU’VE RECENTLY PAID A VISIT who don’t share the enthusiasm, but it is a genera- acting Ambassador of South Korea to Georgia, to our cooperation will only result in success for both TO TBILISI TECH PARK. WHAT tion which didn’t have to go through the hardships discuss what the two countries can offer each other. countries. WERE YOUR IMPRESSIONS? of war and rebuilding as their parents and grand- I was impressed with how driven and energetic parents did, so maybe there is a lack of ability to WHAT IS YOUR COUNTRY’S POLICY IN THE RISE OF SOUTH KOREA FROM people were there and it is indeed a step in the see the big picture playing a role here. GEORGIA? WHAT IS THE MESSAGE YOU A DEVELOPING COUNTRY TO ONE right direction. We created our analogy to the Tech BRING TO THE GEORGIAN PEOPLE? OF THE WORLD’S MOST ADVANCED Park almost half a century ago, in the 60s. It was NORTH KOREAN MISSILE TESTS AND There are a lot of historical similarities between IS INDEED A GREAT SUCCESS an investment in the future and it paid off greatly THE RECENT ROCKET LAUNCH IS the people of Georgia and the people of South STORY. HOW DID IT HAPPEN? – I think you could say that all those world famous ENOUGH OF A STERN REALITY TO KEEP Korea. Both nations are thousands of years old, the Back in the 1950s we were presented with an exis- South Korean companies that you hear so much PEOPLE IN CHECK. WHAT IS YOUR geography is very similar, and we both had to fi ght tential dilemma: we realized that we had to either about, such as Samsung and Kia, owe their exist- GOVERNMENT’S POSITION ON THIS? IS constantly for our survival throughout our history. signifi cantly change our mentality, the way we ence to this technocratic wave that happened back THE INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNATION Like Georgia, South Korea doesn’t boast a lot of viewed the world, or we would cease to exist as an then. I am more than certain that, with correct SEVERE ENOUGH PUNISHMENT? natural resources that you could build on in mod- independent nation. And this realization, and the management, it will pay off greatly for Georgia, First of all, I would like to thank the Georgian Min- ern times, but we both have heart and brains to subsequent choice we made to adapt and survive, too. istry of Foreign Affairs for their statement con- fi ght for a better future. That, I think, sums up the brought about that rise. Great economic reforms demning North Korea’s actions. It’s a very impor- message I bring. As for our policy here, we are were introduced that led to an export-oriented DESPITE BECOMING AN ADVANCED, tant step for us, it means people realize how big a WELL-DEVELOPED COUNTRY, SOUTH threat it is; that it is not a danger that is confi ned KOREA STILL SUFFERS FROM TERRITORIAL to just one country and one region- it should be a DISPUTES WITH ITS NEIGHBORS. WHAT cause of alarm for the whole world. I’d like to IS THERE FOR GEORGIA TO LEARN FROM underline that the satellite rocket launch was pre- THE EXAMPLE OF SOUTH KOREA? ceded with hydrogen bomb test earlier that month. As I said earlier, throughout their history, both This is a challenge for the whole international Georgia and South Korea had to fi ght for survival. community and we are cooperating closely with Our lands are situated in a geographical position international forces to devise a mechanism of pun- where there are some big actors playing their games. ishment and prevention of such actions in the The ability to maintain your policies in such a future. After the emergency meeting at the UN situation is a big challenge, but I would like to think Security Council, a consensus was achieved over my country is doing that and would advise Georgia further sanctions on North Korea. The world’s to do so, too. Neighbors, friends, third parties can major powers, including the United States and offer valuable advice, share their experience and China, are right now negotiating over the scale of so on, but they cannot dictate what to do – you, the sanctions. As for us, I think our President’s Georgian society, must make up your own mind response sums up our stance perfectly: She said about what direction you want your country to go that Seoul is determined to make North Korea real- and evolve in. ize its nuclear ambitions will result only in accel- erating its “regime collapse”. That is our agenda SOUTH KOREA HAS THE WORLD’S SIXTH and we will rely on the international community LARGEST NUMBER OF ACTIVE TROOPS to achieve it. “NATO Does Not Need To Be Everywhere”

Continued from page 4 I know Geor- gia and Ukraine A NATO training facility for Georgia was agreed are often upon at the Wales NATO Summit in 2014. It became lumped in the operational last year. Now there is a tangible NATO same category presence in Georgia that did not exist before, and I but, frankly, think such signs of cooperation are good steps for they could not NATO but also positive developments for Tbilisi. be more differ- ent. Ukraine is LUKE COFFEY, HERITAGE FOUNDATION nowhere near First of all, NATO needs to get back to basics, to that goal, not Luke Coffey, Heritage Foundation its original founding document, the Washington even close whereas Georgia has been progressing Treaty of 1949, and start thinking about preserving for membership for several years. Now, NATO territorial defense and the territorial integrity of needs to send a political signal that the NATO its member states. NATO does not need to be eve- enlargement dream is still alive. The Alliance did rywhere, doing everything, but it needs to be able the right thing to send Montenegro an invitation to defend its members’ territory in the north Atlan- but it also needs to show that it is serious about tic region. That said, NATO needs to pursue a Georgia’s membership. I think US and NATO allies policy, and offer the right equipment and troops could provide advance anti-tank missiles to Geor- for its members in this region, for example to the gia to show that it cares about Georgia’s defense. Baltic States where there is a potential for confron- So I think its time to send Georgia a strong signal: tation. But NATO should also keep the door open “You’re on the right path, be patient, we will get for countries like Georgia who aspire to join the you there - the door is not closed.” Alliance some day. We must make sure that Geor- gia remains on a path towards eventual NATO Link: http://www.amerikiskhma.com/a/luke-coffey-jorje- membership. benitez-interviews/3199349.html GEORGIA TODAY FEBRUARY 26 - 29, 2016 POLITICS 9 Georgia in, Britain out? Ogden on EU

The European Union is a house party being hosted by the father of a teenage girl trying to be cool by letting her awful friends run riot around his house. Membership Source: statusmagonline.com

The only thing that I am sure of about rorists to countries in which they are UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands OP-ED BY TIM OGDEN the European Union is that the damn wanted, as in the case of Abu Qatada. and Scandinavia are close enough in thing is far too big and comes up in con- EU will is being similarly imposed in the economic terms to be productive. It is versation and my Facebook feed too context of the current refugee crisis. unlikely that one would have to bail out he European Union is a damn frequently. The latter is hardly There are benefi ts to EU membership, the other, as EU member states have house party being hosted surprising; the United Kingdom will such as visa-free travel throughout the been forced to do with Spain, Greece by the father of a teenage soon vote whether to stay in the Union continent, but neither Norway nor Swit- and Ireland. Yet confl icting ideas over girl trying to be cool by let- or not, and every day I read or hear about zerland are members of the European immigration and security would still ting her awful friends run Georgians pining for membership. Union, and one never hears of Norwe- render the model unworkable. Triot around his house. Dad tried: he What generally seems to be forgotten gian or Swiss citizens being stranded at Though Georgia’s love affair with the ordered pizza and set the Nintendo Wii (by the British, the Georgians, and almost passport control with a crowd of Syrian EU is waning (due to years of rhetoric up on the television; he even provided everyone else) is that the EU began solely refugees. Neither are Norway and Swit- and undelivered promises from Brus- a few bottles of alcopops and concealed as an economic union, branded at the time zerland prevented from trading with the sels), the majority of Georgians still want his surprise when the kids produced as the European Economic Community maniac friends that we are all humans, EU despite not being members. Interest- their country to become a member state. vodka and bourbon whisky from school [EEC]. When the UK joined back in the and differences in nationality and culture ingly enough, when voting against EU It is not hard to see why when one con- backpacks. Yet the pizza was devoured ‘70s, there was no mention of continental no longer matter. This, of course, is tripe. membership in the 1970s and again in siders the annoying necessity of visa without thanks, the Wii ignored, and as laws that would supersede its own legisla- I resent being referred to as ‘European’ the 1990s, Norwegians listed ‘sovereignty’ travel and the ease of working in a coun- the children go mad and show no respect tion; indeed, the possible introduction of by Americans; our islands are on the as the primary reason for voting ‘no’. try with a more productive economy. for his home and possessions, Dad does European law was fl atly denied by then- continent, but historically we have strived On reading this, you might get the However, it is debatable that the EU his best to pretend to his furious wife Prime Minister Edward Heath. Subsequent to be independent from the mainland, impression that I’m anti-EU. Far from it. would protect Georgia from future Rus- that it’s alright, really, it’s just kids. Actu- claims that Heath admitted in later years and I would not feel at home in Lisbon, I am against the creation of a suprana- sian aggression; Moscow has made it ally, it’s cool…but then he hears the omi- that he had lied to the public and knew in Athens or Warsaw. Not that I wouldn’t tional European state and the fact that quite clear that it is not afraid to rattle nous creaking of bedsprings upstairs just advance that European legislation would like to visit, of course, but were I a pol- EU countries are limited as to how much the sabre at Poland and the Baltic states, before a window is smashed, and then take hold in Britain have never been strongly itician, I would not think to dictate laws trade they can do outside the Union, as but it is unlikely that the world would the front door bursts open as more teen- challenged, and the notion that the found- in Portugal, Greece or Poland, since I well as the obligatory fi nancial bailout risk a major confrontation with Russia agers rush in. Wait, though, these aren’t ers of the EU had supranational ambitions am not one of their people and under- of countries who might be more careful in their defense. Besides which, it isn’t friends of his daughter, these are the from the EEC’s inception is diffi cult to stand little and less about the subtleties if they knew they didn’t have the eco- hard to imagine Georgians marching rough kids from down the road who quell; if the EEC was never intended to of their culture and way of life. As things nomic EU net to save them when they down Rustaveli Avenue protesting that haven’t even brought a cheap bottle of evolve into some form of a European Fed- stand, EU institutions can meddle in fall. However, I’m all for visa-free travel EU laws are nothing to do with Georgia. vodka with them…best not admit what eration, then all-encompassing laws would national legislation, such as the way in and easy continental residence; who The year could prove interesting. Geor- a terrible mistake this was, though, and never have been introduced. which the European Court of Human wouldn’t be? gia in, Britain out? As the Russians have take the wife on a cruise this year… We are frequently told by multicultural Rights can block the deportation of ter- Some form of the EU could work; the it, ‘time will show’.

BUSINESS Meet the AlphaMedic Consortium Members

and equipment to patients and various recommendations to government offi ces, facilities in the fi eld. developers, architects and offers the best “Our Consortium is able to develop solutions in the healthcare sector. The fi nancially valuable projects. Other com- professional team of the company has panies frequently submit their projects, implemented many projects in the USA, but those projects are not valuable and Great Britain, Ireland and many other balanced and therefore are destined for countries in Europe and Asia. The com- failure. AlphaMedic does its best to make pany consultants have carried out USD its projects vivid and direct fi nances into 1.3 billion projects in the healthcare sector. the correct bed to implement realistic The company holds unique experience processes,” Leo McKenna, the Alpha- in implementing such health projects, Medic Consortium tenders development where it has to overcome major chal- manager, noted. lenges in terms of both medical equip- AlphaMedic is a consortium of partners ment and developing investment projects that operate in the healthcare infrastruc- and operation performance. ture and service supply fi eld. The Con- MFK, with 20 years of experience, is sortium develops projects for coopera- specialized in world-standard medical tion between the state and private sectors equipment. MFK operates in environ- (PPP). The AlphaMedic Consortium mental, healthcare and labor safety direc- members are Keppie Architects, The tions. Consumer-oriented MFK provides Health Partnership, MFK, FESP, which the best offers in the fi eld of medical are famous for their professionalism and equipment. profi ciency on the global level. The company operates in the health- Keppie Architects operates in the care sector with qualifi ed experts that, healthcare, education and commercial along with expert knowledge and skills, sectors. Founded in 1854, the company enjoy strong technological support in has 100-year experience of operation in all projects. Besides services, MFK offers the hospital sector and records a history the models based on the best solutions of PPP model cooperation for many dec- that are adapted to the local interests. ades. The company is oriented on developing The company is specialized in engi- cost-effi cient projects jointly with part- s part of the cooperation and discussions at the Health Ministry, distinguished companies with numerous neering management and development. nership policy and this enables partners between the public and with the participation of heads of the years’ experience and stable fi nancial From the recently developed projects to develop business and receive the best private sectors, three Tbi- mentioned hospitals, were held on Feb- resources. They will combine and inte- we should stress Scottish major NHS results. lisi-based hospitals will be ruary 9-11. grate the West’s best practices into this infrastructural and Forth Valley Royal FESP has been operating in the fi eld rehabilitated by investing Three companies submitted offers for project. We will receive the best unity clinics. of production and construction projects Aabout 0.5 billion GEL. the state-announced tender as part of of clinics that will become the region’s All facilities of the company are ori- since 1994. The FESP team is famous for Namely, Tbilisi Children Infectious the medical clinics development project. leading complex,” representatives of the ented on sustainable development with models adapted to traditional and exclu- Clinic Hospital, the former Republican However, only the Austrian-based Alpha- Georgian Ministry of Health said. “This a scope of constructing effi cient, eco- sive and special requirements worldwide. Hospital and the Universal Medical Medic Consortium submitted the right 21st century project absolutely differs nomic, long-term, energy-effi cient and The company outlines specifi c require- Center (the former oncology center) proposal. from all other previous projects.” adapted facilities and complexes. ments of the consumers, manages the will be rehabilitated. The Georgian Health Ministry posi- The Consortium provides a supply of Moreover, all projects are special by processes and risks and provides abso- Georgian Minister of Health, David tively appraised the medical clinics health services and other options in the functional and social component in that lute guarantee for achieving the deter- Sergeenko and Partnership Fund Execu- development project submitted by Alpha- infrastructure fi eld. It implements PPP they call for a creation of job places and mined goals. The very special method- tive Director, David Saganelidze attended Medic. “The high-level investors are Projects on a global level. AlphaMedic development. ology for process management enables the presentation of the medical clinics interested in this project. In Georgia, the was founded in Vienna, Austria. The The Health Partnership is a consulting the company to affect the fi nal outcomes development project. Working meetings Consortium is represented by the world’s company will supply both medications company in the health sector that gives and business success. GEORGIA TODAY 10 SOCIETY FEBRUARY 26 - 29, 2016 Child Brides, Child Mothers reduced in the past years but it is also important chosen for her. She is married and, despite her to raise public awareness about this issue.” young age, has already endured the tragedy of a Expert of the Civic Development Institute, Tamar child-death. Her friend Kheyala still dreams of Mosiashvili, said educational activities would be becoming a doctor– but it is up to her parents to most effective with both girls and their parents. decide whether she will wear a white wedding “A director of one of the local public schools in gown or to let her dreams come true and allow her Marneuli district gave a lecture about the health to go university. problems that may be caused by early marriages and invited experts to speak about it,” Mosiashvili The publication was prepared in the frame of a project said. “After a while, a parent approached the direc- implemented by the Human Rights House Tbilisi with tor and told him that they had postponed the mar- fi nancial support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the riage of their engaged daughter – the lecture helped Netherlands in Tbilisi. Human Rights House Tbilisi is to hinder at least one early marriage and make an responsible for the content of the article and the views immediate impact.” within do not necessarily refl ect those of the Embassy of Nargiz already lives with the life her parents have the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Following an emergency cesarean, 15-year-old Nargiz, lying in the room of a maternity house, is full of maternal joy. She does not know yet that her baby was born dead

wanted to marry a girl older than 18. Men prefer BY LEYLA MUSTAPAEVA to marry young girls: they do not know much about life and it is easier to govern them.” Offi cial information states that 341 girls left school fter delivery Nargiz, lying in the room for the purpose of marriage in Marneuli munici- of a maternity house, is full of mater- pality in the past 5 years. nal joy. She does not know yet that Jabrail Mirzaev, who received a religious educa- her baby was born dead and is choos- tion in Turkey and then returned to Georgia, said ing a name for her. that he, along with a number of other Imams in ANargiz lives in Marneuli municipality. A year ago, Georgia, does not give permission for early mar- at the age of 15, she married Orkhan, who is ten riages. However, he said it had yet to have a posi- years older than she (not their real names). Nargiz, tive impact. “In the face of our refusal, they fi nd like many other girls in her village, got married mullahs to bless them in marriage.” after fi nishing the ninth form of school. In the Civil Code, the minimum age for marriage She was taken to hospital with heavy bleeding in Georgia is 18. Before December 2015, girls aged and doctors were unable to save her baby. 16-18 could get married with permission from their Gynecologist Vazha Baramidze, who performed parents. On the initiative of the Ombudsman of the caesarian section on Nargiz, said he hardly Georgia, the law was amended and now 16-18 years managed to save the life of the mother. The doctor old girls must get permission from the court as said pregnancy and child-delivery at an early age well as from their parents to get married. is dangerous for young girls. The single school in the village of Mskhaldidi, “Nargiz was 27 weeks pregnant and her baby had which is inhabited by ethnic Azerbaijani people, already died when Nargiz was brought to the hos- only operates to grade nine. Kheyala, 15 (false name), pital. Pregnancy is particularly diffi cult for girls at said her parents do not want her to continue edu- the age of 13-15 before the pelvis is well-developed. cation in the school of the neighboring village. “We For that reason we often have to do caesarian sec- don’t have a doctor in the village and I wanted to tions. Three years ago a 13-year-old pregnant girl study well and become one, but to do that I have was brought here; she had her second child at 15, to fi nish public school and then go to University. I and third at 16. We did caesarian sections each know my parents won’t let me do it. I expect they’ll time.” arrange a marriage for me once I fi nish ninth form.” Early marriages often result in birthing children In accordance with Article 150 of the Criminal with disabilities or child mortality. Code of Georgia, a person who supports underage In accordance with the UN Convention on the marriage is punishable by community labor for Rights of a Child, a person under the age of 18 is a 200-400 hours. Head of the gender equality depart- child and marriage under 18 is classed as an early- ment at the Ombudsman’s Offi ce, Ekaterine Skh- marriage or a child-marriage. According to UN iladze, said that Article 140 of the CCG states that data, annually up to 14 million girls get married sexual intercourse or other acts of a sexual nature under the age of 18 worldwide. In 2014, 17% of with a person under 16 is punishable by imprison- women in Georgia got married under 18. Early mar- ment for up to 7-9 years. “Not long ago a person riages mostly happen in the Autonomous Republic was imprisoned who had married an under-age of Adjara and Kvemo Kartli region, which are girl. Now they have a child, but the marriage took inhabited by religious and ethnic minorities. place when the girl was under 16. Their marriage Since the marriage of under-age girls is prohib- can be registered under law but sexual intercourse ited by law, ethnic Azerbaijani people living in with a 15-years-old girl is not permitted,” Skhiladze Georgia marry underage girls with the support of said. a Mullah. The Marneuli district police unit refused to give “When you see a 15-years-old girl wearing engage- us statistical data related to the kidnapping of ment earrings, you know that the boy’s family has under-age girls for the purpose of marriage. already received consent from the girls’ family,” Chairperson of the organization ‘Azerbaijani one of the Imams of Iormuganlo village said. Women,’ Leyla Suleymanova, said that the stricter Zina Shahverdieva, 70, recalled that she was law has already had a positive effect. “Restriction engaged at the age of 15. “Two years later we had of parents’ rights to give permission for underage a wedding. At that time parents’ word was law for marriages has reduced the number of marriages. children and early-marriage was a tradition. Nobody The number of kidnapping of girls has signifi cantly

The English - Speaking Union

ინგლისურ ენაზე მოლაპარაკეთა კავშირი Creating global understanding through English Patron: Her Majesty The Queen President: HRH The Princess Anne

Invites 16-20 year old young Speakers to take part in the Public Speaking Competition

SPONSORED BY

The theme of the competition is “Integrity has no need of Rules”. Speakers may interpret this theme in any way they see fit, but they should not use the theme as their title. Each speaker will be allocated 5 minutes. The competition will be held in two rounds. The first round, March 14, at the English Language Centre “British Corner” (Vake Park). The second round will be held on 29th of March. The theme of the second round will be announced later. The competition is sponsored by the Bank of Georgia and British Petroleum ESU – Georgia will send the lucky winner to London in May to take part in the finals and organize 5 day stay in England. The deadline for registration is March 11. Contact us: The English Language Centre “British Corner”, Vake Park (entrance from I. Abashidze St.). Tel.: 557 400033, 5 77 477050; 5 55 302512 E mail: [email protected]; www.esugeorgia.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnIKLMa7rBA GEORGIA TODAY FEBRUARY 26 - 29, 2016 SOCIETY 11 Helping the IDPs: One Student’s Story

social-economic integration; improve their living BY TINATIN MESKHI conditions; reduce their dependency on the State, and to coordinate activities with the international community. The government then began to develop very child has the right to be protected standard operating procedures with the assistance from harm. These rights are among the of the UNHCR, aimed at improving the protection ones set out in the Convention on the of IDP rights. IDPs from both groups receive Rights of the Child. Agencies such as monthly cash benefi ts disbursed by the Social Ser- UNICEF (United Nations Children’s vices Agency (SSA). Most children displaced as a Fund)E are committed, in Georgia and world-wide, result of the war in August 2008 were enrolled in to ensuring special protection for the most disad- new schools within three months. vantaged children- victims of war, disaster, extreme To date the author of this article has made a great poverty, all forms of violence and exploitation, and deal of investigation into the topic of Internally those with disabilities. Displaced Children in Georgia but also by fund- In Georgia in the early 1990s, the confl icts in raising for Internally Displaced Children. Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions resulted in the On 19-21st October 2015, the author organized a displacement of over half a million people. Further three-day football tournament with accompanying displacement took place in 2008 following an armed ‘bake sales’ in order to raise money for IDP chil- confl ict with Russia. The majority of ethnic Geor- dren, carried out with the involvement of many gians who fl ed Abkhazia and then Tskhinvali region/ volunteers. The funds raised (500 GEL) were trans- South Ossetia, have not yet been able to return. In ferred to the No2 IDP school in Vashlijvari. The accordance with data from the Ministry for Inter- author also visited said school where she met the nally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Ter- director, Nana Jalagonia, to discuss conditions and ritories, Accommodation and Refugees of Georgia problems within the school. At school there are 28 were forced to share one bathroom. The school, as and saw the kind, happy and thankful faces as the (MRA), there were 256,528 Internally Displaced certifi ed and qualifi ed teachers. Pupils there study Director Jalagonia rightly points out, is their life. children heard about my own school and its aims Persons (IDPs) in Georgia as of 31st December the Georgian curriculum with the addition of stud- While the funds raised were initially set out by to raise money for them. While talking to them, I 2010, of which 65,412 were under the age of 18. Most ies in the Aphazian language, which is an elective this author to buy encyclopedias for the school, thought I was talking to students who were being IDPs originate from Abkhazia and over 60 percent subject from Grade 10. The school is small, occu- Director Jalagonia explained that the number of educated in the most expensive schools. Despite live in the cities of Tbilisi, Zugdidi and Kutaisi. pying just one fl oor, and is attended by 107 students books currently at the school is suffi cient as the the poverty of their current ‘home,’ they had some- Internally displaced children can be found living of which 77 are IDPs from Abkhazia and South government annually provides them a variety of thing special- the richest imagination and steady in very poor conditions, suffering the psychologi- Ossetia. As the director highlighted, the mix of books. belief in the future. I hope that our school contri- cal trauma of displacement. Not fully integrated IDPs and local students is essential for the IDPs to bution will be supported by other organizations locally and facing social stigma that leads to feel- better integrate and to establish their place in soci- THE AUTHOR SAYS: and I do believe that other schools will follow our ings of inferiority and further isolation, they also ety. “I’ll never forget the happiness of the school direc- steps to help the No.2 IDP School in Vashlijvari. need health care and education. Director Jalagonia’s desire is to make the lives of tor- she wasn’t before able to imagine such kind- Following the 2008 war, the Government of Geor- these children a little easier through her school ness. I know that 500 GEL is nothing for these Tinatin Meskhi is a 10th Grade student at the New School gia quickly realized that returning the IDPs might and students. On the second fl oor of the school people, but I think the feeling that they have some- International School of Georgia. She participated in the not be feasible in the foreseeable future and that was the place where the IDP children were grow- one willing to help them is very important. We 5th Platon School Model United Nations conference in measures needed to be taken to promote their ing up (following displacement). Over 10 families (myself and my school-mates) went into every class Athens (Greece) on Children’s Rights in the 21st Century. Natakhtari to Allocate Getting their Tongues 150,000 GEL Bonus Budget to the National Rugby Team around the Georgian Language

OP-ED BY NUGZAR B. RUHADZE

t is some sort of taboo in Georgia – as incom- prehensible as it seems to be – to remind a certain category of Georgian citizens of the desirability, if not the necessity, to speak Georgian in Georgia, where the Georgian Ilanguage is constitutionally recognized as an offi - cial state language. The segment of citizenry of Georgia I am talking about does not speak Geor- gian, has no desire to learn it, and often gets irri- tated if you try to speak Georgian to them, answer- ing you back in Russian, the language of communication in the former Soviet Union. Yet, they were all born in Georgia, have grown up here and have no intention of moving elsewhere. Surely nowhere else in the world would this hap- eorgian national rugby team and Moreover, under the Memorandum, Natakhtari pen. It is considered normal everywhere to speak What’s the hub of the matter here? Is it that the Natakhtari company have signed a will allocate an additional 150,000 GEL bonus the language of the country you are living and try- Georgian language does not deserve to be recog- sponsorship agreement under which budget for the 2019 world cup, The aim of both ing to survive in. If the main law of the land has nized as the language of communication, and thus the Georgian National Rugby Union donations is to boost the motivation of the rugby ruled it that Georgian be the state language, why be spoken? Maybe it is the unconcerned attitude will receive 1 million GEL from the players and the development of the sport as a is it deemed acceptable that some of our citizens of this nation about the nonchalance of certain companyG for 4 years. whole. are not ready to use it in everyday life, and do not citizens towards the state language of the Republic. “Natakhtari believes in the higher potential of Rugby is our game and this is expressed in the even make an attempt to have at least a smattering Maybe we are afraid to exacerbate separatist atti- the Georgian rugby team and I thank the rugby various formats of our cooperation, including in of it. How come somebody has the right to defy tudes – let the vicious sleeping dogs lie! players, the Rugby Union and all people who have sponsorship. I hope many other Georgian com- this constitutional provision so openly and persis- How about the government which entertains not contributed to the development of rugby in Geor- panies will join in this manner,” said Gocha Sva- tently? enough will and means to have its subjects operate gia,” said Tornike Nikolaishvili, Natakhtari mar- nadze, Georgian Rugby Union President said. An even more regrettable fact is that the Georgian with the help of the language of the state they are keting director. “This is a great stimulus and responsibility for non-speakers are isolated from the local culture in charge of. It could also be the politicians who This agreement has extended the 8-year coop- us. This is not only our merit. We believe rugby and national goings-on. The impression is that they do not want to overly ‘bother’ their electors, thus eration between Natakhtari and the Georgian will be further popularized because of it,” Rugby are living in a totally different country with abso- securing their valuable votes. Rugby Union by an additional 4 years. Player Merab Sherikadze said. lutely different ideals and aspirations. Continued on page 12 GEORGIA TODAY 12 SOCIETY FEBRUARY 26 - 29, 2016

Torch Time: Etseri, Svaneti When all were assembled, we faced feast later that afternoon as I still had BY TONY HANMER east. The elders held up specially pre- other guests, plus a barn of animals, pared round fl atbread loaves and bottles needing attention at home; and why of moonshine for each family, and should my wife have all this burden to amproba again, the Festival beseeched the local powers (here per- herself? So with regrets, I said my good- of Torches. I’ve celebrated sonifi ed in St George) for a good year byes and plodded off. My Canadians, this important annual Svan for each family in turn, ending each with however, sent their man to the feast, event in a few different com- a sung “Haaaaaa-men!” where he joined most of the local men’s munities over the years, each The bonfi re was a much needed res- choir, Riho, and even led quite a few of withL its own version and even date: Ush- pite from the chill of below-freezing their songs. More on him, and them, in guli, Mestia and central Etseri. Once, weather, and it slowly sank its way into another article soon. He made quite an even, on the shores of Tbilisi Sea. That more snow than anyone there could impression there, knowing so many Svan counted because it was still hosted by remember there being for a late-Febru- songs. And he may well write a book on FOR SALE Svans. But this was my fi rst time in lower ary date, not being put out by the snow the subject, the fi rst ever in English. If Etseri, starting from the ancestral home but winning over it in a circle several there’s one thing this part of the world 9,8 ha non-agricultural, privately owned parcel for industrial use of my blood brother, despite my having feet across. My blood brother’s guest, is rich in, it’s culture. lived here all these years. And he came a refugee from Tskhinvali who has had (cadaster code # 01.19.26.004.088) up from Tbilisi for it, too. We were to completely reinvent his life in Tbilisi Tony Hanmer runs the “Svaneti Renaissance” remembering an important military vic- and Agara, told us of the deep woe of Facebook group, now with over 1300 mem- located next to Tbilisi Airport tory won here because of exactly the not being able to visit his parents’ graves bers, at same sort of burning brands. in his homeland for the past eight years. www.facebook.com/groups/SvanetiRenais- (It is possible to divide it into several parts) I also had guests, in particular a young But materially he’s done all right the sance/ Canadian family based for the moment second time around. This was his fi rst He and his wife also run their own guest house Address: Airport settlement, Samgori district, Tbilisi in Latali. He’s studying the local music visit to Svaneti. in Etseri: and songs for a doctoral thesis in Eth- I couldn’t stay or even return for the www.facebook.com/hanmer.house.svaneti Tel: +995 599 529 529 nomusicology. His wife has also worked as a music teacher; and the little girl, just [email protected] two years old, had her singing debut on the Mestia stage, the last New Year... They walked down to Ladreri with me, taking a big shortcut through a fi eld on the nice fi rm snow of this frosty dark dawn for a 7 am start. My friend had cut me the required sharp-ended birch torch, with its other end cut and splayed out a bit for a nice easy burn—one per male household member. We joined the bonfi re which was just starting, added our pieces into the hard snow, and enjoyed the crispness while other men came from nearby, in family units, each with its burning torches to add. Slowly the day lightened. Getting their Tongues around the Georgian Language

Continued from page 11 use their own native tongue to com- problem. Nothing good and useful comes municate with friends and family. As without money. If you want something, Understandably, if a politician pushes the saying goes, necessity is the mother you have to spend time, money and the electorate too hard with a pesky of invention. energy on it. There is little money in demand to learn the state language, the So, when Georgian becomes indispen- Georgia’s state budget allocated for the irritated elector, shrugging their shoul- sable for survival, it will be widely spo- purpose of promoting our cultural and ders, might decide to change horses right ken by every citizen of this country. Let linguistic inheritance. You want your in the midstream. What politician needs us create such indispensability! Accord- people to speak Georgian? Then go ahead that?! ing to Western democratic ideals, towards and unlock the state coffers to open spe- To compound the puzzle, the possibil- which this nation is energetically and cial centers, schools and courses for ity of shunning the state language is decidedly propelling itself, minorities teaching the Georgian language, like the rooted deeper: those who want to use should not be discriminated against on British and Americans do- operating this land for survival must know the linguistic grounds. Granted! But the extensively around the world under the language both formally and informally question is if the Georgian culture in well-known common name of ESL. Who spoken in the country, but the gist of general and its unique Georgian language knows? The current non-speakers might the matter is that they can easily get by in particular should be discriminated become fl uent some day if GSL – Geor- without the Georgian language, using against. gian as a Second Language – becomes Russian in its stead in most cases, and There is also an economic side to the accessible and affordable to them. GEORGIA TODAY FEBRUARY 26 - 29, 2016 SOCIETY 13 School Online Consultation Now Available

The Online Consultation service covers all areas and for Foreigners is able to provide advice in legal issues, school administration management and offer psychosocial support ing to the director of the Center, what they found BY EKA KARSAULIDZE out gave them the competence to create the Online Consultation service. The staff of the Online Consultation service on-Governmental Organization ‘The includes specialists of all structural divisions of Schools Research Center’ has been the school, including amongst others a former involved in school education issues director of one of the leading schools of Tbilisi, for the past three years. It launched the representative of school administration, a psy- an Online Consultation project for chologist, and a foreign specialist. Nparents, students, teachers and school administra- Thus, the Online Consultation service covers all tion in September 2015, not only serving locals, but areas and is able to provide advice in legal issues, also foreign residents and guests in Georgia. school administration management and offer psy- In recent years, the number of foreign visitors chosocial support. All you need to do is visit the coming for long-stays in Georgia has grown. offi cial website of the Schools Research Center When moving to an unknown city parents face (http://rcs.ge/), fi ll in the form and staff will promptly the challenge of fi nding and choosing the right contact you. school for their children. Questions they typi- “We always try to have an individual approach cally ask: Which school to choose? Are there any to each question we receive. If it’s a ‘frequently specialized schools? Are there any which teach asked question,’ we immediately respond. If the in my native language? Where are they? What issue requires a detailed study and consultations conditions do they offer? with experts, we provide an answer within ten “In fact, there are so many nuances to take into days,” said Guliashvili. consideration. Not only each country, but even The idea of creating the Online Consultation each school may have its own rules and conditions. service came because the school staff, parents and Our goal is to answer the questions of all our poten- pupils were clearly lacking information. During tial pupils and their parents and to give them the the Center’s operation, it repeatedly received ques- right advice,” said Mukhran Guliashvili, Director tions about a variety of topics, and therefore it was of the Schools Research Center. decided to structure the process. “For example, a while back, the State did not fund “It turned out that consultation is needed even the education of foreign citizens in public schools. for the simplest things. We help teachers to deal It turned out that the parents of these children had with the changes in the education system, make to pay in both private and public schools. Now this better class management, acquaint them with for- rule has been abolished and public schools are free eign examples, and inform them about innovations,” of charge for foreigners, too. But there is still a lot noted Guliashvili. “Pupils ask as about exchange of information that foreigners need to know,” programs, many parents want to know detailed Guliashvili said. information about different schools in Georgia, The Schools Research Center began operating in where to go in case of problems and many other Georgia in 2013. They began by studying the school issues,” he said. “We are there to answer their con- system, local as well as foreign institutions. Accord- cerns.” GEORGIA TODAY 14 CULTURE FEBRUARY 26 - 29, 2016

WHAT’S ON IN TBILISI THEATRE Every Wednesday ticket price: 5 Lari RUSTAVELI CINEMA SHALVA AMIRANASHVILI ILIA STATE UNIVERSITY Address: 5 Rustaveli Ave. MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS Address: 3/5 Cholokashvili Ave. GRIBOEDOVI THEATRE February 26 – March 3 Telephone: 2 55 50 00 Address: 1 Lado Gudiashvili Str. March 3 Address: 2 Rustaveli Ave. www.kinoafi sha.ge Telephone: 2 99 99 09 ARTISTS FOR LIFE CHARITY Telephone: 2 93 43 36 DEADPOOL www.museum.ge EXHIBITION Directed by Tim Miller Every Wednesday ticket price: 5 Lari Supporting Mari Burduli February 26 Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Karan Soni, February 12 – March 6 Participants: Avtandil Gakhokidze, THE ELDER SON PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND Andria Dolidze, Anton Ed Skrein THE EXHIBITION OF THE Alexander Vampilov ZOMBIES Balanchivadze, Gia Bugadze, Gia Language: English UKRAINIAN ARTIST MATVEY Directed by Gogi Margvelashvili Directed by Burr Steers Gugushvili and others. Small Stage Start time: 17:00 Cast: Lily James, Sam Riley, Jack VAISBERG “WALL, WALL AND Time: 13:00 – 19:00 Start time: 12:00 Language: Russian Huston OTHERS” MUSIC Ticket price: 5 Lari Start time: 14:30, 22:00 Genre: Action, Horror, Romance Ticket price: 9-14 Lari GALLERY Language: Russian February 27 Start time: 22:15 TBILISI CONCERT HALL THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR BY THE SEA Address: 1 Melikishvili St. Ticket price: 13-14 Lari THE NATIONAL GALLERY Nikolai Gogol Directed by Angelina Jolie Telephone: 2 99 00 99 Directed by Avtandil Varsimashvili Genre: Drama Address: 11 Rustaveli Ave. GODS OF EGYPT Grand Stage Cast: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, www.museum.ge February 27, 28 Start time: 18:00 Mélanie Laurent Directed by Alex Proyas CHRIS BOTTI featuring Ticket price: 5 Lari Language: Russian Genre: Adventure, Fantasy PERMANENT EXHIBITION STING (“SOLO”) Start time: 22:00 Cast: Gerard Butler, Nikolaj Coster- Start time: 20:00 Waldau, Abbey Lee Ticket price: 200-600 Lari February 28 Ticket price: 13 -14 Lari March 1-22 MOROZKO Language: Russian THE SOLO EXHIBITION OF RUSTAVELI THEATRE After Russian Tale SPOTLIGHT Start time: 14:45, 17:50, 20:15, 22:35 PROMINENT AZERBAIJANIAN Address: 17 Rustaveli Ave. Directed by Linda Urbonavichute Directed by Tom McCarthy Ticket price: 9-14 Lari Telephone: 2 72 68 68 Small Stage Cast: Mark Ruffalo, Michael ARTIST FARHAD KHALILOV MUSEUM www.rustavelitheatre.ge Start time: 12:00 Keaton, Rachel McAdams Ticket price: 5 Lari GALLERY “VANDA” Genre: Biography, Drama, History March 2 Language: Russian GEORGIAN NATIONAL Address: D. Chonkadze str. #14 PRESENTATION PROJECT TBILISI VASO ABASHIDZE Start time: 16:45 MUSEUM Telephone: 2 93 42 86 MUZAME MUSIC AND DRAMA STATE Ticket price: 11-12 Lari SIMON JANASHIA MUSEUM Gallery works daily, 12:00 – 19:00 SOAP & SKIN THEATRE Address: 4 Rustaveli Ave. www.vandagallery.org Start time: 20:00 Address: 182 D.Agmashenebeli Ave. ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME Telephone: 2 99 80 22, 2 93 48 21 Ticket price: 30, 40, 50, 60 Lari Telephone: 2 34 80 90 Directed by Ella Lemhagen www.museum.ge February 13-26 www.musictheatre.ge Cast: Sarah Jessica Parker, Rosie BLUE VELVET UKRAINIAN ARTIST, MATVEY Address: 22 Abashidze Str. Day, Raoul Bova ARCHAEOLOGICAL TREASURE February 28 Genre: Comedy VAISBERG’S SOLO EXHIBITION Telephone: 555 70 17 01 Permanent Exhibition KOLOBOK Language: Russian BESTIARY Directed by Anatoli Lobov Start time: 14:30 A showcase of his famous series of February 27 Grand Stage November 17 - May 1 ROBI KUKHIANIDZE Ticket price: 11-12 Lari animalistic paintings Start time: 16:00 EXHIBITION DEDICATED TO Start time: 20:00 Ticket price: From 6 Lari THE GREATEST MILITARY MON ROI MACHABELI 17 BUDDHA-BAR TBILISI Directed by Maïwenn AIRCRAFT DESIGNER CINEMA ALEXANDER KARTVELI Address: 17 Machabeli Str. Address: Rike Park Genre: Drama, Romance Telephone: 577 153 520 Cast: Vincent Cassel, Emmanuelle (KARTVELISHVILI /1896-1974/). February 20 – March 5 AMIRANI CINEMA Bercot, Louis Garrel March 3 Address: 36 Kostava St. Language: Russian December 21 - March 31 EREKLE KIPAROIDZE’S ART NIAZ DIASAMIDZE Telephone: 2 99 99 55 Start time: 19:30, 22:15 THE TRAVELING MUSEUM OF EXHIBITION 33A www.kinoafi sha.ge Ticket price: 13-14 Lari THE CAUCASUS THREADS Start time: 21:00 GEORGIA TODAY FEBRUARY 26 - 29, 2016 CULTURE 15 Artist of the Month: The Animal Portraits of Tama Popkova-Kapanadze

animal related mythology in Western she became severely ill and lost move- her left hand with a special technique resources of energy, enthusiasm and the BY LILY FÜRSTENOW cultural history: calling into question ment in her right hand and leg. Due to that took months of training. ability to see hope against hopelessness bestiarium animals, signs of the zodiac, illness TV animal shows became her It would be an exaggeration to claim of illness, old age and limited physical animal representations in the prehistoric only inspiration, prompting her to embark that these animal pictures would raise mobility. ith wild colours, the caves of Lescaux, animals as archetypes at the age of 80 in a painterly career. As spectator attention to ecological prob- Tama Popkova-Kapanadze shows us animal fi gures against standing for evil, love, strength and trick- an autodidact, self-taught artist, she lems and animal protection issues. These animals that we think to know from an landscapes boldly ery. started with a simple colour palette, are neither realistic representations of unfamiliar perspective: fantastic and standing out against Popkova-Kapanadze represents animals copying well-known masters such as the animal world the way we know it realistic at the same time. It is planned vibrant backgrounds as belonging to the world that humans French primitivists and impressionists from TV programs, scientifi c magazines to organise an exhibition of her works Wspeak volumes about the fl ora and fauna never entirely understand except for whose pictures she admired. Unable to or visits to the Zoo. Yet it’s the artists in one of Berlin’s art galleries in the near around us. The animal portraits by self- defi ning them in scientifi c theories and use her right hand, she paints only with world that counts, opening up untapped future. taught artist Tama Popkova-Kapanadze describing them metaphorically in cul- are sincere, naïve, full of energy and love tural mythologies. Various animal spe- of life. The small format pictures in cies are for her mysterious creatures, gouache executed with bright, bold whose soul she tries to open up by giv- Musical-Poetic Performance dedicated to Mandelshtam brushstrokes evidence a love for minute ing them painterly representation, respec- details. The artist, Tama Popkova-Kap- tive colouring and by putting them in Tbilisi history, Vladimer Golovin, who interesting to get to know someone who BY MAKA LOMADZE anadze, using direct colours, expresses characteristic contexts. happens to be a writer and journalist too, lived with a genius. I found out during the realistic characters of the A bibliographer by was printed about Osip Mandelshtam my research that she was not just the portrayed animals. profession, artist from the series called “Russians in Geor- wife of Mandelshtam, but an extraordi- They appear in paintings Tama Popkova- n the 20th of February, the gia” and given out as a gift to all attendees. nary and interesting persona herself. as well-known protago- Kapanadze was Russian Club – Interna- Osip Mandelshtam was born in 1891 in They lived in poverty but with an inter- nists of folk tales, rein- born in Moscow tional Union for Culture Warsaw. He spoke French, German and esting life spent in the literary circles of terpreting the long in 1927. She spent and Education - organized English fl uently and spent a lot of time various countries.” tradition of her childhood an intermedia perfor- on translational work. He translated into Oleg Mchedlishvili, the actor who in Kutaisi with manceO of poetry and music at the Alex- Russian the verses of Georgian genius embodies Osip Mandelshtam, told GEOR- her grandpar- ander Griboedov Russian Drama Theater Vazha-Pshavela, as well as such eminent GIA TODAY, “It’s been a great honor for ents as her par- to mark the 125th anniversary of famous Georgian poets as Titsian Tabidze, Vale- me to be involved in this project as Osip ents fell victim Russian poet Osip Mandelshtam. rian Gaprindashvili, Giorgi Leonidze and Mandelshtam for me is a genius poet. I to the Stalinist “I Have Dreams about Mountainous Nikolo Mitsishvili. In 1933, Mandelshtam wanted to convey the drama of his life, political repressions. Tbilisi” was the title of the soiree in which wrote an epigram against Stalin which and I think this staging gives a lot of She later received higher educa- it was demonstrated that a signifi cant part led him to be arrested and exiled to North- ground for that to us, actors.” tion in Tbilisi where she met her of the creative life of the Russian poet was ern Ural for a time. In 1938, he was arrested The audience gave a standing ovation husband, an outstanding book illus- connected with Georgia, the Georgian again and sentenced to fi ve years exile to those actors. Following the show, trator and artist in his own right, and environment inspiring him to write one for his contra-revolutionary acts. He GEORGIA TODAY spoke to Valeri Asa- gave birth to her two children. In 2006 of the most famous poems about Tbilisi passed away that same year. The mere tiani, professor and former Minister of with the namesake title (In Russian: Мне mentioning of his name was forbidden Culture. “Osip is the representative of a Tифлис горбатый снится»). From this verse, in the Soviet Union for the next 20 years. distinguished generation of poets, the composer Tengiz Jaiani created a song Nadejda, Maldenshtam’s wife, preserved together with Pasternak. Their relations specifi cally for the evening. his verses and sketches, sharing the chal- with ‘Tsisperkantselebi’ (Blue Horns, an The performance was staged by Levon lenges and hardships with the poet and order of Georgian poets), as well as Uzunian, director of the Adamian Arme- husband she adored. Irina Meghvi- Georgian national topics refl ected in nian Theater, with the leading actors of netukhutsesi, the actress playing her their works is really thrilling. Man- both the Griboedov and Adamian theat- part, told GEORGIA TODAY, “During delshtam left us a supreme poetry as ers participating, including Irina Megh- the repressions, the last letter of Nadejda well as the example of supreme friend- vinetukhutsesi, Archil Baratashvili, Oleg to the poet became like a hymn to all the ship with Georgia, Georgian history and Mchedlishvili, Merab Kusikashvili, Ashot wives of all those who were arrested. It Georgian poets. It is very good that today, Simonian and Sergo Saparian. Explicitly was quite interesting to work on this the theater has marked such an occasion, for the soiree, the book by researcher of part, as their life was very tragic. It is bringing his poetry to life again.”

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