TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2020 The Messenger P3

“Impartial, Informative, Insightful” GEL 3.00 The #130 (4687) MessengerTUESDAY, JULY 21, 2020 WWW.MESSENGER.COM.GE Politics nominates MFA denies the MP candidates allegation of Azerbaijan’s media about weapons being transported to Arme- nia through

GYLA once again appeals the amend- ments to the Law on Public Health to the Constitutional Court

FULL STORY ON Page 2 Economics

NBG launches the reform of Foreign Exchange Market

FULL STORY ON Page 3

“The Georgian Dream is still able to take the responsibility of running the country,” Ivanishvili said.

BY NATALIA KOCHIASHVILI a high public culture, trusted the gov- economic problems and the country’s for progress and development, so we are ernment and united around it.” progress has no price if each family/indi- always committed to the European and he ruling party Georgian Dream According to Ivanishvili, during his vidual is not strengthened. That’s why, Euro-Atlantic course, which is condi- Tnominated MP candidates at the cer- tenure in power, the Georgian Dream he explained, education has been put tioned by the unshakable will of the Geor- emony held on 20th July in Kojori. The team took the country forward in many number one on the priority list and a gian people and which is the foundation ruling party presented the list of directions: “Progress is visible in practi- quarter of the budget will be spent on it: of our state,” said the leader of the party. majoritarian candidates – including 29 cally every area. No one is under the il- “Education and economic prosperity - this He thanked the Western friends, the men and one woman – for newly redrawn lusion that the problems have been sorted will be the action plan and goal of the European Union and the strategic part- 30 single-mandate districts for upcoming out and no longer exist. Much remains Georgian family in the coming years. We ner US for their support of the country. parliamentary polls due in October. to be done to ensure that the country con- already have solid foundations and now Ivanishvili also said that we live in In ’s majoritarian districts Beka tinues to develop irreversibly.” need strengthening.” difficult times, in a difficult region and Odisharia will run for Mtatsminda and Ivanishvili underlined that Georgia named education in a politically difficult neighborhood and Krtsanisi district; Nodar Turdzeladze for has maintained peace, stability and de- and economic prosperity as the Georgian we are obliged to minimize the risks and Vake; Davit Sergeenko, former servedly joined the ranks of safe coun- Dream’s action plan and goal for the com- avoid all possible provocations that could healthcare minister - for Saburtalo; tries for the last 8 years. According to ing years. harm the stability and peaceful develop- Kakhi Kakhishvili for Isani; Sozar Subari him, the main challenge in Georgia is still “It is the nature of Georgians to strive ment of the country. According to him, for Samgori; Gia Volski for Didube and Georgia should use all international le- Chughureti; Levan Kobiashvili for vers for unification: ‘We must return the Gldani; Mikheil Kavelashvili for Abkhaz and Ossetian brothers to us Nadzaladevi. peacefully, through the establishment of Georgian Dream started its official trust, reconciliation and respect.’ campaign for the 2020 parliamentary Ivanishvili is confident that the Geor- elections yesterday. Chairman of the gian Dream will win the parliamentary party Bidzina Ivanishvili made his first elections this fall. He emphasized that appearance in the last 8 months at the during the crisis, “people realized that the event. He addressed the attendees, includ- government cares for them.” ing party members, nominees and party “Let us continue to build our country supporters during the official opening of together, to move forward together to- the ruling party’s election campaign. wards Europe, to build democracy to- “The team that is in power today is gether and to walk together towards our still able to take on the responsibility of united and strong, our dream Georgia.” running the country,” Ivanishvili an- Ivanishvili said. nounced. He also compared the current and pre- The leader of the ruling party began vious governments of the country to each his speech with gratitude, thanking the other. According to Ivanishvili, in the doctors, the government and the people, who he said during the pandemic “showed Georgian Dream MP Candidates Gathered in Bioli Complex in Kojori. CONTINUED ON Page 3 P2 Politics The Messenger TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2020 MFA denies the allegation of Azerbaijan’s media about weapons being transported to Armenia through Georgia

creating problems artificially cargo to Armenia through their between two partner countries. country and why was Serbia an Based on the information exception this time? How come spread around social media, Tbilisi did not know where Ar- haqqin.az states that Armenia menia would direct all this com- has also received Kamazi brand bat material?” reads the vehicles loaded with combat Haqqin.az article. equipment from Russia through The article also says that Georgian transporting roads. Georgia has made numerous The article notes that regard- mistakes towards Azerbaijan, less of risks of foreign politics, however, the countries have a Azerbaijan supported Georgia in friendship of centuries “destruc- 2008 and according to the posi- tion of which is not that easy.” tion of the media, against this Lastly, they note that they are background ‘Georgia’s behavior waiting for Baku’s demands for is bemusing.’ an official explanation from Geor- “Couple years ago Georgia gia regarding the issue. banned transportation of combat

According to Georgian authorities, the article contains disinformation.

BY KHATIA BZHALAVA Haqqin.az regarding the border that a seemingly serious media clashes between Azerbaijan and source partially describes facts, ne of Azerbaijan’s media Armenia, the media states that leads society into deception and Osources haqqin.az has pub- Armenia started preparing for tries to cast a shade on the stra- lished an article, stating the the attack on Azerbaijan a couple tegic partnership and friendship weapons used during the border of days in advance and received of Azerbaijan and Georgia. Once clash between Armenia and combat assistance from Serbia again, we stress that Georgia Azerbaijan to have been trans- through Georgia. However, offi- and Azerbaijan are connected ported from Serbia to Armenia cial Azerbaijan does not share a with each other by long-term through Georgia. Georgian side statement about this. friendship and strategic partner- denies the information given in “One of Azerbaijan’s media ship that is developing,” the Min- the article and shares a disclaim- outlets has published a mislead- istry of Foreign Affairs of Geor- ing statement. ing article which contains a lot gia stated and added that the In the article published by of inaccuracies. It is unfortunate mentioned article is directed at Flags of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia. GYLA once again appeals the amendments to the Law on Public Health to the Constitutional Court

BY ANASTASIA SOKHADZE to the Constitutional Court. liament of Georgia to the Gov- GYLA stated that according ernment to restrict labor and n May 25th, 2020, the Geor- to the law, the Parliament of freedom of movement is contrary Ogian Young Lawyers’ Georgia delegated to the Govern- to Articles 14 and 26 of the Con- Association filed a lawsuit in the ment of Georgia the power to stitution of Georgia. Because of Constitutional Court on behalf restrict the right to work and this, GYLA has now filed a new of Paata Diasamidze, requesting freedom of movement. The docu- lawsuit against the government that the amendments to the Law ment was signed by the Presi- for the constitutionality of del- on Public Health be declared dent of Georgia on May 23rd. egating freedom of movement unconstitutional. Georgian Under the law, the government and restriction of the right to Young Lawyers’ Association the had the right to impose a num- work until January 1st, 2021,” Parliament of Georgia did not ber of restrictions, including reads the statement. listen to several organizations, travel, for 54 days from July 15th According to Article 14, Para- including GYLA, not to initiate onwards. graph 2 of the Constitution of changes in the Law of Georgia “The lawsuit was accepted by Georgia, restriction of freedom of on Public Health. Accordingly, the Constitutional Court on June movement is allowed ‘only in the organization decided to ap- 5th, 2020, but by July 15th, 2020, accordance with the law.’ The peal the amendments to the law the Constitutional Court was first paragraph of Article 26 of unable to complete the case. On the Constitution of Georgia reads July 14th, 2020, the Parliament that ‘labor rights are protected Weather of Georgia extended the term of by organic law.’ Accordingly, the office delegated to the Govern- restriction of these rights should st Tuesday, July 21 ment until January 1 , be done not by a sub-legal 2021. GYLA reiterates that the delegation of powers by the Par- GYLA now files a new lawsuit against the government. CONTINUED ON Page 3 Day Clear High: 34°C published by Night Partly Cloudy Nino Metreveli The Messenger welcomes your therefore, the opinions Commercial Director contributions. If you are expressed in some articles do Low: 22°C The Messenger 43, Chovelidze st., Tbilisi, interested in submitting an not necessarily coincide with article or news item please those of the newspaper. We Wednesday, July 22 0108, Georgia Founded by Prof. Mariam Mchedlidze contact. take no responsibility for any Editor-in-Chief All contributions should be claims made in advertisments. Day Clear Zaza Gachechiladze Tamar Gachechiladze submitted by e-mail. High: 31°C Publisher The Messenger Georgia’s The Messenger preserves the Night Partly Cloudy Mob.:+995 599 565621; +995 577 760000 Khatuna Gogichaishvili English language daily is an style of a source written in E-mail:[email protected] Layout Designer, Photographer independent newspaper, and, English where possible. Low: 20°C http://www.messenger.com.ge/ TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2020 The Messenger Economics P3 Exchange Rates: US Dollar - 3.0672; Euro - 3.5138; GBP - 3.8656; 100 Russian Ruble - 4.2867; Swiss Franc - 3.2675 NBG launches the reform of Foreign Exchange Market rency code, however, takes into ating successfully in more than account the specific of the global 20 countries worldwide since market at the same time. 2016 and provides automatic “International currency Code, matching and execution of as well as Foreign Exchange counter transactions. Prior to Market regulations, aim to in- the transaction, the identity of crease transparency and rivalry, an author of the application is establish fair and equal condi- anonymous, which ensures con- tions for the market participants fidentiality and impartiality. and to better protect the inter- Moreover, counterparty risks in ests of their customers. In com- the program are managed with pliance with the International the limits defined by the partici- Best Practice, banks will be pants and the transactions are obliged to make it transparent executed according to the rules and publish full service tariffs of the National Bank. and other conditions on their As NBG informs, Bmatch websites,” reads the statement, platform has been active in adding that in order to maintain Georgia, since March and is op- high standards of operations in erating successfully in test mode. Foreign Exchange Market, As of now, the platform is used banks must provide appropriate by 15 banks, 4 microfinance organisational arrangements organisations, 1 large company and IT facilities. and foreign investment fund. According to the NBG, as in- According to the NBG, the troduction of new approaches is rule of the currency market and followed by relevant new platform will come into The National Bank of Georgia infrastructural changes, the sec- force on October 1st, 2020, until ond component of the reform is then, the banks will be able to an activation of Bloomberg’s new upgrade the infrastructure and BY KHATIA BZHALAVA national best practice,” reads the ing Central Banks and leading trading platform- Bmatch. The the companies will be able to sign statement of NBG. banking institutions of U.S, statement notes that the service contracts with one or n July 20th, the president The first component is an In- England, Europe, Japan, Canada Bmatch platform has been oper- more banks. Oof the National Bank of ternational Currency Code, and Australia. Georgia, Koba Gvenetadze pre- which was created by a coopera- The statement reads that with sented on the reform of the For- tion of central banks of the the initiative of National Bank eign Exchange Market. Accord- world’s leading countries, in and support from the United ing to the NBG’s official website, 2017. Currency markets of more States Agency for International the new reform aims to increase than 50 countries follow the Development (USAID), interna- competition in the foreign ex- principles of the code. As NBG tional experts conducted train- change market and make states, compulsory compliance ing for Georgian foreign ex- internetbank more accessible for with the terms of currency code change market participants and non-bank participants; it also is recognised by, BIS – (Bank for developed a new regulation- The increases liquidity as well as International Settlements), Cen- Rules for the Activities of Ex- transparency. The reform in- tral Banks of 47 countries as well change Market Participants, cludes two important compo- as more than 1000 financial in- which is based on the main re- nents and is based on the inter- stitutions and companies includ- quirements of international cur- GYLA once again appeals the amendments to the Law on Public Health to the Constitutional Court CONTINUED FROM Page 2 The reform will come into force on October 1st, 2020. normative act of the government or any of the ministers, but by a Georgian Dream law adopted by the parliament. According to the disputed norms, the Parliament of Geor- nominates gia delegates authority to the Government of Georgia. Based on the delegated authority, the MP candidates Government of Georgia or the Ministry designated by the Gov- CONTINUED FROM Page 1 will be elected under the propor- ernment shall be authorized to tional system. Electoral amend- determine quarantine measures. extreme situation caused by the ments were approved by the Par- For its part, quarantine mea- nd sures include different regula- coronavirus, when human life liament on July 2 . tions governing freedom of move- and health were in real danger, According to Mamuka ment, property rights, labor ‘people felt the hand of the car- Mdinaradze, a member of the rights, and entrepreneurial ing government and united Georgian Dream party, the party rights. Accordingly, the Govern- around it’. will present the list a month be- ment of Georgia is authorized to Ivanishvili also recalled that fore the elections in September, restrict the above-mentioned rights by a subordinate legal act recently, the United National and describes the majoritarian issued by it. Movement and European Geor- candidates nominated on July GYLA considers that the en- The Parliament of Georgia delegates to the Government gia did not take part in the vote 20th as ‘worthy people.’ tered amendments are unconsti- of Georgia the power to restrict the right to work and on constitutional changes initi- Roman Gotsiridze, a member tutional with respect to property freedom of movement. ated to change the electoral sys- of the United National Move- rights. The government may impose only technical regula- out rooms. This is a complete ban gitimized by Parliament. In this tem. ment, commented that the can- tions on property rights. It can- on the use of property rights and particular case, the possibility of In 2020, the parliamentary didates nominated by the Geor- not be considered to be a techni- not a technical regulation. A to- taking such drastic measures is elections will be held under the gian Dream were selected for cal regulation, for example such tal ban on property rights, such transferred entirely in the hands 120/30 electoral system, of which their obedience to the party a ban which according to the as the closure of hotels and cloth- of the government, which vio- 30 will be elected by the chairman instead of their com- entered amendments, restricts ing stores or a ban on the re- lates the right to property. majoritarian system, and 120 petence. the hotel owners from renting sumption of work needs to be le-