Issue no: 1067 • JULY 20 - 23, 2018 • PUBLISHED TWICE WEEKLY PRICE: GEL 2.50 In this week’s issue... FOCUS ON AI Sophia the Humanoid Robot attends the OGP Summit in Tbilisi PAGE 8,9 Stoltenberg Meets PM Bakhtadze, Promises NATO Support to Georgia NEWS PAGE 2 How to Better Serve Your Citizens: The OGP Summit 2018 NEWS PAGE 4 Unity and Confl ict: Grigol Vashadze to Stand for New Political Party as Presidential Candidate POLITICS PAGE 6 Iran's Ambassador on the Kaladze’s Weekly Priorities: Construction, Importance of the Rasht-Astara Railway Animal Abuse & Summer Camps BUSINESS PAGE 7 BY SAMANTHA GUTHRIE "Robotech” Summer Camp Opens in Kutaisi ach Wednesday, the municipal govern- ment of Tbilisi holds a meeting at City Hall. Preceding this week’s meetings, Mayor Kakha Kaladze made several important remarks. EFirst, Kaladze drew attention to the tasks of the Urban Development Service – as applicants submit the Development Regulation Plan (DRP) for their desired projects, Kaladze noted that second, third and fourth-class structures may be subject to accreditation. Structures are classed based on size and project diffi culty, with fourth class being the largest and most complex projects. In February, the Architectural Department of City Hall was informed that it would split into two enti- SOCIETY PAGE 13 ties responsible for managing the city’s construction and development – the Architectural Department, ‘10 Georgian Wines You Must which regulates structure appearance and design, and the Urban Development Service, which man- Try Before You Die’ Exhibition ages the integrated development of sections of the city including issues of zoning and building size. on Meidan Continued on page 3 Photo: Tbilisi City Hall CULTURE PAGE 15 GEORGIA TODAY 2 NEWS JULY 20 - 23, 2018 Stoltenberg Meets PM Bakhtadze, Promises NATO Support to Georgia Attention was paid to the signifi cant past izing your armed forces,” he said. BY THEA MORRISON and planned steps of the Government of In addition, the NATO Secretary Gen- Georgia towards approximation with the eral spoke about the recent developments North Atlantic Alliance standards. in Georgia’s Russian-occupied regions amuka Bakhtadze, Prime The Secretary General of NATO once of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and called Minister of Georgia, again noted the solid support of the Alli- on the Russian Federation to withdraw paid his fi rst offi cial ance towards the territorial integrity and its forces from the regions. visit to Brussels as the sovereignty of Georgia. “NATO supports Georgia's security PM of the country on He also thanked the Prime Minister of and its territorial integrity within its MJuly 18-20. Georgia for the contribution of the coun- internationally recognized borders. This The PM was hosted by NATO Secre- try to the Euro-Atlantic security, espe- includes the regions of Abkhazia and tary General Jens Stoltenberg, who praised cially in the current NATO operations South Ossetia. We call on Russia to with- Georgia’s carried out and planned reforms in Afghanistan. draw its forces from the country,” he and vowed to support the country. After the meeting, the sides made an said. Parties discussed all the key issues offi cial statement for the press, seeing Bakhtadze thanked Stoltenberg for his within the scope of the integration of Stoltenberg underline that Georgia has support and noted that Georgia will Georgia to NATO, including the results for many years been one of the largest continue its contribution to common of the NATO Summit held in Brussels force contributors to the resolute sup- Euro-Atlantic security. last week and ways to implement the port mission, and Georgian peacekeep- “We are enhancing our cooperation on Photo source: Georgian Gov’t Press Offi ce decisions made at the milestone event. ers were helping NATO fi ght terrorism. Black Sea Security. We will have a more It was highlighted that the Substantial “I also appreciate the fact that [Georgia highest standards of NATO and are able “We fully support Georgia's Euro- active naval cooperation as well as NATO-Georgia Package (SNGP), like is] running exercises together with the to participate in NATO exercises, mis- Atlantic aspirations…We continue to extended mutual situational awareness… the new areas of cooperation, signifi - NATO troops. I have met the Georgian sions and operations,” he stated. work with you to prepare for member- Together with the assistance provided cantly increases the defense capacity troops both in Afghanistan and during Stoltenberg noted that at the Alliance ship. Georgia has made impressive pro- by NATO, the reforms successfully imple- and resistance of the country. It also NATO exercises. The fact that you are Summit last week, all 29 allies reaffi rmed gress on reforms, including on economic mented by Georgia will contribute to brings the country closer to accession part of the NATO response force shows that Georgia will become a member of development, more effective security our ultimate goal to become a full mem- to NATO. that your troops and forces meet the NATO. and defense institutions and modern- ber of NATO,” the PM said. Parliament Chairman Saakashvili Offers Trump Advice on Relations with Russia in the annexation of Crimea. Earlier this year, the United States imposed the harsh- est sanctions yet, targeting Russian oligarchs Condemns Putin’s Remarks as well as government offi cials.” in NATO, seeing it as a security risk. “Nevertheless,” writes the former Geor- BY SHAWN WAYNE Kobakhidze stated that priority and gian leader, “I must caution President ultimate goal of the Tbilisi administra- Trump that criticizing domestic oppo- tion was to get NATO membership, that nents in front of foreign adversaries could eorgian Parliament Chair- Georgia is moving forward and that it is have been misperceived by Putin as a man Irakli Kobakhidze Georgia’s right to gain NATO member- concession.” He recommends several condemned Russian Pres- ship after working so hard for it. steps Trump can take to show Putin that Photo: Kremlin.ru / Wikimedia ident Vladimir Putin's The integration of Georgia into NATO he is not, in fact, conceding to Russia. remarks on Wednesday is also important for NATO, with it rec- that while Trump’s rhetoric may have First, a return to a Reagan-era contain- BY SAMANTHA GUTHRIE Gregarding Georgia's potential member- ognizing that Georgia has actively con- been weak, his actions, more importantly, ment policy, second, to lobby for an ship of NATO. tributed to NATO-led operations and have been strong. “After a lifetime of amped-up NATO presence in Eastern On Monday, after the meeting between cooperates with the Allies and other fi rsthand experience with Russian aggres- Europe, specifi cally by offering Georgia Putin and Trump in Helsinki, the Rus- partner countries in many other areas. n an article published yesterday in sion, I must evaluate Trump’s actions and Ukraine MAP, and third, being pre- sian President told Fox News that his NATO's support for Georgia’s reform The Federalist, former President against the historical context. In doing pared to active the ‘nuclear option’ of country would react extremely negatively efforts and its goal of integration in Euro- of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili so, I fi nd Trump’s actions speak for them- sanctions: blocking Russia’s access to the to the membership of Georgia and Ukraine Atlantic institutions is high. opines on US President Donald selves,” writes Saakashvili. SWIFT international payment system, Trump’s recent meeting with Rus- Saakashvili claims that former President which would cripple average Russians’ Isian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Barack Obama’s weak foreign policy and ability to conduct everyday commerce Finland. In the article, titled, “Just Like unwillingness to engage in international with international companies. Obama, Trump’s Russia Policy Speaks confl icts gave Putin room to maneuver Saakashvili condemns Putin, calling him Louder Than His Words,” Saakashvili regarding Ukraine. “Putin is a bully,” “pure evil” and saying “There is no doubt argues that Trump’s response to Putin Saakashvili insists, “but not a fool.” in my mind that US intelligence agencies was not as “shameful” as most observers Trump’s strongest moves against Russia, arrived at the correct conclusion: Russia have perceived it. according to Saakashvili, came when he did meddle in the US 2016 election, and He argues that the outrage against “authorized the sale of lethal defensive Putin himself directed the operation.” Trump’s words (or lack thereof) in Hel- weapons to both Ukraine and Georgia in You can read the full article here. sinki is selective – other American politi- 2017” and when “the Trump administration The Federalist is a conservative online cians have held less than a hard line against went beyond the congressional mandate magazine, based in the US, that covers Russia in recent years. He also argues in sanctioning Russian authorities involved politics, policy, culture, and religion. Italian President & Delegation Visit Georgia to deepen and expand cooperation discussed trade and economic rela- BY SAMANTHA GUTHRIE between our countries. Italy is a strong, tions between Georgia and Italy and European country supporting Georgia. opportunities for increased coopera- Today, I have the opportunity to thank tion. Possibilities for bilateral links talian President Sergio Mattarella you once again for the very strong sup- between Georgian and Italian busi- was in Georgia this week, accom- port that Italy showed to Georgia at the nesses were noted, with a