Issue no: 901 • DECEMBER 2 - 5, 2016 • PUBLISHED TWICE WEEKLY PRICE: GEL 2.50 In this week’s issue... FOCUS Georgia’s PM Holds First Face- ON THE BIG WAIT to Face Meeting with European The Georgian Minister Parliament President of Foreign Affairs asks the EU Parliament not to NEWS PAGE 2 delay VLAP PAGE 2, 3 Reuters: Georgian President Sees Strong US Ties Maintained under Trump POLITICS PAGE 5 Russia Stacking Both Decks in Armenia and Azerbaijan POLITICS PAGE 6 It’s All in the Selling and Buying MFA head Mikheil Janelidze with European Parliament Rapporteur on Visa SOCIETY PAGE 9 Liberalization for Georgia, Mariya Gabriel Disaster Risk UNESCO Adds Georgian Alphabet to List of Intangible Cultural Reduction: The Early Warning System at Heritage of Humanity Devdoraki Gorge BY THEA MORRISON SOCIETY PAGE 10 BI Auction for Georgian Artists he United Nations Educational, Scientifi c and Cultural Organiza- CULTURE PAGE 17 tion (UNESCO) has added the Georgian alphabet to the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of 50th Anniversary THumanity. The decision came after the 11th session of the of Iosseliani’s UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Herit- Falling Leaves age, held in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Wednesday. CULTURE PAGE 19 The nomination was submitted to UNESCO duced three alphabets – Mrgvlovani, Nuskhuri at home. The Mrgvlovani and Nuskhuri alpha- for consideration in 2015. The main goal was to and Mkhedruli – which all remain in use today. bets are taught in schools in Georgia but at a underline the harmonic co-existence of three Mrgvlovani was the fi rst alphabet from which basic level. alphabets. Nuskhuri was derived, followed by Mkhedruli. Georgia’s Foreign Ministry says that since the The Georgian delegation included Georgia’s The organization underlines that the alphabets day of nomination in 2015, the Ministry of For- Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary coexist thanks to their different cultural and eign Affairs and Georgia’s diplomatic represen- to France and Permanent Representative to social functions, refl ecting an aspect of Georgia’s tations abroad have been actively continuing to UNESCO Ekaterine Siradze-Delone, Director of diversity and identity, their ongoing use in a engage in efforts to promote the issue and obtain the International Cultural and Humanitarian cultural sense also gives communities a feeling support, including by organizing specifi cally Relations Department Ketevan Kandelaki, Direc- of continuity. designed thematic exhibitions. tor General of the National Agency for Cultural Mrgvlovani and Nuskhuri are practised and “The living culture of three writing systems Heritage Preservation Nikoloz Antidze and taught informally predominately by the com- of the Georgian alphabet is the third nomination respective experts. munity of the Georgian Apostolic Autocephalous inscribed on the Representative List of the Intan- The UNESCO offi cial webpage reads that the Orthodox Church. The Mkhedruli alphabet is gible Cultural Heritage of Humanity,” the Foreign evolution of Georgia’s written language has pro- taught in school and also transmitted informally Ministry said. GEORGIA TODAY 2 NEWS DECEMBER 2 - 5, 2016 PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili held his fi rst meeting with Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament, on Wednesday Georgia’s PM Holds First Face- to Face Meeting with European Parliament President liament fully supports Georgia’s sovereignty and BY THEA MORRISON territorial integrity. Giorgi Kvirikashvili emphasized the importance of EU support in the implementation of Georgia's eorgia’s Prime Minister, Giorgi Kviri- demanding reforms and added that the Govern- kashvili, held his fi rst face-to-face ment of Georgia is committed to continuing its meeting with Martin Schulz, the political association and economic integration with President of the European Parliament the European Union. on Wednesday. “Through huge support from the EU, Georgia has GGeorgia’s PM left for Belgium on November 30 made signifi cant progress in terms of democratic to discuss the issues of Georgia's European inte- consolidation, rule of law and judicial independ- gration, the 2017-2020 Association Agenda and ence,” the PM said. “Strengthening the rule of law Georgia’s visa liberalization with the European and improving the institutional standards are among Union (EU) with European offi cials. the main priorities of the Georgian government.” The President of the European Parliament congrat- Georgia’s PM also pointed out the importance of ulated Giorgi Kvirikashvili on the successful parlia- visa-liberalization for the Georgian people, saying mentary elections and commended Georgia's progress it would motivate the government to continue on its path to European and Euro-Atlantic integration. implementation of successful reforms in the future. “At the meeting we discussed Georgia-EU coop- “We hope that the internal processes in Brussels eration and judiciary and anti-corruption reforms will bring the desired results, and the expectations implemented in Georgia. We also discussed Geor- of the Georgian people will bear fruit,” Kvirikash- gia’s visa-liberalization issue and I hope that the vili said. European Parliament and the European Commis- The Prime Minister of Georgia and the President sion will soon agree on the issue,” he stated at the of the European Parliament discussed issues and press-conference after the meeting. challenges pertaining to regional security and the Moreover, Schulz claimed that the European Par- situation in Georgia's occupied territories. Rustaveli Meets Shakespeare in London two iconic authors from different perspectives, BY KETEVAN KERASHVILI including potential affi nities between their works. Some notable British and Georgian scholars Pro- fessor Donald Rayfi eld, Professor Elguja Khinti- n November 28, the Embassy of Geor- bidze and Dr. Nikoloz Aleksidze talked about the gia to the UK presented the evening manuscripts of Rustaveli’s immortal poem ‘The 'Shakespeare and Rustaveli meet in Man in the Panther’s Skin’ preserved at the Bodle- London' at the Royal Asiatic Society ian Library of the University of Oxford; problems in London. The event was held in of translating Rustaveli into foreign languages; the Oannual 'Rustaveli Day' format, in celebration of the possible infl uence of Rustaveli’s poem on Shake- 850th anniversary of the medieval Georgian poet speare and the immense impact of Shakespeare’s Shota Rustaveli and 400 years since William Shake- works on Georgia’s 19th and 20th century literature speare’s death. It was organized in partnership and theater. with the British Council, British-Georgian Society, Director of the British Council in Georgia Zaza Georgian State Museum of Theater, Music, Cinema Purtseladze launched the book "Shakespeare in and Choreography (Art Palace) and the Royal Asi- Georgian Theater" prepared and published by the atic society. Georgian Art Palace. He also elaborated on the Ambassador of Georgia Tamar Beruchashvili project 'Shakespeare and Rustaveli meet in Geor- delivered the welcome speech. The audience was gia' which ran through the past several months in also addressed with opening remarks by Mr. David Georgia and featured various related exhibitions Gigauri, member of the British Georgian Society and talks with the involvement of students and and moderator of the event; Dr. Alison Ohta, Direc- civil society. tor of the Royal Asiatic Society and Dr. Graham The event ended with a reception of Georgian Sheffi eld Director of Arts of the British Council. cuisine and wine hosted by the Embassy of Geor- The event aimed at exploring the legacy of the gia. GEORGIA TODAY DECEMBER 2 - 5, 2016 NEWS 3 Foreign Minister: Georgia’s Visa Liberalization Not about More Migration but Strengthened Partnerships BY THEA MORRISON eorgia’s Foreign Minister, Mikheil Janelidze, stated at the European Parliament that a visa free travel regime between Georgia and the GEuropean Union (EU) did not mean additional migration, but meant better people-to-people contacts, and strength- ened cultural and business ties and part- nerships. Janelidze delivered a speech at the Conference ‘Visa Liberalization as an EU Foreign Policy Tool’ in Brussels on Tuesday. Representatives of the European Par- liament, European Commission and the European External Action Service attended the conference, which was held on the initiative of European Parliament Rapporteur on Visa Liberalization for Georgia, Mariya Gabriel. Janelidze delivered a speech at the Conference ‘Visa Liberalization as an EU Foreign Policy The Minister’s speech referred to the Tool’, held in Brussels on Tuesday statement of the European Parliament, which said a day previously that Geor- gia’s visa-liberalization issue would not benefi ts those who want the EU to fail. he says, has proved to be an important strengthening its institutions,” the Min- but for better people-to-people contacts, be considered until January 2017, when He explained that after many years of driving force for advancing reforms and ister said. and strengthened cultural and business the mechanism for suspension of the demanding reforms and acknowledging enabling the establishment of a legisla- He also mentioned the economic oppor- ties and partnerships,” he said, adding visa-free regime was to be discussed by progress, legitimate expectations are tive, policy and institutional framework tunities that had been created by imple- that Georgia has faced delays associated the legislative body. very high in Georgia. in compliance with the highest European menting the Deep and Comprehensive Free with the EU’s and EU member states’ “We fully understand the diffi culties “It carries a tremendous symbolic, polit- and international standards. According Trade Agreement (DCFTA) with the EU. internal and external policy issues and the EU is facing today, from increased ical and practical importance for us and to the VLAP benchmarks, overall, more “However, this agreement will not work said these steps did not refl ect the spirit migration to the rise of populism and serves as a strong message of the EU’s than 60 legislative amendments; about in full capacity if Georgia does not let of good partnership.