Issue no: 1099 • NOVEMBER 9 - 12, 2018 • PUBLISHED TWICE WEEKLY PRICE: GEL 2.50 In this week’s issue... Ex-PM Kvirikashvili Releases Statement NEWS PAGE 3 NGOs Accuse Saakashvili of Making Xenophobic Statements FOCUS ON THE OPERA POLITICS PAGE 5 World-renowned conductor British Council Funds 35 Daniel Oren is set to lead Verdi and Beethoven at the New Int’l Partnerships to Tbilisi Opera PAGE 13 Develop Creative Economies BUSINESS PAGE 7 Guram Kashia & Locomotive Minister of Economy Visits Singapore, Speak Out against Bullying Talks Trade & Maritime Cooperation SOCIETY PAGE 12 BY SAMANTHA GUTHRIE oming off a wave of successful meet- ings in China on the opportunities for Georgia to export to the country, Minister of Economy and Sustain- able Development Giorgi Kobulia Cvisited Singapore this week. On Tuesday in the massively wealthy southeast Asian city-state, Kobulia attended the Bloomberg New Economy Forum. Founded by American billionaire Michael Bloomberg, the forum brands itself as “a new community for the new economy.” The forum aims to capitalize on the “pivotal moment in history” in which we are living, where “economic power is shifting dramatically from the West to new economies and “new markets and new lead- ers are exercising unprecedented infl uence over the course of economic change on a global scale.” Image source: Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development The goal of the forum is to support “a new com- munity of leaders thinking, innovating and work- table discussion dedicated to China’s Belt and transit routes for goods and freight are profi t- ing together to create the thriving, inclusive Road Initiative. able. "We are also trying to develop the infra- global economy of the future.” Kobulia spoke about the possibilities for Geor- structure and logistics of railway and ports as Kobulia attended an offi cial reception hosted gia to play a signifi cant role in the new Silk Road much as possible. The most important thing is by the representatives of the state delegations project and become a regional hub in the cor- that the development of infrastructure contrib- by Michael Bloomberg and founders of the forum ridor connecting Europe and Asia. The Minister utes to Georgian companies getting into the on its opening day and participated in a round- noted that Georgia is a small country for which world market,” he said. Continued on page 3 GEORGIA TODAY 2 NEWS NOVEMBER 9 - 12, 2018 Ici Paris New Perfume 'Girls Can Do Anything' Presented by Ici-Paris ci Paris presents Zadig and Vol- taire's new perfume 'Girls Can Do Anything.' 'Girls Can Do Anything' is the name of a signature scent, the Iperfect incarnation of new femininity: free, uninhibited and bold! A fern twisted around delicate pear with a Tonka-bean touch, exalted by musk-infused vanilla. Embody a radiant, uninhibited and bold new feminism! Results of EU, CoE Projects in Georgia 2015 - 2018 Presented BY AMY JONES Georgian PM Meets EBRD Managing Director ovember 6, the Council BY THEA MORRISON of Europe and the Delega- tion of the European Union presented results of their joint projects in eorgia’s Prime Minister NGeorgia from 2015 - 2018. Photo: European Union Extended Action Mamuka Bakhtadze met Mat- The projects, funded by 4.1 million Euros Pilar Morales, Head of the Program- teo Patrone, Managing Direc- from the EU (85%) and European Coun- ming Department at the Council of tor of the European Bank for cil (15%), helped Georgian authorities in Europe (Strasbourg), mentioned how, Reconstruction and Develop- applying the European Convention on although the joint venture was not always Gment (EBRD) for Eastern Europe and the Human Rights; civic integration of national easy, useful lessons have been learned Caucasus on November 7 in Tbilisi. minorities; supporting the Georgian Bar and good results were achieved. For Projects of strategic importance being Association, improving health care in example, the federal judges received implemented in Georgia with the engage- prisons; countering money laundering; training in the European Convention on ment of the EBRD were the key issue of promoting freedom, professionalism and Human Rights in association with the the meeting. pluralism of the media; protecting inter- Georgian Bar Association, leading to a The Georgian PM’s Press Offi ce reports initiative. Approaching establishment of the net freedom, and assisted in the elections. better quality of justice in Georgia. This that construction of the Anaklia Deep The sides underlined that the Anaklia International Chamber of Commerce The meeting, its fourth kind in Tbilisi, has notably helped women who were Sea Port was also discussed at the meet- Deep Sea Port is signifi cant not only for (ICC) Arbitration in Georgia was also discussed the results of the fi rst phase of victims of violence, she mentioned. ing, underlining the strategic importance Georgia, but for the entire region, add- referred to, along with its importance the project, which aimed to harmonize the The second part of the project will of the project and engagement of the ing it is expected to acquire a geo-polit- for the attraction of foreign investments Georgian system to European standards. commence at the beginning of next year. Government of Georgia in the referred ical signifi cance for the entire continent. to the country. GEORGIA TODAY NOVEMBER 9 - 12, 2018 NEWS 3 Ex-PM Kvirikashvili Releases Statement protected by the Georgian people in BY THEA MORRISON 2012,” he stated, meaning the defeat of the previous ruling party United National Movement in the 2012 parliamentary ormer Georgian Prime Min- elections by the GD coalition. ister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, who “Taking everything into account, the resigned on June 13 after a values still need to be protected. I will disagreement with the ruling never tire from protecting these values, Georgian Dream (GD) founder like many in our country,” he added. FBidzina Ivanishvili, has released a state- Kvirikashvili was Prime Minister of ment ahead of the second round of the Georgia from 30 December 2015 to 13 October 28 Presidential Elections. June 2018. Prior to that he was Minister In the statement, Kvirikashvili says he of Economy and Sustainable Develop- is not going to return to politics. ment from 25 October 2012 until 1 Sep- “I decided to remain silent during the tember 2015, Minister of Foreign Affairs whole period and I am not going to be from 1 September 2015 until 30 Decem- Kvirikashvili has led initiatives to advance location for foreign investment. Minister of Finance, was approved by active in politics. However, I want to say ber 2015, and Deputy Prime Minister Euro-Atlantic and European integration On 20 June 2018, Mamuka Bakhtadze, the Georgian Parliament as the PM of that I support the values which were from 26 July 2013 until 30 December 2015. and highlight Georgia as an attractive who previously served as Kvirikashvili's the country. Minister of Economy Visits Singapore, Talks Trade & Maritime Cooperation Continued from page 1 Reserve; Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Minis- ity to discuss possibilities of deepening It was also noted during the meeting The sides also discussed cooperation ter of Finance of Indonesia; Christine trade relations between Georgia and that a new project is being considered between maritime education institu- The forum was attended by more than Lagarde, Managing Director of the IMF; Singapore. The focus was on the impor- in Georgia – maritime clusters, which tions to prepare students for exchange 400 government and business repre- Ian Bremmer, President and Founder tance of signing a bilateral intergovern- would establish special tax benefi ts. programs and collaborative learning sentatives from around the world, of Eurasia Group; Henry Kissinger, and mental agreement on maritime trading. Since Singapore has one of the most opportunities, and the possibility of including high-impact leaders such as many others. A draft agreement has already been successful maritime clusters in the offering a special training course at the Gary Cohn, former Assistant to the US On Wednesday, Kobulia met with written up by the Georgian Ministry of world, the Georgian side expressed its Maritime and Port Authority of Singa- President for Economic Policy; Janet Andrew Taun, Chief Executive Director Economy and was presented to the Sin- interest in cooperating in this regard pore (MPA) Academy for Georgian Yellen, former Chair of the US Federal of the Singapore Navy and Port Author- gaporean side this week. and sharing experiences. Maritime Authorities. GEORGIA TODAY 4 POLITICS NOVEMBER 9 - 12, 2018 Lincoln Mitchell Answers Accusations against Him incoln Mitchell spoke to did. Why? Because these are ultra-hawks GEORGIA TODAY and the who wanted to push back against Russia Realpolitik show to clarify and they thought this was a good way some of the circulating accu- to do it. sations against him and his Lviewpoints. This is part two of the defi n- DID THEY REALLY BELIEVE itive Lincoln Mitchell interview. THE US WOULD GET INVOLVED IN A WAR EVEN SALOME ZURABISHVILI, AS IF THE TOP GOVERNMENT WELL AS PUTTING THE BLAME WAS SAYING NO? ON GEORGIA FOR THE AUGUST Now, I want to be clear we're speculat- 2008 WAR, ALSO MENTIONED ing now. What I believe they thought THE US PLAYED A ROLE was that if this happens, even though Offi cial American channels, the US Sec- the offi cial position is don't do it, once retary of State and the US Ambassador it's done we'll go back to the leadership, to Georgia of the time, all made it clear to the Secretary of State, and say now to Saakashvili that he shouldn't get drawn we have to do something, and that the into a war, but people around Saakashvili views would change. That's not what were constantly engaged in dialogue happened.