Issue no: 905 • DECEMBER 16 - 19, 2016 • PUBLISHED TWICE WEEKLY PRICE: GEL 2.50 In this week’s issue... FOCUS Zurab Pololikashvili Nominated ON DISCUSSIONS for Secretary General of UN Top political bodies met in Tbilisi to World Tourism discuss regional security & NATO accession PAGE 6 NEWS PAGE 3 The EU’s Visa Suspension Mechanism Explained POLITICS PAGE 4 Hudin Reveals Georgia's Wine Secrets BUSINESS PAGE 8 Tainted Love: Ogden on Domestic Violence SOCIETY PAGE 10 Fritz Musser’s Ex-president of Latvia, Valdis Zatlers and Georgia’s President, Giorgi Margvelashvili Family: It’s through Brokenness that We Hurt Others MEP: Georgians Will Enjoy Visa-Free SOCIETY PAGE 14 Christmas Travel from April Fairy Tale BY THEA MORRISON at Vanda Gallery ember of European Parliament CULTURE PAGE 17 (MEP) and co-rapporteur of Georgia’s visa liberalization Baseball and Softball in Andrejs Mamikins told Geor- gian journalists that Georgians Georgia Mwill enjoy visa-free travel with the European Union (EU) from April, 2017. SPORTS PAGE 19 He said the European Council had suggested the second half of April as the fi nal date for Geor- gia’s visa waiver. Mamkins underlines the process is nearly over and only technical issues remain. “Apparently, the agreed text on Georgia will be approved on April 7, while on April 15 the decision may be published in the offi cial publi- cation of the European Union. In late April, the citizens of Georgia will be able to travel visa-free with biometric passports,” Mamkins stated. Member of European Parliament (MEP) Andrejs Mamikins. Source: mamkins.lv The MEP believes that the voting on Georgia’s eight weeks," said Andrejs Mamikins. need several weeks and underlined that Georgia visa liberalization will be held in January or Feb- Mariya Gabriel, European Parliament Member had fulfi lled all obligations undertaken under ruary 2017. and a rapporteur of Georgia’s visa liberalization, Visa Liberalization Action Plan (VLAP) and it “After that, the adopted text must be translated believes the process will be completed before April. was up to the EU now to deliver on its promise. into 24 languages, which is expected to require She said resolution of technical issues does not Continued on page 3 GEORGIA TODAY 2 NEWS DECEMBER 16 - 19, 2016 New Information Center The Geneva International Talks were established following the August War between Georgia for Persons with Visual and Russia in 2008 Impairment Opens in Tbilisi 38th Round of Geneva Talks Ends without Consensus way Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions, gia, Giga Otkhozoria, was gunned down BY THEA MORRISON while the second meeting concerned the by Russian border guards on Georgian- Opening Ceremony safe return of Internally Displaced Per- controlled territory in the village of sons (IDPs) and refugees to their homes. Khurcha, close to the Nabakevi Crossing with Giorgi Gakharia, Minister of Econ- eorgia’s Ministry of Foreign The MFA reports that the Georgian Point at the ABL on May 19. BY NINO GUGUNISHVILI omy and Sustainable Development of Affairs (MFA) reports that delegation reviewed the security situa- The participants also discussed the Georgia and Kim In-Hwan, Charge the 38th round of the Inter- tion in the occupied regions of Georgia issue of protection of cultural heritage d’Affairs of the Tbilisi Offi ce of the national Talks of Geneva, and condemned the ratifi cation of a in Georgia’s occupied regions. he Mirza Gelovani Library Embassy of the Republic of Korea. established since the military deal between Russia and Geor- Furthermore, the Georgian Delegation is now to house an internet The center was opened within the GAugust War between Georgia and Rus- gia’s occupied Abkhazia. raised the issue of IDPs and their safe - information center framework of the memorandum signed sia in 2008, concluded as usual without Moreover, the Georgian side raised return to their homes in the occupied equipped with the latest by the Ministry of Science, ICT and any consensus. several issues related to Russia’s ongo- regions of Georgia. During the discus- technological advances Future Planning of Republic of Korea The talks were co-chaired by repre- ing occupation of Georgia, including the sions, the representatives of the Russian Tespecially for people with visual impair- and the Ministry of Economy of Georgia, sentatives from the European Union installation of barbed wire fences and Federation left the discussions in pro- ments. The new venue will have Braille and a memorandum between NIA Korea (EU), United Nations (UN) and the new border signs, the kidnapping of test. script keypads and other necessary and Georgia’s Innovation and Technol- Organization for Security and Co-Oper- Georgian citizens and depriving the local “By this step, the Russian Delegation equipment on hand to help them search ogy Agency. ation in Europe (OSCE), as well as del- youth of an education in their mother reiterated their unconstructive attitude for any information they need, and form- “It’s a very important day today and egates from Georgia, Russia and the tongue. towards the negotiation process,” Geor- ing a better platform for social integra- we plan to open more centers in Georgia United States (US), and authorities from The reduction of so called "checkpoints" gia’s MFA said. tion. for people who are visually impaired, all de facto Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South at the Administrative Boundary Line The Ministry underlines that all the The USD 224.463 project was fi nanced equipped with modern technologies, Ossetia) regions. (ABL) of Abkhazia was also condemned meeting participants, except Russia and by the Republic of Korea. giving people with disabilities easy access The December 13-14 talks were held by Georgian representatives. the de facto representatives, fully shared Suh Byung-Jo, President of the National to information resources and helping within a two meeting-group format. At During the talks, the Khurcha incident the position of Georgia. Information Society Agency (NIA) Korea, them to be a better part of our society,” one meeting the sides discussed security was raised by the Georgian side, where The next round of Geneva Talks has attended the opening ceremony together Giorgi Gakharia said at the opening. and stability issues in Georgia’s breaka- an unarmed 31 year-old citizen of Geor- been scheduled for March 28-29, 2017. GEORGIA TODAY DECEMBER 16 - 19, 2016 NEWS 3 MEP: Zurab Pololikashvili Georgians Nominated for Will Enjoy Visa-Free Secretary General of Travel from UN World Tourism n event dedicated to the world’s leading sectors. The Minister inating Georgia’s candidate for Secretary “I am about to start my fi nal year as April nomination of Georgia’s also highlighted the priority importance General of the UN World Tourism is yet secretary general – the position which Continued from page 1 candidate, Zurab Polo- of tourism in Georgia, which plays a more proof that our government attaches I have been privileged to hold for almost "April is a long time for the citizens of likashvili, for Secretary leading role in the economic develop- priority importance to tourism,” said the 7 years, and now I am confi dent that this Georgia, as Georgia has already fulfi lled General of the UN World ment of the country. According to Mikheil Minister. position will be taken over by the best its obligations, and now the EU has to ATourism was held in Madrid this week. Janelidze, it is the fi rst case when Geor- He also spoke about Zurab Pololikash- candidate, one who will reinforce the fulfi ll its promise. Resolution of techni- The event was attended by Georgian gia has a candidate to such a high posi- vili’s professional background and his country’s position in this area,” Taleb cal issues does not require eight weeks. Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze and tion within the UN. Janelidze expressed experience in promoting economic Rifai said. We are doing our best to speed up the Secretary General of the UN World his confi dence that Pololikashvili will development and tourism in Georgia. The nomination was attended by rep- process," Gabriel said. Tourism Organization, Taleb Rifai. successfully tackle all tasks on the agenda Appearing before the audience attend- resentatives of the diplomatic corps, as The political agreement over Georgia’s The Georgian Foreign Minister of the World Tourism Organization. ing the ceremony of nomination of Polo- well as political cultural and business visa- liberalization issue came after the appeared before the participants of the “Tourism is one of the most important likashvili, the Secretary General of the communities of Spain. The Head of the trialogue of the European Parliament, meeting. In his speech he spoke about sectors in Georgia in terms of develop- World Tourism Organization Taleb Rifai Georgian National Tourism Administra- European Council and European Com- the UN World Tourism Organization’s ing the country, and promoting and thanked the Georgian Foreign Minister tion Giorgi Chogovadze also took part mission on Tuesday in Brussels, Belgium. role in advancing tourism as one of the building its positive image abroad. Nom- for his participation in the event. in the ceremony. This was the fi rst tripartite meeting on Georgia’s visa liberalization involving all the European Union (EU) structures. The Georgia-EU visa-free travel will now be discussed in the Council of Heavy Rain Damages Gelati Frescoes Europe by the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Governments of they will lose Georgia and is listed as a UNESCO World BY NATIA LIPARTELIANI Member States to the EU (Coreper) and their original Heritage Site in Danger. at the Committee on Civil Liberties, Jus- appearance. UNESCO describes the monastery as tice and Home Affairs (LIBE). After this, The Gelati "a well-preserved complex, with won- the issue will be returned to the Euro- ue to heavy rain that lasted Monastery is a derful mosaics and wall paintings, rep- pean Parliament, which will make the several days, a number of medieval monas- resenting the fl owering of medieval fi nal decision.