GEORGIAN BULLETIN

1. GEORGIANBULLETIN Monthly Issue N° 3 April 2010 Embassy of Georgia to the Kingdom of Belgium and Grand Duchy of LuxembourgMission of Georgia to the European Union www.belgium.mfa.gov.ge • The President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili delivered a speech at Nuclear Security Summit in Washington DC • Mikheil Saakashvili expressed his condolences to the citizens of Poland in Krakow streets • The EU strengthens visa cooperation with Georgia • Prime Minister of Georgia Nika Gilauri visited Kazakhstan and Jordan The President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili delivered a speech at Nuclear Security Summit in Washington DC The President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili delivered a speech at Nuclear Security Summit in Washington DC. In his speech Mikheil Saakashvili stated that the Georgian side actively participates in the reduction of the global threat. In the result of active cooperation with International Commonwealth, prevention of probable incidents became possible, though there still remain several insecure locations in Georgia, namely occupied regions, where international monitoring cannot be carried out. Mikheil Saakashvili said that only by collective responsibility it would be possible to protect future generations from this global threat. The President of Georgia spoke with Senator Harry Reid and Senator Mitch McConnell. They discussed the issues of Georgian-US cooperation. President Obama’s discussion with President Mikheil Saakashvili The White House released an official statement on President Obama's and President Saakashvili’s discussion. “President Obama welcomed the opportunity to meet Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili during the Nuclear Security Summit. The President reaffirmed the United States’ support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and welcomed President Saakashvili’s continuing commitment to democratic reform. AGENDA 14/04/10 The President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili delivered a speech at Nuclear Security Summit in Washington DC 14/04/10 President Obama’s discussion with President Mikheil Saakashvili 18/04/10 Mikheil Saakashvili expressed his condolences to the citizens of Poland in Krakow streets 13/04/10 Inter-Agency Task Force for Free and Fair Elections (IATF) Re-established 8-9/04/10 Prime Minister of Georgia Nika Gilauri was on a working visit to Kazakhstan 26/04/10 Georgian Prime-Minister visits Jordan 27/04/10 The EU strengthens visa cooperation with Georgia CULTURE/SOCIETY 16/03/10 Concert of Chamber Orchestra of Europe held in Brussels PAGE 1

2. GEORGIAN BULLETIN April 2010 www.belgium.mfa.gov.ge The President expressed his appreciation for Georgia’s significant contribution to Afghanistan and the two leaders discussed their shared commitment to securing nuclear materials to reduce the threat of proliferation”. 14.04.10 www.president.gov.ge Mikheil Saakashvili expressed his condolences to the citizens of Poland in Krakow streets When Mikheil Saakashvili left Wawel Cathedral after Lech and Maria Kaczynskis’ funeral ceremony, he expressed his condolences to the citizens of Poland in Krakow streets. Among them there were Georgians living in Poland. The Polish people welcomed Mikheil Saakashvili and greeted him with ovations. The President gave a brief interview to one of the Polish channels where he pointed out that Lekh Kaczynski was his friend and that he awfully worries about the tragedy that had happened. “Lekh Kaczynski was a hero. He was a hero for the Georgian people. A person becomes a hero, when he can do something that the others cannot. It doesn’t matter what was happening in the world, I should be here today, this is why I took a bypass route to arrive. My people mourn all this week because of this tragedy”, Mikheil Saakashvili stated. 18.04.10 www.president.gov.ge The EU strengthens visa cooperation with Georgia The European Commission proposed the conclusion of visa facilitation and readmission agreements with Georgia. The draft agreements result from recent negotiations between the EU and Georgia. They aim at enhancing EU-Georgia relations by facilitating short-stay travel of Georgian citizens to the EU while jointly tackling risks of irregular migration. “I strongly support visa facilitation for Georgia. To reduce visa barriers is a way of bringing people closer to one another and to enable citizens to travel, and connect all over Europe”, said Cecilia Malmstrom, Commissioner for Home Affairs. “I am pleased to see that enhanced EU-Georgia cooperation is paying off. With these agreements in place, Georgia will be more closely connected to the European Union.” Today’s draft visa facilitation and readmission agreements are the result of recent negotiations between Georgia and the EU. Once in force, they will make it easier for Georgians to apply for visas, making procedures faster, reducing paperwork and lowering visa fees. At the same time, the readmission agreement will ensure the return of those who illegally stay in the EU. The visa facilitation agreement provides for, among other things:- simplification of documentary evidence to be submitted in support of the visa application,- issuing multiple-entry visas with a long period of validity to certain categories of applicants needing to travel frequently to the EU such as businesspeople, journalists and family members of Georgian citizens residing in the EU,- reducing visa fees to €35 for all citizens and waiving fees for specific categories such as children, family members of Georgian citizens residing in the EU, representatives of civil society organisations, etc.,- setting deadlines for processing visa applications- exemption from the visa obligation for holders of diplomatic passports. The European Commission has today adopted the proposals for Council decisions on the signature and conclusion of the agreements. The Commission calls on the European Parliament and Council to endorse the visa facilitation and readmission agreements so that they can enter into force as soon as possible.  27.04.10 http://centraleasteurope.com/blog/?p=1569 PAGE 2

3. GEORGIAN BULLETIN April 2010 www.belgium.mfa.gov.ge Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia met with EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood On 8 April 2010, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Alexandre Nalbandov met with EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Stefan Fule. The sides focused on ongoing developments in Georgia, preparation for upcoming local elections, current situation on the occupied territories, importance of EUMM with a view to ensuring security in Georgia and urgency of fully exercise of its mandate. At the meeting, the sides discussed the priority issues on EU-Georgia relations and on the Eastern Partnership Initiative with a view to promoting Georgia's EU integration. 8.04.10 http://mfa.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=30&info_id=11896 EU Official on South Caucasus Trip Štefan Füle, EU commissioner for enlargement and European neighbourhood policy, said EU’s foreign affairs council would be presented for formal adoption of negotiating directives for Association Agreements with South Caucasus countries on May 10. Speaking at European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee on April 28, Füle said that adoption of the directives would pave the way for the EU to prepare for the launch of negotiations on Association Agreements with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. “These Agreements will allow for close political association between each of the partners in the South Caucasus and the EU, building on common values and shared principles,” he said. Füle, who reported to the foreign affairs committee about his trip to South Caucasus countries and Ukraine in April, said that visa facilitation and readmission agreements for Georgia had already been successfully negotiated. “Georgians can soon benefit from lower fees and easier visa rules,” he said. On Georgia he also said that during the visit in Tbilisi he had an opportunity to discuss internal political situation ahead of the May 30 local elections with both the opposition and the authorities. “I stressed to both sides the clear need for adhering to international electoral standards, the importance of real political pluralism, a vibrant civil society and an open media environment as essential factors to consolidate democracy,” Füle told European parliamentarians. He also said that his message to the leaders in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia was and “will always be that the responsibility for the internal reform processes and the strengthening of democracy and rule of law lie firmly in the hands of the governments and politicians of those countries.” 29.04.10 http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=22238&search=commissioner The 12th EU-Georgia parliamentary Cooperation Committee meeting On March 29-30, 2010, the 12th EU-Georgia parliamentary Cooperation Committee was held in Tbilisi. The meeting was chaired by the Head of the Permanent Parliamentary Delegation to the EU - Georgia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee - Mr David Darchiashvili and Head of the South Caucasus Delegation of the European Parliament, Mr. Milan Cabrnoch. Final recommendations were adopted by the end of the meeting. PCC continues to support the independence, the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Georgia; welcomes Georgia's democratic achievements; calls on the EU institutions to actively pursue full implementation of the EUMM's mandate and a solution to the problem of the illegal Russian occupation of Georgian territories; requires full implementation of the cease fire agreement signed on August 12, 2008 and strongly condemns the non-mandated presence of Russian military troops in occupied regions of Georgia and etc. In the framework of the visit, the EP delegation held meetings with the following representatives of the Georgian Government: Mr. Mikheil Saakashvili - President of Georgia, Mr. Giorgi Baramidze - Vice Prime-Minister, State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Temur Iakobashvili - State Minister for Reintegration Issues, Mr. George Tsereteli - Deputy-Chairman of the Parliament. The meetings were held with the Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Georgia - Mr. Zurab Kharatishvili and the representatives of the opposition and media as well. 0n March 31, the EP Delegation visited settlements of the internally displaced persons (IDP) and met with the representatives of the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia. 29.03.10 http://mfa.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=30&info_id=11879 Local Elections in Georgia “Voters in Georgia will elect 64 new municipal councils in May 30 local elections, but the major focus will be on contest in Tbilisi, which will directly elect its mayor for the first time.” PAGE 3

4. GEORGIAN BULLETIN April 2010 www.belgium.mfa.gov.ge Incumbent mayor, Gigi Ugulava, stands for re-election. “Ugulava in his formal campaign is expected to focus on social issues and unemployment; he has pointed out these issues as priorities for the municipality for number of times in his recent public remarks.” “Opposition mayoral candidates, which have already launched formal campaign, are also focusing on social issues in their electoral programs.” “Irakli Alasania, leader of Alliance for Georgia, presented last week his “employment program”, pledging to create at least 50,000 new jobs through setting up of a municipal fund to help with start-up and expansion of small and medium businesses.” “A mayoral candidate, nominated by Christian-Democratic Movement (CDM), a leading party in the parliamentary minority, Giorgi Chanturia runs the campaign with a message: “low tariffs and employment”;” “Gogi Topadze, owner of beer producing company and a founder of Industry Will Save Georgia (Industrialists), also runs the campaign focusing on resolving unemployment and social problems.”  “Zviad Dzidziguri, leader of Conservative Party, part of National Council alliance presented his healthcare program on April 23 pledging basic health insurance for Tbilisi residents and full package of health insurance for pensioners.” “Three remaining candidates are Davit Iakobidze, Georgia’s finance minister in mid-90s, who was nominated by MP Gia Tortladze’s Democratic Party of Georgia; Nika Ivanishvili, who was head of traffic police in late 90s, was nominated by his party, which was established in March and Tamaz Vashadze, who briefly was Tbilisi mayor, 19 years ago.” “The Georgian Public Broadcaster is expected to host live TV debates between the candidates in May, but arrangements have yet to be agreed.” “Parties are also contesting for 50 seats in the Tbilisi City Council. 25 seats will be distributed among the parties, which will clear 4% threshold in the party-list, proportional contest and remaining 25 will be contested in Tbilisi’s 25 single-mandate majoritarian constituencies.” Above mentioned information was partially taken from www.civil.ge Inter-Agency Task Force for Free and Fair Elections (IATF) Re-established The Government of Georgia announces re-establishment of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Free and Fair Elections (IATF) in the run-up to the forthcoming local elections scheduled for May 30, 2010. The IATF is a rapid reaction mechanism of the Government of Georgia aimed at enhancing coordination between various governmental agencies and ensuring that the elections are held in the most transparent and fair environment. IATF members include high-ranking representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the State Ministry for Infrastructure and Regional Development as well as the National Security Council of Georgia. The IATF will endeavor to actively engage and cooperate with domestic as well as international election monitoring organizations and missions as well as other stakeholders. In a spirit of constructive cooperation the body will address all concerns and questions raised by representatives of various monitoring organizations as well as diplomatic missions. 13.04.10 http://www.government.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=186&info_id=30452 On 8-9 April 2010, Prime Minister of Georgia Nika Gilauri was on a working visit to Kazakhstan As part of the visit, the Prime Minister of Georgia met Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Karim Masimov. At the end of the meeting, Nika Gilauri stated that he had conducted constructive talks with his Kazakhstan counterpart. At the meeting the parties discussed strategic issues, touching upon such areas as energy, agriculture, tourism, and issues related to the carriage of Kazakh products via Georgian and Azeri territories. "Georgia and Kazakhstan enjoy good relations in economic and political areas. I hope this visit will be a further stride forward to improving these relations," Nika Gilauri said. Besides, during his visit to Kazakhstan, the Prime Minister of Georgia took part in the meeting of the Georgian-Kazakhstan Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation held in Astana. PAGE 4

5. GEORGIAN BULLETIN April 2010 www.belgium.mfa.gov.ge Meetings were held with the representatives of the local business circles and government. The parties discussed bilateral economic cooperation issues. 12.04.10 http://www.government.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=187&info_id=30432 Georgian Prime-Minister visits Jordan On April 26, 2010 the Georgian Prime-Minister Nika Gilauri was on his official visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Trade and economic cooperation agreement was made between the two countries on the 26th of April in the capital of Jordan, Amman. Nika Gilauri arranged meetings with the Jordanian peer Samir Rifai and local businessmen. The parties agreed that they would sign several agreements in future.According to Georgian Prime-Minister, it comes to signing a simplified visa agreement, a document on double taxation prevention, agreement on investments and direct air traffic between two countries."Economies of your and our countries are much alike, the economic philosophy of both countries is similar, and it will be perfect to arrange a business-conference in Georgia with participation of business circles of both countries", stated Nika Gilauri during his meeting with Samir Rifai. 27.04.10 http://www.government.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=187&info_id=30674 The concert of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe held in Brussels On 16th April a concert of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, with participation of Georgian violinist Lisa Batiashvili was held in Brussels Fine Arts Centre (Bozar). The Representatives from Embassies and other Officials were invited by the Embassy of Georgia under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture of Georgia and participation of the First Lady of Georgia Mrs. Sandra Elizabeth Roelofs. “The violinist Lisa Batiashvili is a frequent collaborator of the orchestra's, and was the featured soloist tonight. In a slightly unusual conceit, Batiashvili and the ensemble performed two works, Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 1, and Saint-Saens' Introduction and Rondo capriccioso. The second— curt and playful where the first is expansive and serious — served as something of an extended, formalised encore piece. Batiashvili brought an intelligent and varied sense of interpretation to the Prokofiev. Her first theme was overwrought with slides and insistent wobble, whilst her second, and the subsequent development, had her move into much more spiky, pointed playing. “ http://www.musicalcriticism.com/concerts/bozar-coe-0410.shtml http://www.bozar.be/activity.php?id=8929&selectiondate=2010-04-16 http://belgium.mfa.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=223&info_id=6827 CULTURE PAGE 6