Republic of Georgia | საქართველოს რესპუბლიკა

[Kokoity]

Вануату не признавала независимость Абхазии

Посол Вануату в ООН Дональд Калпокас заявляет, что этот вопрос не стоит на повестке дня.

"Я связался с нашим правительством, конкретно, с руководителем внешнеполитического ведомства, который является вторым по должности лицом в государстве, и спросил об Абхазии, и он сказал, что Вануату никакого решения относительно провинции Грузии не принимало. Я связался с ним и во второй раз, и он заявил мне то же самое - что страна не признавала независимость Абхазии. Мы признаем суверенитет и территориальную целостность Грузии, имеем хорошие отношения с Грузией и думаем, что скоро установим дипломатические отношения с этой страной", - заявил Калпокас.

Vanuatu refuses reports on recognition of Abkhazia
03.06.11
Russia is trying to obtain diplomatic support for Georgia`s occupied regions. After Nauru and Venezuela, Moscow said the Republic of Vanuatu, the island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean has recognized Georgia`s occupied regions. Although Vanuatu`s ambassador to UN has refused the reports.
Moscow assessed the report as victory of diplomacy of Abkhazia, whereas Vanuatu`s ambassador said the recognition is not even being discussed in his government.
The diplomat of Vanuatu called the head of Georgia`s diplomatic mission in UN and said he would make explanations over the reports as if Vanuatu had recognized independence of Abkhazia.
"I made sure that I get some first-hand information from my country, so I contacted the director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is the second highest-ranking official in the ministry. I contacted him twice and I asked him first and he said Vanuatu had not adopted any decision over Georgia`s province. The second time he said the same that the country has not recognized independence of Abkhazia. We recognize Georgia`s sovereignty and territorial integrity, have good relations with Georgia and we think we would be able soon to establish diplomatic relations with the country", Vanuatu`s ambassador to UN Donald Kalpokas said.

ვანუატუ აფხაზეთის აღიარებას უარყოფს
03.06.11
ტერაქტების პარალელურად, რუსეთი ოკუპირებული რეგიონებისთვის დიპლომატიური მხარდაჭერის მოპოვებას ცდილობს. ნაურუსა და ვენესუელის შემდეგ, კიდევ ერთი სახელმწიფო - ვანუატუ. მოსკოვმა ოფიციალურად განაცხადა, რომ ამ ქვეყანამ საქართველოს ოკუპირებული რეგიონები აღიარა, თუმცა გაეროში ვანუატუს ელჩი ამ ინფორმაციას არ ადასტურებს და აცხადებს, რომ ეს საკითხი დღის წესრიგში საერთოდ არ დგას. რუსეთის საგარეო უწყებამ კი ეს ინფორმაცია აფხაზური დიპლომატიის
გამარჯვებად შეაფასა.
ვანუატუს ელჩი გაეროში საქართველოს მისიის ხელმძღვანელს დაუკავშირდა და უთხრა, რომ გააკეთებდა ახსნა-განმარტებას გავრცელებულ ინფორმაციაზე, თითქოს ვანუატუმ აღიარა აფხაზეთის დამოუკიდებლობა.
"მე დავუკავშირდი ჩემს მთავრობას, კონკრეტულად კი, საგარეო უწყების ხელმძღვანელს, რომელიც თანამდებობით მეორე პირია ქვეყანაში, ვკითხე აფხაზეთის შესახებ და მან მითხრა, რომ ვანუატუს არანაირი გადაწყვეტილება საქართველოს პროვინციის თაობაზე არ მიუღია. მეორედაც დავუკავშირდი და მან იგივე განაცხადა, რომ ქვეყანას არ უღიარებია აფხაზეთის დამოუკიდებლობა. ჩვენ ვაღიარებთ საქართველოს სუვერენიტეტსა და ტერიტორიულ მთლიანობას, გვაქვს კარგი ურთიერთობა საქართველოსთან და ვფიქრობთ, მალე დავამყარებთ ქვეყანასთან დიპლომატიურ ურთიერთობებს," - განაცხადა დონალდ კალპოკასმა.

http://rustavi2.com/news/news_text.p...main&ct=0&wth=

Vanuatu Ambassador to UN Denies Vanuatu Recognized Abkhazia
03-06-2011
Ambassador of Vanuatu to UN Donald Kalpokas denied that Vanuatu recognized Abkhazia .
Rustavi2 informs that Vanuatu ambassador to UN contacted head of Georgian mission to UN Aleksandre Lomaia and informed him that he would make explanations regarding the spread information, as if Vanuatu recognized Abkhazia’s independence.
“I contacted my government, namely head of the Foreign Department, who is the second official in the county. I asked about Abkhazia and he said that Vanuatu has not decided anything about Georgia’s province. I contacted for the second time and I was told the same, that the country has not recognized Abkhazia’s independence. We recognize Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We have good relations with Georgia and think that diplomatic relations will soon be established”, Vanuatu representative to UN said.
Aleksandre Lomaia says that he doesn’t remember such an awkward fact in history of diplomacy.
“We knew on the first day that it was falsification. Ambassador of Vanuatu is our friend, an experienced diplomat. He has been representing his country for several years in UN. Our task is to constructively build relations with all UN member states. Vanuatu is one of the friendly states Georgia builds relations with”, Lomaia said.
Gazeta.ru released information on 31 May about Vanuatu recognizing Abkhazia’s independence.

http://www.interpressnews.ge/en/poli...-abkhazia.html

Vanuatu Denies Recognition Of Georgia Rebel Region
June 03, 2011
The Pacific island nation of Vanuatu has denied it has recognized the independence of the Georgian breakaway region of Abkhazia, contradicting a statement made by an Abkhaz official earlier this week.

Donald Kalpokas, Vanuatu's ambassador to the United Nations, said "there was no declaration of Abkhazia's independence from Vanuatu."

On June 1, Abkhaz Foreign Minister Maksim Gvinjia said Vanuatu, a small archipelago of some 235,000 people east of Australia, had recognized his country's sovereignty.

Russia has lobbied its allies to follow its lead in recognizing Abkhazia and another Georgian breakaway region, South Ossetia, since waging a war with its former Soviet neighbour over the provinces in August 2008.

So far Venezuela, Nicaragua, and the tiny Pacific State of Nauru have established diplomatic ties with Abkhazia.

Reuters

http://www.rferl.org/content/vanuatu.../24214884.html

[Kokoity]

Delegation of Georgia`s Foreign Ministry visits Cuba
04.06.11
Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla met this Thursday morning in Havana with his Georgian counterpart Grigol Vashadze who is visiting the island.
The official conversation between the two ministers focused on the current state of relations between their countries and issues of the international situation.
During the meeting, Rodriguez Parrilla and Vashadze reiterated their desire to work for the development and strengthening of bonds between Georgia and Cuba.
The visitor was accompanied by Georgia’s respective ambassadors to Cuba and Spain; director of the Americas Department of Georgia’s Foreign Ministry; Deputy Media Director; and head of the Foreign Ministry’s Secretariat.
Attending the meeting on the Cuban side were Deputy Foreign Minister and other officials of the ministry.
At the meeting, Grigol Vashadze discussed with his Cuban counterpart the ongoing reforms in Georgia and teh current situation in the region as well as Geeorgia`s occupied regions.
After the official meeting, a reception for Georgia`s delegation was held in the Foreign Ministry.

http://rustavi2.com/news/news_text.p...main&ct=0&wth=

Грузия и Куба "обменяются" днями культуры

Глава МИД Грузии Григол Вашадзе завершил визит на Кубу, где он находился с 1 июня. В ходе визита Г.Вашадзе встретился с министром иностранных дел Кубы Бруно Родригесом Парильей, главой законодательного органа Рикардо Аларконом де Кеседасом и министром культуры Кубы Абелем Приэто Хименесом.

По информации МИД Грузии, в ходе встреч с официальными лицами Кубы обсуждались вопросы двухсторонних отношений и сотрудничества с международными организациями. Как заявил журналистам Г.Вашадзе, стороны договорились о проведении дней культуры Грузии в Кубе и Кубы в Тбилиси.

Дни культуры Грузии пройдут на Кубе примерно в мае будущего года. Постараемся, чтобы они совпали с Днем независимости Грузии, - заявил министр. По его словам, дни культуры Кубы в Грузии пройдут в ноябре этого года.

http://pik.tv/ru/news/story/gruziia-...dniami-kulturi

[Kokoity]

Vanuatu PM nullifies recognition of Abkhazia
17.06.11
New government of Vanuatu Republic has nullified the recognition of Georgia`s breakaway Abkhazia adopted by the previous government - director of the Asia, Africa, Australia and Pacific Rim department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Zurab Aleksidze announced at the briefing today.
Vanuatu Prime Minister Edward Natapei has taken the aforementioned decision; his government has published a press release today, which says that the recognition adopted by the previous government was nullified.
`This fact reaffirms the position of Vanuatu`s current leadership that the country supports territorial integrity of Georgia within the internationally recognized borders,` Aleksidze said and added the fact also confirmed that the decision taken by the country`s previous government was a misunderstanding.

http://rustavi2.com/news/news_text.p...main&ct=0&wth=

Новое правительство Вануату аннулировало решение о признании "независимости" Абхазии

Новое правительство Вануату аннулировало принятое своими предшественниками решение о признании т.н. независимости Абхазии.

Как сообщил журналистам в пятницу директор департамента Азии, Африки, Австралии и Океании МИД Грузии Зураб Алексидзе, 17 июня новое правительство Вануату распространило пресс-релиз, где сообщается, что новое правительство аннулирует решение о признании независимости Абхазии.

По его словам, указанный факт подтверждает, что новое правиетельство Вануату поддерживает суверенитет и территориальную целостность Грузии в рамках ее международно признанных границ.

"Это также подтверждает, что решение предыдущего правительства Вануату было ошибкой и недоразумением", - заявил он. Правительство в Вануату сменилось вчера.

Между тем, на сайте правительства Вануату до сих пор находится сообщение: "Вануату признало Абхазию" и карта Абхазии, как отдельного государства.

http://pik.tv/ru/news/story/novoe-pr...imosti-abxazii

[VelesHomais]

What really happened is that he probably refused to take Russian bribes as was the case with the previous government

[jelger]

There is a lot of squabbling in Vanuatu going on inside the regime. So there are 2 camps inside the regime trying to make use of a leadership vacuum. That partly explains this yes/no show.

[Kokoity]

Originally Posted by jelger

There is a lot of squabbling in Vanuatu going on inside the regime. So there are 2 camps inside the regime trying to make use of a leadership vacuum. That partly explains this yes/no show.

Natapei withdraws recognition of Abkhazia
Posted on June 20, 2011
Prime Minister Edward Natapei yesterday cancelled and withdrew Vanuatu’s recognition of the so called independent state of the Republic of Abkhazia.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office stated that Abkhazia is a break-away autonomous province of the Republic of Georgia, which the former Prime Minister Sato Kilman had purported to recognized it last month.

“Yesterday (Thursday) the Supreme Court of Vanuatu ruled that the declaration by the Speaker of Parliament on 2nd December that Sato Kilman was unconstitutional and invalid and therefore Mr Kilman ceased to hold as Prime Minister forthwith.

“The Court also ruled that Nipake Edward Natapei be Acting Prime Minister until a new Prime Minister is elected next Thursday.”

Prime Minister Natapei stressed that Abkhazia was made part of the Republic of Georgia in 1930 which also included South Ossetia. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1980 Abkhazia was an integral part of independent Republic of Georgia. Several wars have been fought over Abkhazia between Georgia and the Russian–backed militia in Abkhazia. The most recent war was in 2008 which also included another enclave, South Ossetia, which Georgian and Russian forces fought over and there were allegations of ethnic and the displacement of people.

In 2006, “the United Nations reaffirmed the commitment of all member states to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders”.

The UN’s position has been that there will be no forcible change in international borders. Any settlement must be freely negotiated and based on autonomy for Abkhazia legitimized by referendum under international observation once the displaced multi- ethnic population has returned, the statement stated.

The Prime Minister said the fact is that the majority of the world’s governments consider Abkhazia as part of Georgia’s territory but only Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru have recognized Abkhazia as an independent state. He said that by taking the decision not to recognize Abkhazia shows that Vanuatu is together with the majority of the international community on this important issue.

Natapei has instructed the Vanuatu Ambassador in the United Nations, Ambassador Donald Kalpokas, to establish relations with Georgia.

http://www.dailypost.vu/content/nata...ition-abkhazia

This is from Yesterday a source from Vanuatu

[Kokoity]

Vanuatu, Abkhazia play out odd couple farce
JUNE 21, 2011
They appeared unlikely partners from the outset -- a Pacific Ocean archipelago and a rebel-held ex-Soviet conflict zone on the shores of the Black Sea, thousands of kilometres distant.

And, like many odd couples, their relationship rapidly descended into farce.

The Pacific island nation of Vanuatu became caught up in a diplomatic dispute when it was reported last month to have recognised Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia, some 14,000 kilometres (nearly 9,000 miles) away, as an independent state.

Having no known links to Abkhazia, it was unclear why Vanuatu decided to become the fifth country to recognise the Russian-backed territory, which fought a bloody war to break away from Georgia in the 1990s and remains a potential flashpoint in an unresolved conflict.

The confusion escalated further when the Pacific state's ambassador to the United Nations denied shortly afterwards that it had even happened.

Officials in Abkhazia, who portrayed the decision as a "historic" event, responded by publishing what they said was proof: what appeared to be an official agreement signed by Vanuatu's Prime Minister Sato Kilman.

A video statement from Vanuatu's Foreign Minister Alfred Carlot was also posted on YouTube, showing the diplomat dressed in a flowery shirt confirming the move as part of an attempt to "eradicate colonialism from the face of the earth".

But on Friday, Georgia struck back, circulating what it said was a letter signed by Vanuatu's new Prime Minister Edward Natapei saying that the decision had been reversed after a change of government in the Pacific state.

"The fact is that the majority of the world's governments consider Abkhazia as part of Georgia's territory," the letter said.

A report in the Vanuatu Daily Post on Monday appeared to corroborate that, stating that Natapei had "cancelled and withdrew Vanuatu's recognition of the so-called independent state of the Republic of Abkhazia".

Despite this however, the Vanuatu government's official website on Monday continued to carry a statement confirming the recognition.

After the confusion began, an opposition lawmaker in Vanuatu said that the debacle had become a "diplomatic embarrassment for the country".

"It does no good for the reputation of Vanuatu," lawmaker Joe Natuman told Radio New Zealand International earlier this month.

Vanuatu was also involved in a similar controversy in 2004, when it recognised Taiwan as independent before reversing its decision after several weeks under pressure from China.

Despite high hopes in Abkhazia of a new ally in the Pacific, the small Black Sea coastal region is still only recognised by Russia and three other countries with links to Moscow: Nicaragua, Venezuela and the tiny island of Nauru.

There was satisfaction however among Georgian officials, who have formalised diplomatic ties with a series of smaller countries around the world over the past year as part of attempts to head off any further recognitions of Abkhazia.

US-backed Tbilisi's arch foe Moscow was the first to recognise Abkhazia as an independent state after defeating Georgia in a brief war in 2008.

The Kremlin then permanently stationed thousands of troops there -- a move described by Georgia and some of its Western supporters as occupation.

The region had already been under separatist control since a civil war in the early 1990s that killed thousands of people and caused some 250,000 more, mainly ethnic Georgians, to flee their homes.

http://www.interpressnews.ge/en/poli...economist.html

[hakz2007]

UN delegation is expected today in Abkhazia

Today the UN delegation is expected in Abkhazia. It will be headed by Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs of the UN Oscar Fernandez-Taranco.

The delegation also includes co-chair of the Geneva talks Anti Turunen, political adviser to the UN representative in Geneva talks Hailu Mamo, advisors to Oscar Fernandez Taranco – Gianluca Rampolla del Tindaro and Christopher Carlin.

Today they will hold meetings with de facto president of Abkhazia Alexander Ankvab, de facto prime minister Leonid Lakerbaia, de facto foreign minister Vyacheslav Chirikba.

http://eng.expertclub.ge/portal/cnid...6/default.aspx

[Kokoity]

European Parliament adopts another significant resolution for Georgia
17.11.11
European Parliament has adopted another very significant resolution for Georgia confirming that the territories of Georgia are occupied by Russia. Despite Russia`s open resistance, all factions of the European parliament voted for the resolution.
The document also stresses the reforms successfully carried out in Georgia in recent years. The report says:
"Georgia is described as "one of the best-performing partners of the Eastern Partnership in adopting reforms;
"On occupation and ethnic cleansing: "Russia continues to occupy the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, in violation of the fundamental norms and principles of International law (...) ethnic cleansing and forcible demographic changes have taken place in the areas under effective control of the occupying force, which bears responsiblity for human rights violations in these areas" (paragraph F, page 5)
And "recognise georgian regions of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia as occupied territories;
On the right to choose alliances: European Parliament stresses the "right of Georgia to join any international organisation and alliance", reiterates the principle, that "no third country has a veto over the sovereign decision of another country to join any international organisation or alliance and the right to destabilise a democratically elected government;
"On European perspectives : European Parliament recognises Georgia as "a European state" and underlines EU`s "comitment (...) on European perspective, including article 49 of the Treaty of the EU;
"On the right of return of IDP`s and refugies, European Parliament : "stresses the need for the safe and dignified return of all internally displaced persons and refugees to their places of permanent residence and unacceptability of the forced demographic changes;
"On the reforms supporting minorities integration: EU Parliament "welcomes recent law adopted by the Georgian Parliament on the registration of religious organisations and affirmative action measures adopted by the Georgian Governement in the field of education, aiming at a better integration of national minorities;
"On necessity to ensure Russia`s compliance with the ceasefire agreement of August the 12th 2008 : European parliament calls Russian Federation to fulfill "uncoditionnaly all the provisions of the ceasefire agreement of 12 August 2008 between Russia and Georgia, particularly the provision stating that Russia shall guarantee EUMM full unlimited access to the occupied territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia;
"On Georgia`s policies aimed at peaceful conflict resolution : EU parliament "welcomes the unilateral commitment by Georgia not to use force to restore control over the regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia" ... and "calls upon Russia to reciprocate". Also, European Parliament welcomes "Georgia`s Strategy on Occupied Territories and the Action plan for Engagement;
"On the terrorist attacks in Georgia : European Parliament "expresses concern over the terrorist attacks in Georgia since the last year and call on Georgia and Russia to cooperate in investigation of the above mentionned terrorist attacks;
"On the reforms in Georgia : EU parliament "welcomes the significant progress made by Georgia in the areas of democratic reforms, including strenghtenning democratic institutions particularly the Ombudsman`s office, the fight against corruption and the reform of the judiciary, as well as of economic reforms and liberalisation, congratulate Georgia on reducing overall and especially serious crime rates in the country;
"On Georgian government`s policy towards IDP : European Parliament welcomes "a significant work done by Georgia in implementing the IDP Action Plan, with particular regard to access to housing;
"On DCFTA : EP calls for launching "as soon as possible the DCFTA negociations
"On visa dialogue for visa-free movement (visa liberalisation) between Georgia and the EU : EP asseses positively the implementation of the existing visa facilitation and readmission agreements and considers the "launching of the EU-Georgia visa dialogue in a due course, with the aim of visa-liberalisation;
"There is also an amendement from Lisek on Georgia-Russia agreement on WTO, which we hope will be accepted tommorow and added to the text : "EP welcomes the agreement reached between the governments of Russia and Georgia on Russia`s admission to the WTO, in the hope that this agreement treats Abkhazia and South Ossetia as integral parts of Georgia."

http://rustavi2.com/news/news_text.p...main&ct=0&wth=

[Kokoity]

Georgia and Grenada established diplomatic relations
NOVEMBER 23, 2011
Permanent Mission of Georgia to the United Nations


New York, NY
November 23, 2011

Press Release

Georgia and Grenada signed a joint protocol on the establishment of diplomatic and consular relations today.

According to the joint protocol, the relations between the two states will be guided by the principles of national sovereignty, respect of territorial integrity and inviolability of frontiers of sovereign states, while seeking development of political, economic and cultural ties.

The protocol was signed by H.E. Ms. Dessima M. Williams, Permanent Representative of Grenada to the UN and by H.E. Mr. Alexander Lomaia, Permanent Representative of Georgia to the UN.

The protocol signing ceremony was held in New York, at Georgia's Permanent Mission to the UN.

According to the established practice, the sides notified H. E. Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary General on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries by a joint letter.

Georgia has established diplomatic relations with 164 out of 192 Member States of the United Nations.

http://georgiandaily.com/index.php?o...1941&Itemid=65

[Kokoity]

: Lol:: Lol:: Lol:

[Kokoity]

Georgia and the Republic of Haiti established diplomatic relations
DECEMBER 16, 2011
Permanent Mission of Georgia to the United Nations


New York, NY
December 16, 2011

Georgia and the Republic of Haiti signed a joint communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations today.

According to the joint communiqué, the relations between the two states will be guided by the principles of national sovereignty, respect of territorial integrity and inviolability of frontiers of sovereign states, while seeking development of political, economic and cultural ties.

The protocol was signed by H.E. Mr. Jean Wesley Cazea, Charge d'affaires of the Republic of Haiti to the UN and by H.E. Mr. Alexander Lomaia, Permanent Representative of Georgia to the UN.

The communiqué signing ceremony was held in New York, at Georgia's Permanent Mission to the UN.

According to the established practice, the sides notified H. E. Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary General on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries by a joint letter.

Georgia has established diplomatic relations with 165 out of 192 Member States of the United Nations.

http://georgiandaily.com/index.php?o...2034&Itemid=65

[Kokoity]

Group of Russian journalists visit Georgia
03.02.12
A group of Russian journalists are visiting Georgia to get familiarized with the reforms carried out in the law enforcement and public service sectors of Georgia. The reporters from various Russian news agencies and internet newspapers began their visit by a meeting with the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia Vano Merabishvili.
Currently, the Russian journalists are in the city of Rustavi, where they are introduced with the work of the Public Service Agency and the House of Justice.

http://rustavi2.com/news/news_text.p...main&ct=0&wth=

[Kokoity]

[Kokoity]

Armenian producers shoot a documentary on Georgia
10.02.12
Theory of Incredibility - Economic and Anti-Corruption Reforms in Georgia - a documentary has been filmed in Armenia about how the country developed since the Rose Revolution in 2003. The 47 minute film is divided into two parts - one covers the situation before the revolution, when the country was sunk in corruption and which was followed by street protests of hundreds of thousands of people.
The second part of the film describes the pos-revolutionary period of Georgia. The authors narrate the methods of fighting corruption and organized crime, reforms in the law enforcement and governmental structures which turned out effective making the country exemplary for the world.
The authors of the film also focused on the novelties in the public service sector; describe how the Houses of Justice work, where people can take registration services without spending extra human and financial resources, in full comfort.

http://rustavi2.com/news/news_text.p...main&ct=0&wth=

Can somebody post this videos or the link to channel page?

[hakz2007]

Landscapes of Tbilisi featured in upcoming French film

For the last two months, the streets of Tbilisi have turned into the shooting location for a high budget French film, where the much-loved Charlotte Gainsbourg, Academy Award winning Director Michel Hazanavicious and Vincent Lacoste play the leading roles.

Written and directed by a well known cartoonist and comic creator, Riad Sattouf’s Jaky in Women’s Kingdom is a comedy that is played out in an unreal, female-controlled military autocracy where gender roles are reversed and men wear the veil.

Read more

[hakz2007]

Georgian Finance Minister discusses joint projects with the regional director of JICA

Georgia, Tbilisi, March 21 / Trend N. Kirtzkhalia /

Georgian Finance Minister Nodar Khaduri has met with Director General of the Department on East and Central Asia and the Caucasus, of head office of Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Kae Yanagisawa.

They discussed the project of constructing the road Zestaponi-Kutaisi-Samtredia of highway East-West of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency.

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[Kokoity]

Vanuatu to forge ties with Georgia
Posted at 06:09 on 18 March, 2013 UTC
Vanuatu’s foreign minister, Alfred Carlot, says a process is underway to establish diplomatic relations with Georgia.
The minister announced this at the weekend to Radio Vanuatu which also reported the prime minister, Sato Kilman, as saying forging ties with the former Soviet republic is in his country’s interests.
The move comes two years after Mr Carlot recognised Abkhazia, the Russian-backed breakaway region of Georgia.
However, the Director-General of Foreign Affairs, Johnny Koanapo, says Vanuatu has no formal relations with Abkhazia but is seeking ties with Georgia.
“The Foreign Minister made it clear in the parliament that it is important to establish diplomatic relations with Georgia as well which is something that the government will pursue in the near future.”
“DUR:...15 seconds”
Johnny Koanapo of Vanuatu’s foreign ministry
News Content © Radio New Zealand International
PO Box 123, Wellington, New Zealand

http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=74703

[Kokoity]

The Iranians who come to Georgia
By Damien McGuinness
BBC News, Tbilisi

Babek says he was jailed and beaten in Iran for Christian preaching

Increasing numbers of Iranians are settling in the former Soviet state of Georgia. Some say they are being forced to move because of Iran's poor economy, hit hard by Western sanctions. Others blame persecution by the authorities in Tehran.

The weekly magazine Aryana may be printed in Georgia but it is written in Farsi. That is because it is catering to the growing number of Iranians moving here - since its launch seven months ago, its circulation has quadrupled.

The magazine helps Iranians settle in Georgia by explaining the local culture and traditions.

Its editor and owner, Sara Ghazi, says that people in Iran are struggling to cope with rampant inflation. And she feels, as a journalist, restricted.

"I could never work there because I like to write what I think. And that's not free in Iran. They control what to write and how to think. That's not me."

Georgia is an attractive option for many: It is close to Iran, the economy is growing and Iranians do not need a visa.

Ms Ghazi's husband, Mustafa Sedighi, is a poet who moved to Georgia in the middle of March. His work is banned in Iran. But now he has been able to publish his latest poem, which is critical of the situation in Iran, in Aryana.

"I have the freedom to do what I want here," he explained. "I've never experienced this kind of liberty before, to write what I want to write."


Record unemployment has forced a growing number of Iranians to seek work in Georgia
The number of Iranians who travelled to Georgia increased by 60% last year, to around 100,000 per year. And more than 6,000 Iranians are now officially registered as residents in Georgia - a large number for a country unused to immigration.

Dollar-driven
For Iranian toy manufacturer Babak Amin, leaving Iran is an economic necessity.

I met him at a new consultancy in Tbilisi, called the Georgian-Iranian Business Centre, which gives advice to Iranians about how to open a business here. Consultants see up to 15 Iranians a day, who are looking to open a company or buy property in Georgia.


Tbilisi has an Islamic-style bathhouse
Mr Amin said it was getting impossible to sell his goods back home in Iran because, as a result of the sanctions, the currency there is constantly losing value.

"The rate of the US dollar changes every day so we cannot do business [in Iran]," he said." We buy something today and send it to Iran and on that day the US dollar goes up, and then we lose money."

The advantage of Georgia is that it is seen as the most pro-Western and business-friendly country in the region.

But there are also strong cultural and historical links between Georgia and Iran.

Georgia was once part of a large Iranian, or Persian, empire.

Those influences can still be seen today in the architecture of Tbilisi's Old Town.

One old bathhouse is built in the style of a mosque and is covered with decorated blue tiles. A lot of the old houses here have arched windows and carved wooden balconies, so typical of traditional Iranian architecture.

And many Iranians have told me that Georgian attitudes, such as strong family values or an emphasis on hospitality, remind them of Iran. So they quickly feel at home here.

Power balance
Georgia, meanwhile, hopes the influx of Iranians will lead to an economic boost.

But the challenge is how to have a good relationship with nearby Iran while avoiding antagonising the US - Georgia's most important ally - and the EU, which Georgia wants to join.

"Georgia wants to belong to European and Euro-Atlantic structures but at the same time to have good relations with every neighbour," said Georgian political analyst Alexander Rondeli.

He argues that Georgia has to manage a delicate balancing act between nearby powers, who may have different political ideologies, and key allies, who are far away.

"In this region there are three regional superpowers - Russia, Turkey and Iran," he said.

"And we cannot ignore this situation because we have to deal with all three of them. They contribute to our stability, our security. So I think having normal good relations with Iran, especially in business, is not dangerous to Georgia, and not to international security either."

But for some Iranians, Georgia is providing a safe haven from persecution.

'New Dubai'
I met a group of Iranian evangelical Christians, who have all recently moved to Georgia, as they sang hymns in the street. They have set up a stall in the middle of Tbilisi, to hand out the Bible, in Farsi, to Iranian people passing by.


Aryana magazine is aimed at Iranians in Georgia
When the group's preacher, known as Babek, tried to do that in Iran, he told me how he was sentenced to 40 days in solitary confinement, and was beaten by police so badly that his legs were broken.

"If you are Muslim and you convert to Christianity, the government can cause you lots of problems in Iran: you can go to prison, you can lose your job," he said.

Other Iranians say that living in Georgia means they feel free from harassment by the authorities for certain political opinions or lifestyle choices, such as drinking alcohol. And some Iranian women say they enjoy not having to wear a headscarf.

Meanwhile back at the printing presses, Ms Ghazi was organising the distribution of this week's edition of her magazine.

The business opportunities in Georgia now remind her of Dubai 10 years ago.

"Here if you've got the ideas and creativity and some capital you can easily invest and grow, and help the country and the market also grow," she said.

Unemployment in Georgia, though, is high. So for Iranians who do not have the capital to start a business, it is difficult to find a job.

But at least, many of them say, they have found a country where they can feel free.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21974676

[Kokoity]

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