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The News in Brief

Tuesday, October 22
By Lizi Zurabiani



Georgia and United Kingdom sign strategic partnership agreement

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia David Zalkaliani and United Kingdom Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Dominic Raab signed a "Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Georgia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" in London.

According to the Foreign Ministry's press office, the agreement will replace the Association Agreement between Georgia and the European Union in the bilateral relations with Great Britain after Brexit. The document covers a wide range of cooperation and creates a legal framework for strategic partnerships, as well as ensuring the maintenance of a free trade regime between Georgia and the UK.

The agreement covers various areas of cooperation, including foreign and security policy, economic dialogue, transport, energy and more.

It should be noted that the agreement provides for a free trade regime and repeats the provisions of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DC FTA) between Georgia and the EU.

The Agreement recognizes Georgia's achievements in the path of European and Euro-Atlantic integration, as well as its European choice; Supports Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders; At the same time, the importance of peaceful resolution of the Georgian-Russian conflict, safe and dignified return of refugees and reconciliation of societies divided by the conflict. Also, the parties undertake to extend the benefits of this agreement to all citizens of Georgia, including those affected by the conflict.

A Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Forum are set up to monitor the implementation of the Agreement mentioned above and other areas.

The Agreement will enter into force temporarily after the United Kingdom leaves the EU and will be formally fully effective after ratification by both parties.



UN week celebrated in Ushguli

With the joint efforts of the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Georgia and the Office of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Georgia, UN Week was celebrated in Ushguli on October 19th, in addition to other cities and municipalities in Georgia. Planned events were attended by UN Resident Coordinator in Georgia Sabine Moghli and Head of the UN Office in Georgia Lela Bakradze.

An exhibition of photographer Dina Oganova opened at the Ushguli school as part of the campaign, which featured two photo projects: “Girls from the Future” and “Peers for Equality”. “Girls from the Future” photo project tells the stories of girls aged 10 to 16 living in different cities and villages of Georgia through photos and texts. The aim of the project is to show the public that the full realization of the potential of girls, the creation of equal conditions and equal access to education and health care are crucial for the advancement and development of each state, that each girl should be able to complete her education and make informed decisions about her own life and health.

“Peers for Equality” unites the history of 12 young people. As part of the photo project, they talk about gender equality, healthy lifestyles, reproductive health, education, activism, and their initiatives. The photo project is produced with the support of the UNFPA Georgia Office and is part of a large-scale advocacy work undertaken by UNFPA to eliminate harmful early marriage practices and protect the reproductive health and rights of adolescents and young people.

According to the UN Population Fund, in collaboration with the National Parliamentary Library of Georgia, the “Equality Corner” was opened in the Ushguli Library. The "Equality Corner" will enable young people in Ushguli to raise awareness of equality through contemporary fiction. Director of the National Library of Georgia, writer Giorgi Kekelidze will open the "Equality Corner". During the event, he will deliver a public lecture and talk about the idea and importance of gender equality.

The opening of the "Equality Corner" aims to help realize the potential of adolescents and young people. The authors of the initiative believe that it is extremely important for Georgia to have as many spaces as possible for adolescents and young people to receive informal education, meaningfully spend their free time and share ideas.

According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the events were held within the framework of UN Week, in cooperation with the Ushguli Municipality.