The News in Brief
Thursday, April 3
President of Georgia pays official visit to Poland
President of Georgia pays his first official visit to Poland. Giorgi Margvelashvili will meet with the President of Poland, Bronislaw Komorowski.
Within the two-day visit, President Margvelashvili will also hold negotiations with the Marshals of Polish Senate and Seimas. The parties will discuss bilateral economic and political cooperation issues.
The president also plans to meet with Georgian Diaspora in Poland. (Rustavi 2)
Justice Minister delivers speech to Human Rights Committee
Georgia’s Justice Minister Tea Tsulukiani has delivered a report to the Human Rights Committee at a meeting in Parliament where the minister summarized the Ministry’s 18 month work to develop human rights in Georgia.
"The right to a fair trial, the right to free and fair elections, the right of individuals to equality, labor rights, property rights, freedom of information and openness of the structure, the availability of public services and their quality – those were our main priorities,” Tsulukiani said.
The Minister underlined the importance of the work of the Juvenile Justice Code.
She emphasized the country’s reforms and progress it had made to create transparency in the Court in terms of fair justice. Progress made in the judicial system was de-politicization of the Justice Council, the Minister announced.
Furthermore, the Minister reviewed the work made by the anti-narcotics council and Interagency Council on trafficking.
Tsulukiani said the trafficking investigation had increased by 40 percent and there were planned legislative changes to increase the efficiency in the fight against human trafficking.
The Minister also mentioned the importance of rehabilitating and re-socializing prisoners. She noted the Justice Ministry was the first state agency which offered various services to help former prisoners became full-fledged members of society.
After her speech, the Minister answered the questions of Committee members.
The next government member who is reported to the Human Rights Committee will be the Chief Prosecutor. (Agenda.Ge)
PM kicks-off tour of Georgia’s Regions
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili started his regional tour. Gharibashvili visited Senaki Military base, where he viewed the modern barracks, gym and pool. He paid tribute to the memory of the soldiers, fallen in the Russia - Georgia war of 2008 as well.
The Prime Minister spoke with the soldiers during his visit to the military base and focused on the improvement of their living conditions. Gharibashvili considers protection of dignity and support to the military and civilian personnel as one of the necessary precondition for strengthening the defense of the country.
According to the prime minister, the Government is actively engaged in improving the social and health protection programs for the military and civilian personnel. (Rustavi 2)
Ilia II – Georgia will do everything to become a member of European structures
Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II met with David Lidington, a British Conservative Party politician and a Minister of State at the Foreign Office on April 1. The meeting was attended by the British ambassador in Georgia Alexandra Hall Hall.
The Patriarch thanked Lidington for the visit. “We are happy about your visit at such difficult time, when the territorial integrity of Georgia has not been restored, the arrival of the Minister of State at the Foreign Office is support for our country,” Ilia II said.
Ilia II recalled his visit to the UK and meeting Queen Elisabeth II.
The British guest said that he has been honored to meet the Patriarch of Georgia. Lidington said that he knows the role of Georgian church in the development of the country and that it has a great role in the life of the people.
Lidingtong stated that Great Britain views Georgia as member of the European family and after the Association Agreement is signed, Georgia will have more possibilities in economic and political perspectives. He also said that Europe will also get to know Georgia's rich culture. He spoke about the diversity of Europe. The Patriarch noted that Georgia does everything to become a member of the European structures. (InterPressNews)
Live interviews of 27 candidates for Public Broadcaster board
The 27 candidates for the Board of Trustees of Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) will be interviewed live on GPB’s Channel 2 Wednesday and Thursday.
After going through a round of interviews, a shortlist of 15 candidates will be sent to parliament, which will then have to choose five people to fill the five empty seats on the board.
Who shall control GPB has long been a contentious issue, as attempts are made to make it neutral in a media landscape for years characterized by fervently politicized television.
Parliament has several times failed to select new members for the GPB board. Only four members out of nine have been approved.
A new competition was announced March 11 and the competition commission met on March 31 to select 27 candidates. (Democracy & Freedom Watch)
President of Georgia pays his first official visit to Poland. Giorgi Margvelashvili will meet with the President of Poland, Bronislaw Komorowski.
Within the two-day visit, President Margvelashvili will also hold negotiations with the Marshals of Polish Senate and Seimas. The parties will discuss bilateral economic and political cooperation issues.
The president also plans to meet with Georgian Diaspora in Poland. (Rustavi 2)
Justice Minister delivers speech to Human Rights Committee
Georgia’s Justice Minister Tea Tsulukiani has delivered a report to the Human Rights Committee at a meeting in Parliament where the minister summarized the Ministry’s 18 month work to develop human rights in Georgia.
"The right to a fair trial, the right to free and fair elections, the right of individuals to equality, labor rights, property rights, freedom of information and openness of the structure, the availability of public services and their quality – those were our main priorities,” Tsulukiani said.
The Minister underlined the importance of the work of the Juvenile Justice Code.
She emphasized the country’s reforms and progress it had made to create transparency in the Court in terms of fair justice. Progress made in the judicial system was de-politicization of the Justice Council, the Minister announced.
Furthermore, the Minister reviewed the work made by the anti-narcotics council and Interagency Council on trafficking.
Tsulukiani said the trafficking investigation had increased by 40 percent and there were planned legislative changes to increase the efficiency in the fight against human trafficking.
The Minister also mentioned the importance of rehabilitating and re-socializing prisoners. She noted the Justice Ministry was the first state agency which offered various services to help former prisoners became full-fledged members of society.
After her speech, the Minister answered the questions of Committee members.
The next government member who is reported to the Human Rights Committee will be the Chief Prosecutor. (Agenda.Ge)
PM kicks-off tour of Georgia’s Regions
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili started his regional tour. Gharibashvili visited Senaki Military base, where he viewed the modern barracks, gym and pool. He paid tribute to the memory of the soldiers, fallen in the Russia - Georgia war of 2008 as well.
The Prime Minister spoke with the soldiers during his visit to the military base and focused on the improvement of their living conditions. Gharibashvili considers protection of dignity and support to the military and civilian personnel as one of the necessary precondition for strengthening the defense of the country.
According to the prime minister, the Government is actively engaged in improving the social and health protection programs for the military and civilian personnel. (Rustavi 2)
Ilia II – Georgia will do everything to become a member of European structures
Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II met with David Lidington, a British Conservative Party politician and a Minister of State at the Foreign Office on April 1. The meeting was attended by the British ambassador in Georgia Alexandra Hall Hall.
The Patriarch thanked Lidington for the visit. “We are happy about your visit at such difficult time, when the territorial integrity of Georgia has not been restored, the arrival of the Minister of State at the Foreign Office is support for our country,” Ilia II said.
Ilia II recalled his visit to the UK and meeting Queen Elisabeth II.
The British guest said that he has been honored to meet the Patriarch of Georgia. Lidington said that he knows the role of Georgian church in the development of the country and that it has a great role in the life of the people.
Lidingtong stated that Great Britain views Georgia as member of the European family and after the Association Agreement is signed, Georgia will have more possibilities in economic and political perspectives. He also said that Europe will also get to know Georgia's rich culture. He spoke about the diversity of Europe. The Patriarch noted that Georgia does everything to become a member of the European structures. (InterPressNews)
Live interviews of 27 candidates for Public Broadcaster board
The 27 candidates for the Board of Trustees of Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) will be interviewed live on GPB’s Channel 2 Wednesday and Thursday.
After going through a round of interviews, a shortlist of 15 candidates will be sent to parliament, which will then have to choose five people to fill the five empty seats on the board.
Who shall control GPB has long been a contentious issue, as attempts are made to make it neutral in a media landscape for years characterized by fervently politicized television.
Parliament has several times failed to select new members for the GPB board. Only four members out of nine have been approved.
A new competition was announced March 11 and the competition commission met on March 31 to select 27 candidates. (Democracy & Freedom Watch)