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The News in Brief

Friday, July 4
Special Bill for eco-migrants prepared

The Ministry of Refugees and Accommodation has drafted a special bill in relation to eco-migrants.

The Minister of Refugees Davit Darakhvelidze has presented the bill to the government. The bill defines procedures of status-granting and the rule of their accommodation. According to the bill eco-migrant families are granted the right of choice to search for a house in the municipality they wish to live. The approach, according to that eco-migrants were accommodated in the houses purchased by the Ministry will change. Because of this fact, eco-migrants had to move to an environment they were not familiar with.

As per Davit Darakhvelidze, eco-migrants will be provided with all necessary conditions by the government. (IPN)



NATO, Georgia discuss emerging security challenges in Tbilisi

The cross-cutting nature of emerging security challenges including cyber defence, energy security and terrorism are being discussed with experts from Georgia and further abroad at a special conference in Tbilisi.

Distinguished experts from academic facilities, state institutions and from the private sector, as well as Ambassador of NATO Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Risks are taking part in the conference.

The event - NATO Science for Peace and Security – was opened by Ambassador Sorin Ducaru, Georgia’s State Ministry on European and Euro-Atlantic Integrating Alexi Petriashvili and First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of David Zalkaliani.

The conference focused on the interaction of several emerging security challenges, and Minister Petriashvili stressed Georgia’s participation in the NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme would be important.

At the conference participants discussed various preventive approaches as well as measures to enhance the resilience of cyber and energy infrastructure against emerging security risks. The group also proposed several research projects as part of the Science for Peace and Security Program. (agenda.ge)



His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II releases statement on the process of land alienation to foreign nationals in Georgia

His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta and Tbilisi, Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia has released a statement on the process of land alienation to foreign nationals in Georgia.

“Under the decision of the Constitutional Court of Georgia, the process of land alienation to foreign nationals in Georgia resumed several days ago. We talked about this issue in Sunday’s sermon. We want to pay attention to this topic again. Today, due to severe socio - economic conditions people living in the villages are forced to sell their property very cheaply. This new reality will pose a big blow to the state. In general, it is good, when foreign companies make their investments in Georgia; because it is impossible to develop the country without these investments, but this process should not become uncontrollable. We must not lose our greatest material wealth – our land, due to this process. And our citizens must not become only service personnel as a result of this process,” the statement says.

His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II addresses the government of Georgia to take immediate measures to avoid possible negative consequences of the above-mentioned problem. In addition, the Patriarch appeals to banks and microfinance institutions, as well as to businessmen, farmers, priests and our youth to do their best to avoid possible negative consequences in the future. (frontnews)



Ivliane Khaindrava assumes office of Under Secretary of the National Security Council

The National Security Secretary has a new deputy - President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili signed the corresponding order on appointing former lawmaker Ivliane Khaindrava on the position of the undersecretary of the National Security Council.

Ivliane Khaindrava was a member of the parliament in 1992-1995 and in 2004-2008. In the period of his work at the parliament, he was a member of the commissions of defense and security, European integration, Abkhazia affairs and fiscal-budgetary issues; he also worked as a member of the South Caucasian parliamentary initiative permanent parliamentary delegation and a member of the state constitutional commission.

Ivliane Khaindrava has also worked at various international NGOs. (Rustavi 2)



Bridget Brink leaves Georgia

The term of rotation for the U.S. Deputy Ambassador in Georgia has expired.

The United States Ambassador to Georgia Richard Norland thanked his deputy for her activities, while delivering a speech at the event dedicated to the US Independence Day. "Today, we’re saying our goodbyes to Bridget Brink. Her 3-year term of rotation has expired. She is leaving Georgia as a member of a large team, known as the American Friends of Georgia," Norland said. The event dedicated to the 238th anniversary of the US Independence Day is underway at the U.S. Embassy attended by representatives of the government of Georgia and the diplomatic corps. (Pia.ge)



Signing of the Association Agreement with the European Union is a Declaration of Independence to a certain extent - Richard Norland

Signing of the Association Agreement with the European Union is in a way a Declaration of Independence by Georgia, United States Ambassador to Georgia Richard Norland said at the US Embassy at the event dedicated to the US Independence Day.

As the Ambassador said, today the USA is celebrating the 238th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. "It has been a very important week for Georgia too. In a way the signing of the EU Association Agreement is a Declaration of Independence again by Georgia," said the Ambassador.

He said that Georgia has reaffirmed its right to chose its economic and security partnerships in the region and this is something the United States is going to continue to support strongly. The event at the U.S. Embassy was attended by more than 1 000 guests. Ambassador Richard Norland and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili delivered speeches at the event. The reception was also attended by almost all members of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Speaker of Parliament, MPs, representatives of NGOs, and ambassadors of various countries. (IPN)