The News in Brief
Monday, November 4
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Water Laboratory Day in Georgia
Through the recent upgrade of the water laboratory at the National Environmental Agency, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture now conducts state-of-the-art water analysis and provides certified laboratory capacities which advance the protection of water and river basins in Georgia. The new devices are able to detect a much wider range of industrial chemicals and pesticides, many of which are cancerogenic, neurotoxic, or bioaccumulating. With this expansion of the laboratory, more pollutants can now be monitored and subsequently managed with greater precision. This will eventually lower the risk for people and ecosystems to suffer from the toxic effects of such pollutants.
The event also celebrated the recent accreditation of the laboratory according to ISO/EN 17025:2017 which attests its compliance with international quality standards for laboratories. Georgia is the first country of the Eastern Partnership to achieve this outstanding result. The accreditation confirms that analytical results provided by the National Environmental Agency are comparable, consistent, and trustworthy, hence policy decisions can be taken based on solid scientific evidence. The availability of state-of-the-art laboratories is key for Georgia’s compliance with chemical water quality standards set by the EU Water Framework Directive.
During the Water Laboratory Day, young students from the Eastern Partnership European School in Tbilisi visited the new laboratory facilities, learned from experts about environmental analysis of water and rivers systems, and conducted water analysis together with laboratory staff.
A high-level panel informed the audience and media representatives on recent developments regarding water policy and integrated water management in Georgia, followed by a visit of the laboratory and opportunities for exchange between media representatives, students and panelists.
Over the last ten years, the European Union has provided significant technical and financial support to improve water policies to the benefit of people and the environment. The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture has partnered with peers in the European Union through the European Union Water Initiative Plus for the Eastern Partnership (EUWI+). As part of its commitments under the Association Agreement, Georgia is aligning its national policies and strategies with the EU Water Framework Directive. The recent upgrade of the laboratory is a major step towards integrated management of water resources, and support Georgia in its process of approximation to the EU Water Framework Directive. In 2020, two river basin management plans will be the main project outputs.
The draft resolution of "European Georgia" to be presented at Bureau sitting on November 4
Opposition demands Parliament to set up investigative commission on pardoning convicts of President Salome Zourabichvili. The draft resolution of "European Georgia" will be presented to the Parliamentary Bureau on November 4.
The parliamentary opposition in the draft resolution indicates that the President's pardon on October 28 should be investigated as a possible corruption scheme. “European Georgia” emphasizes that despite investigations launched by the prosecutor's office, the Georgian president has not been interviewed so far and has not even provided interim information to parliament.
The draft resolution states that the Parliamentary Interim Investigation Commission should investigate and identify the following issues:
In the absence of a pardon commission, specifically on whose recommendation and on what basis did the president make a decision to pardon those convicts that caused public criticism;
What is the role of the Parliamentary Secretary of the President of Georgia, Dimitri Gabunia, in the process of pardoning prisoners?
Is there a possible connection between the President's Parliamentary Secretary, Dimitri Gabunia, and other officials of the President's Administration with the pardoned individuals and their families;
Is there a corruption scheme in the process of pardoning convicts and who are the persons involved in the scheme?
President Salome Zourabichvili's pardon in August has been widely debated. One of the most contradictory pardons was that of the person convicted of the murder of a police officer. After the public outcry, the president announced a moratorium on pardon and announced work on legislative changes to pardon.
Georgian judoist Mariam Chanturia becomes European champion
Mariam Chanturia, member of Georgian national team at European U23 Judo Championship, became European champion. Chanturia competes in the 70kg weight class.
In the first match Georgian Judoist beat Jewish Maya Goshen with three shots. Then defeated Belarusian Jana Asipovich with Ippon in two minutes and 16 seconds, in the semifinal, she won the match against Croatia's Andela Violic. In the final, Chanturia defeated her Dutch rival Hilde Jaeger.
It is noteworthy that Chanturia is the second judoist after Eter Lipartelian to win the European Championship gold medal.
(By Lizi Zurabiani)
Water Laboratory Day in Georgia
Through the recent upgrade of the water laboratory at the National Environmental Agency, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture now conducts state-of-the-art water analysis and provides certified laboratory capacities which advance the protection of water and river basins in Georgia. The new devices are able to detect a much wider range of industrial chemicals and pesticides, many of which are cancerogenic, neurotoxic, or bioaccumulating. With this expansion of the laboratory, more pollutants can now be monitored and subsequently managed with greater precision. This will eventually lower the risk for people and ecosystems to suffer from the toxic effects of such pollutants.
The event also celebrated the recent accreditation of the laboratory according to ISO/EN 17025:2017 which attests its compliance with international quality standards for laboratories. Georgia is the first country of the Eastern Partnership to achieve this outstanding result. The accreditation confirms that analytical results provided by the National Environmental Agency are comparable, consistent, and trustworthy, hence policy decisions can be taken based on solid scientific evidence. The availability of state-of-the-art laboratories is key for Georgia’s compliance with chemical water quality standards set by the EU Water Framework Directive.
During the Water Laboratory Day, young students from the Eastern Partnership European School in Tbilisi visited the new laboratory facilities, learned from experts about environmental analysis of water and rivers systems, and conducted water analysis together with laboratory staff.
A high-level panel informed the audience and media representatives on recent developments regarding water policy and integrated water management in Georgia, followed by a visit of the laboratory and opportunities for exchange between media representatives, students and panelists.
Over the last ten years, the European Union has provided significant technical and financial support to improve water policies to the benefit of people and the environment. The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture has partnered with peers in the European Union through the European Union Water Initiative Plus for the Eastern Partnership (EUWI+). As part of its commitments under the Association Agreement, Georgia is aligning its national policies and strategies with the EU Water Framework Directive. The recent upgrade of the laboratory is a major step towards integrated management of water resources, and support Georgia in its process of approximation to the EU Water Framework Directive. In 2020, two river basin management plans will be the main project outputs.
The draft resolution of "European Georgia" to be presented at Bureau sitting on November 4
Opposition demands Parliament to set up investigative commission on pardoning convicts of President Salome Zourabichvili. The draft resolution of "European Georgia" will be presented to the Parliamentary Bureau on November 4.
The parliamentary opposition in the draft resolution indicates that the President's pardon on October 28 should be investigated as a possible corruption scheme. “European Georgia” emphasizes that despite investigations launched by the prosecutor's office, the Georgian president has not been interviewed so far and has not even provided interim information to parliament.
The draft resolution states that the Parliamentary Interim Investigation Commission should investigate and identify the following issues:
In the absence of a pardon commission, specifically on whose recommendation and on what basis did the president make a decision to pardon those convicts that caused public criticism;
What is the role of the Parliamentary Secretary of the President of Georgia, Dimitri Gabunia, in the process of pardoning prisoners?
Is there a possible connection between the President's Parliamentary Secretary, Dimitri Gabunia, and other officials of the President's Administration with the pardoned individuals and their families;
Is there a corruption scheme in the process of pardoning convicts and who are the persons involved in the scheme?
President Salome Zourabichvili's pardon in August has been widely debated. One of the most contradictory pardons was that of the person convicted of the murder of a police officer. After the public outcry, the president announced a moratorium on pardon and announced work on legislative changes to pardon.
Georgian judoist Mariam Chanturia becomes European champion
Mariam Chanturia, member of Georgian national team at European U23 Judo Championship, became European champion. Chanturia competes in the 70kg weight class.
In the first match Georgian Judoist beat Jewish Maya Goshen with three shots. Then defeated Belarusian Jana Asipovich with Ippon in two minutes and 16 seconds, in the semifinal, she won the match against Croatia's Andela Violic. In the final, Chanturia defeated her Dutch rival Hilde Jaeger.
It is noteworthy that Chanturia is the second judoist after Eter Lipartelian to win the European Championship gold medal.
(By Lizi Zurabiani)