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• Georgian President visits U.S.

  Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has left for the U.S. to address the 67th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), slated for 6-17 March 2023.

  The President will also meet with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, UN Women Executive Director Sima Sami Bahous, and UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner.

  Zourabichvili will hold bilateral meetings with New York Mayor, Eric Adams, and the Presidents of the countries participating in the forum.

  She will also visit Yale and Harvard Universities to deliver a public lecture at the Harvard Kennedy School.

• Prime Minister meets French Ambassador to Georgia

  Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili met with Sheraz Gasri, Ambassador of France to Georgia.

  The conversation at the introductory meeting focused on the current relations and prospects of future cooperation between Georgia and France.

  It was noted that France is Georgia’s friend and reliable partner. The Head of Government thanked the French Ambassador for firmly supporting Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the policy of non-recognition.

  Emphasis at the meeting was placed on the significance of France’s support for Georgia’s EU and NATO integration. It was underlined that Georgia will continue supporting European values and its constructive role in upholding peace and stability in the region.

  Press Service of the Government Administration
• Address by the President

  This briefing was not scheduled. Today, anyway, I wasn't going to do anything, and when I heard that the rally was going to be held here, it was my decision and my desire to join the people with whom I shared many battles (I'm not talking here about electoral battles) in those dark days when we fought together against the criminal and unfair regime of Misha Saakashvili. I came out there for these people, not for some protesters, I don't know who, to show up in the palace, that's not the right format, and I'm sure that wasn't the intention of the people who spearheaded it.

  Those people whom I respect very much because of all this and our common past, have come to the palace many times and know that my door is open, everyone has the opportunity to ask for a meeting, and I’ve shown it recently that I meet everyone, and not only those with whom these battles I have shared, and I will continue to do so.

  Now I want to go back to what I wanted to say earlier and couldn't finish what I had to say, and I want to continue to say it through you, and for that, I want to thank you once again.

  First, let me say: I know that this demonstration was not only organized by those people, but it was accompanied by various message boxes that have been circulating these days. This was deliberately done in order to put pressure on the President from those people, from the party whose leaders were nowhere in 2007 (I say 2007, because this is the period when everything happened and everything was clear.)

  These people, who today threaten me with my career or in different ways and believe that they could threaten me, were not there then, and now they ask me about my morale and teach me how to fight against Saakashvili, who is already fallen.

  I wonder where these people have been since 2007. I will tell you, one was in Misha's staff and stayed there for a long time. Another one was in "Cartu Bank", well-paid. Others were in other positions and I don't want to make it personal now, but they were nowhere so how can they ask about my morals? What can they teach me, I wonder?! The same goes for that quartet that walks around saying stuff.

  It is very clear that here, there is some kind of joint game between different forces, which are supposedly very opposed. But in reality, who ‘pardoned’ Murusidze and Chinchaladze? Was it me? If so, when? I don't know, tell me! I think that the very power that is teaching me wisdom today, not only pardoned them, but placed them in such places, from which no one can remove them, and from which they also very effectively block our way to Europe.

  Who is this for? Why don't we ask this?! Before the rally comes to me (when I say coming - I'm talking about the rally, not about the people who are coming to meet, have been coming and I hope they will come here again.)

  What is the agreement between these two powers? On the one hand, bringing Misha. Why did some of them advised, urged him to come down here, launch a revolution, claiming people would come out for him.

  On the other side, those who were playing with Georgian emotions and antagonizing him: ‘if you’re brave, come here. Don’t be lazy, come here.’

  Both were excited about Misha's arrival and we can see why. Because we have been living in this for a year already and more. A year later, we are completely stuck around Misha, in arguments, disputes, fights, there is no other topic, it is impossible to raise another topic, the country is sinking around this issue, and this suits both sides. 

  For one side, it is probably because it cannot see other plans, because it no longer has an answer to any of the questions that society should ask its government, and I don't know what I have to do with it, but it is unacceptable. Or they don't know me, maybe they don't know me, I don't know, they still haven’t learned who I was for so many years, but pressure on the institution (and not to mention a woman and the president) that is happening today is unacceptable. This bullying, (by the way, I don't know where are those NGO people who should express something about bullying), direct blackmail, threats, humiliation are unacceptable

  And here look, there’s a "Russian village" at my doorstep, and what does that mean? In no other country, in front of the president's palace, such a village, especially in this tense period, would be built, but there are different opinions and different tastes about it.

  Then they threaten me with “career”, as if I could kiss my career goodbye, as if I wanted some other career, they forget how old I am, but if anyone knows me in this country, they will also know that I left my career over there a long time ago, that I am only interested in this country, I am interested only in the European future of this country, which for some reason everyone is fighting against, no one can see that our society wants this and our society will continue to want it regardless of everything - here I am, here you are and we will go on this path, despite everyone's pressure and attempts to blackmail in different ways.

• THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE FRENCH COMPANY ”AIRBUS HELICOPTERS” FOR THE PURPOSE OF PURCHASING 3 NEW HELICOPTERS

  At the Ministry of Internal Affairs, an agreement was signed with the French company "Airbus Helicopters" for the purchase of 3 new helicopters. From the Georgian side, the agreement was signed by the head of the Border Police - Nikoloz Sharadze, and Romain Lana - the representative of "Airbus Helicopters", from the side of the supplying company.

  In coordination with Georgian Government, in order to further enhance the capabilities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the border police will purchase 3 "H145" type helicopters. After several months of negotiations with „Airbus“, the total cost of the project is approximately 26,500,000 euros.

  According to the terms of the agreement, AS332 L1e S/N 2833 (Super Puma) helicopter purchased for Georgian high officials several years ago will be handed over to “Airbus Helicopters” by the Georgian side. By privatizing „Super Puma“ helicopter, the cost for the purchase of new "H145 helicopters will be saved by 5,500,000 euros.

  "H145" is a multipurpose helicopter with a capacity to perform police, transport, search and rescue operations. The new helicopters will be fully equipped with firefighting and mountain rescue equipment. With two functional engines, the flight safety of helicopters is even more increased. The mentioned type of helicopter is distinguished by the ability to operate and maneuver at high altitude, considering the mountainous terrain of Georgia, and is fully suitable for the existing tasks.

  "H145" is one of the latest models of "Airbus", which is successfully operated by the police and emergency management services of Germany, Switzerland, France, Canada and other states.

  According to the agreement signed in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the first helicopter will be delivered to the Georgian side 17 months after signing the contract, while all three of them will be in Georgia in 20 months, in full flight condition. Along with the purchase of new helicopters, the contract also envisions pilot and engineer training courses, spare parts and a 3-year factory warranty.

   

• Ilia Darchiashvili has met with the French ambassador

  On 19 December 2022, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ilia Darchiashvili, held his first meeting with the Ambassador of the French Republic to Georgia, Sheraz Gasri. The Minister congratulated the French diplomat on the start of her diplomatic mission in Georgia and wished her successful work.
   
  The sides noted with satisfaction the partnership relations and fruitful cooperation established between the two countries. Discussions focused on the political dialogue between Georgia and France, the dynamics of high-level bilateral visits and the future agenda. The sides emphasized the importance of the Dimitri Amilakhvari Georgian-French dialogue, which includes a wide range of political, defense, internal security, trade-economic, cultural and educational relations and reflects the close ties between the two countries. The sides confirmed their readiness to hold the second round of dialogue in the near future.

  Ilia Darchiashvili thanked the ambassador for France's support of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as for the non-recognition policy. Within the framework of the meeting, discussions focused on the issues of Georgia's integration into the European and Euro-Atlantic structures. The sides noted the progress achieved by Georgia on the road to European integration, the implementation of the 12-point plan and the importance of obtaining the status of a candidate country were noted. The French ambassador expressed her readiness to contribute to the further deepening of Georgian-French relations. She emphasized that France will remain an unwavering supporter of Georgia's sovereignty, territorial integrity, European and Euro-Atlantic integration. At the end of the meeting, the sides confirmed their commitment to further strengthen the existing strategic cooperation between Georgia and France.