GLOBALink | Belt and Road Initiative participated by three-fourths of world's countries: Chinese FM
The Belt and Road Initiative has attracted the participation of over three-fourths of countries in the world and 32 international organizations, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said Tuesday.
Produced by Xinhua Global Service
US Assistant Secretary of State says Transparency of Foreign Influence bill based on Russian interests
“This is a law based on Russia’s interest, not Georgia’s interest,” said Todd D. Robinson, Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs at the US Department of State when remarking on the People’s Power-tabled Transparency of Foreign Influence bill.
“Obviously, this is a law based on Russia’s interest, not Georgia’s interest. And we think it’s in Georgia’s interest to work more closely towards Euro-Atlantic integration. This law doesn’t do that. We don’t think it’s the right thing for Georgia. More importantly, Georgians don’t think it’s the right thing for Georgia. And we will keep working with our partners in the government of Georgia to make sure that we’re working towards what is their priority, which is Euro-Atlantic integration,” he said.
Asked to comment about claims that “foreign agents” law is FARA copy-paste, Todd Robinson said:
“Look, I’m not going to get into the details of this law. What I know is that it’s not working for Georgia. It’s not working towards what Georgians want, which is Euro-Atlantic integration. We are helping, we are here to help Georgia towards its ambition, which is Euro-Atlantic integration, and that’s what we’re going to continue to do.”
Georgian Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee on Monday backed the People’s Power-tabled draft bills on Transparency of Foreign Influence and Registration of Foreign Agents in the first reading.
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.
Keynote Speech Delivered by Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia at the Opening Ceremony of ITB Berlin 2023
Good Evening Your Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,
Within the Caucasus region, at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, our country has been the heart of many civilizations for millennia, being the target of great empires and often serving as the subject of contention between them. Entire history of humankind is represented in Georgia. The country was forming and evolving in constant struggle, in the pursuit of development and freedom, and at the same time, in active interaction with other cultures. It is the cooperation of these cultures that gave rise to the intercultural and tolerant nature of which we, Georgians, are so proud!
Almost all climate zones of the planet can be found in Georgia – from subtropical to those of eternal snow and glaciers.
The Georgian nation with its character was formed in such an environment and historical process, with Georgian identity and culture, which is tolerant and respectful of all cultures.
Very few countries exist in the world that have a 3,000-year old history of statehood and a multi-thousand-year national culture. This very culture is one of the fascinating achievements of world civilization and is as old as humanity itself.
Indeed, our history begins from ancient times. The oldest human ancestor in Eurasia was discovered in Georgia. You may well be aware of Homo Georgicus – the first Europeans who lived on the territory of our country almost 2 million years ago and gave rise to the population of modern Europe.
The Georgians have always had a close connection with the ancient civilizations of the Near East or Mesopotamia. The oldest reference to Georgian political establishments can be found in Assyrian sources. The Georgian kingdoms of Colchis, Diaokhi, and Iberia became an integral part of world civilization.
Archaeological discoveries and artefacts reveal a connection between the Hellenic myth about the Golden Fleece and our reality. Even the ancient Greek historians did not doubt this connection. It was thanks to Colchis, being the country of the Golden Fleece, that Georgia found its rightful place in European culture for the first time. The whole cycle of Greek mythology is dedicated to the campaign of Argonauts in Colchis, while the Greek myths are the main source giving rise to ancient and later European culture.
