MEETING OF SHALVA PAPUASHVILI WITH PABSEC SECRETARY-GENERAL
The Speaker, H.E. Shalva Papuashvili, met with Asaf Hajiyev, Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC).
According to the administration of the Parliament of Georgia, given the current regional issues, Shalva Papuashvili believes that collaboration among Black Sea countries is extremely vital. PABSEC, he says, is an excellent venue for bolstering regional partnerships.
At the meeting, current events in Ukraine and the Black Sea region were discussed. The Russian intervention in Ukraine is expected to have major ramifications for the region and the world, according to the sides.
In modern international relations, the Secretary-General emphasized the necessity of countries' support for each other's sovereignty and the concept of territorial integrity.
The parties emphasized their willingness to continue their positive cooperation in the Black Sea region.
JOINT EXERCISES HELD IN THE BLACK SEA WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF THE GEORGIAN COAST GUARD SHIPS AND THE USS ARLEIGH BURKE
The representatives of the MIA Border Police Coast Guard Department and the USS Arleigh Burke crew conducted joint exercises in the Black Sea.
Three Coast Guard ships OCHAMCHIRE (P23), SOKHUMI (P24) and DIOSKURIA (P25) participated in the exercise.
During the exercise, the ships performed tactical manoeuvres and worked together to improve various elements.
The purpose of the joint exercises was to share experiences between two naval units, improve the interaction between the crews and strengthen the MIA Border Police Coast Guard capabilities.
Source: MIA Border Police
MIA BORDER POLICE COAST GUARD DEPARTMENT IS HOSTING 5 NATO SHIPS IN GEORGIA (Video)
Georgian coast guard completed the final maritime training of the multinational exercise sea breeze 2021
EU and UNDP launch new project – EU for Improving Environmental Monitoring in the Black Sea (EU4EMBLAS)
On 24 June, the European Union and UNDP launched a new project – EU for Improving Environmental Monitoring in the Black Sea (EU4EMBLAS) – to further boost the efforts to improve protection of the Black Sea environment.
EU4EMBLAS builds on the results of previous phases of the project, which have tackled the deficiencies and limitations in marine data availability, supported development of the Black Sea Water Quality Databases, assessment and classification schemes, as well as addressed public involvement in marine litter reduction and environmental protection through local small-scale actions, campaigns and events.
EU4EMBLAS will primarily help to establish modern systems and facilities to support marine environmental monitoring in Georgia and Ukraine and strengthen national capacities for application of modern analytical methods, data management and assessment related to marine environmental monitoring. Increased public awareness on Black Sea environmental issues and education of the young generation will continue to be an integral part of the programme.
Key actors include national institutions involved in the Black Sea monitoring, as well as national authorities, research / scientific / educational organisations, and civil society organisations.
The material is prepared within the project "EU NEIGHBOURS east"
NATO-GEORGIA JOINT MARITIME TRAININGS IN BLACK SEA
Within the Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO (SNMG2) port call to Georgia the NATO force conducted combined maritime trainings in the Black Sea with the Coast Guard Department under the MIA Border Police of Georgia.
SNMG2 ships - REGINA MARIA (Romania), KEMALREIS (Turkey) and SMELI (Bulgaria) conduct combined maritime exercise training with the Georgian Coast Guard vessels "Ochamchire" [P23] and "Dioskuria" [P25].
The aim of maritime exercises is to enhance interoperability and interaction between the Georgian and Allied forces.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, this port visit is a visible demonstration of NATO’s continued commitment to Georgia. It is important that NATO port visits to Georgia's Black Sea ports are regular, which is one of the tangible results of NATO-Georgia cooperation in strengthening Black Sea security.
Joint training was held in full compliance with the recommendations of the Georgia’s National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Source: https://police.ge/en/shav-zghvashi-nato-saqartvelos-ertoblivi-sazghvao-tsvrtnebi-chatarda/14477
THE GCG OF MIA BORDER POLICE HOSTING NATO VESSELS
The Georgian Coast Guard of MIA Border Police is hosting Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO (SNMG2) in the territorial waters of Georgia. SNMG2 includes: CRISTOBAL COLON - FLAGSHIP (Spain), REGINA MARIA (Romania), KEMALREIS (Turkey) and SMELI (Bulgaria). The Maritime Group is led by Rear Admiral Manuel Aguirre Alderegua, Commander of NATO’s SNMG2.
The port call aims to enhance interoperability between Georgia, NATO and the Alliance’s partner nations’ naval forces.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, this port visit is a visible demonstration of NATO’s continued commitment to Georgia. It is important that NATO port visits to Georgia's Black Sea ports are regular, which is one of the tangible results of NATO-Georgia cooperation in strengthening Black Sea security.
The visit is being held in full compliance with the recommendations of the Georgia’s National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). The meetings are to be held through VTC and combined exercises will only include ship manoeuvres without crew interactions in order to prevent the possible spread of the new coronavirus.
Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO will leave the territorial waters of Georgia on March 18, after the completion of a joint training with the GCG.
U.S. Navy Warship USS Donald Cook Enters the Black Sea
BLACK SEA — The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) transited into the Black Sea in support of NATO Allies and partners, Nov. 23, 2020.
This is the seventh time a U.S. Navy ship has visited the Black Sea since the beginning of 2020. The last ship to visit the region was USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) in September. While in the Black Sea, Donald Cook will conduct routine maritime security operations that support regional stability.
“Operating in the Black Sea signifies our commitment to partners and allies in the region,” said Cmdr. Kelley Jones, commanding officer of Donald Cook. “It is an important diplomatic mission, and Donald Cook has enjoyed the hospitality of Black Sea countries many times before.”
The Black Sea is a critical waterway for maritime commerce and stability throughout Europe. The U.S. Navy routinely operates in the Black Sea to work with our NATO Allies and partners, including Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Turkey, and Ukraine. It is in the world’s best interest to maintain a stable, prosperous Black Sea region and deter aggressive actors who seek destabilization for their own gain.
Donald Cook recently began its 11th patrol of the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of responsibility in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe and Africa. The U.S. Navy routinely operates in the Black Sea consistent with international law, including the Montreux Convention.
The ship’s operations in the Black Sea strengthens interoperability among NATO allies and partners and demonstrate collective resolve to Black Sea security under Operation Atlantic Resolve.
Four U.S. Navy destroyers, including Donald Cook, are based in Rota, Spain, and assigned to Commander, Task Force 65 in support of NATO’s Integrated Air Missile Defense architecture. These Forward-Deployed Naval Forces-Europe ships have the flexibility to operate throughout the waters of Europe and Africa, from the Cape of Good Hope to the Arctic Circle, demonstrating their mastery of the maritime domain.
U.S. Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.
From September 7 through September 18 multinational exercise Noble Partner 2020 will be held at the Vaziani military base
From September 7 through September 18 multinational exercise Noble Partner 2020 will be held at the Vaziani military aerodrome, the Vaziani drill ground and the Norio training area. Noble Partner 2020 will be officially opened at IV Mechanized Brigade, Vaziani on September 7. Prior to the official opening ceremony of NP20, an airborne operation will occur at VTA on September 1 by the 173rd Airborne Brigade (US) using C-130 Hercules aircraft.
Noble Partner is a cooperatively-led multinational training exercise in its fifth iteration which is aimed to enhance Georgian, U.S. and partner forces readiness and interoperability, as well as to contribute in maintaining stable and secure environment over the Black Sea region. That’s why the main message of the Noble Partner is - “Strength through Partnership”.
This year totally more than 2700 military servicemen from Georgia, USA, the UK, Poland and France will participate in multinational training. Together with the armored and combat vehicles, as well as artillery systems being in the armament of the Georgian Defense Forces, U.S. air support and armored vehicles will be engaged in the training.
The scenario of the combined multinational exercise includes command, staff and field training with live fire, engagement of maneuver and combat support elements in stability, defensive and offensive operations.
Three (3) media days are scheduled within Noble Partner 2020:
September 1 – 173rd Airborne Brigade’s airborne operation.
September 7 - Official opening ceremony of the exercise;
September 18 – DV Day/Closing ceremony
Media representatives interested in covering the above-mentioned events should apply for accreditation at the Ministry of Defense of Georgia starting from August 26 and ending on August 28 at 18:00 local time. Separate accreditation cards will be issued before each event.
For accreditation, please send the data requested below to the e-mail address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Explore the Black sea Jazz Festival with Visa
- Visa became the official sponsor of the Black see Jazz Festival
- Consumers paying with their Visa cards issued by TBC bank will get discounts at the Black sea Jazz Festival
Tbilisi, 21 August 2020 – Visa today announced that it will be sponsoring theBlack sea Jazz Festival, one of the most visited and popular music event in Georgia. The event, taking place in Batumi over three days from 21-23 August, will host thousands music lovers enjoying live performances from artists including headliners: Giorgi Mikadze, Nino Katamadze, Luka Topuria’s trio, Stephane, Young Georgian Lolitaz and MokuMoku.
To make the music experience even more enjoyable for the festival-goers, Visa and its partners TBC Bank and Eastern Promotions are offering some additional perks to all cardholders of Visa cards issued by TBC bank, including 10% cashback while purchasing tickets and 10% discount on spot in the bar.
“Visa is a partner of numerous major global and national projects, including the Olympic Games and FIFA™ World Cups," said Cristina Doros, country manager for the Caucasus region, Visa, CISSEE. “Regional and local sponsorship is also our focus, and we are proud of our successful partnership with music festivals in Ukraine, Georgia, Belarus and Serbia. Music brings people together and talks to everyone with universal language of melody, rhythm and emotion. For us as a global brand, partnering with Black Sea Jazz Festival is an opportunity to contribute to the cultural heritage of Georgia, interact with our business partners and Visa cardholders at an emotional level, and encourage cashless payments via explicit demonstration of their advantages for the consumers.”
“We are pleased to host 14th Black Sea Jazz Festival, despite difficult times, and we are honored to have such a reliable partner as Visa. In these times, it was crucial to support Georgian artists and not to break our annual tradition of hosting festival, which everyone is awaiting year after year. This year music lovers will enjoy the program specially prepared by the Georgian artists for this festival,” – noted the representatives of Eastern Promotions.
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Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) is the world’s leader in digital payments. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable and secure payment network - enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. Our advanced global processing network, VisaNet, provides secure and reliable payments around the world, and is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second. The company’s relentless focus on innovation is a catalyst for the rapid growth of connected commerce on any device, and a driving force behind the dream of a cashless future for everyone, everywhere. As the world moves from analog to digital, Visa is applying our brand, products, people, network and scale to reshape the future of commerce. For more information, visit www.corporate.visa.com, www.visasoutheasteurope.com, https://www.facebook.com/VisaGeorgiaGE, www.visanewscissee.com
