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• Speech by Chinese Ambassador Zhou Qian in the Parliament of Georgia

  Yesterday, an extended meeting of the advisory council of the culture committee was held in the Georgian parliament, with the participation of representatives of the diplomatic corps.

  
  At the meeting of the advisory board of the cultural committee, the Ambassador of China to Georgia H.E. Zhou Qian made a speech:
  "Distinguished Chairman of the Parliament Shalva Papuashvili, First Deputy Chairman George Volski, Deputy Chairman Archil Talakvadze
  Members of the Parliament, Advisers of the Cultural Committee, Ambassadors,
  Good afternoon.
  Let me begin with thanking Chairperson Elisso Bolkvadze for inviting me to today’s meeting. It’s my great honor to share China’s vision and initiative on promoting cultural exchanges in today’s world.
  As the world facing profound change unseen in centuries, the humanity is under unprecedented challenges. Ukraine Crisis and Palestinian-Israeli Conflict are warning calls to the world: we must take a firm position against theories like “clash of civilizations” and “superiority of certain civilization” and realize that culture diversity is fundamental for the human society. The future and fate of all countries and nations are closely bonded like never before. The whole world, as a family, needs tolerance, harmony and unity. Being the only ancient civilization that runs for five thousands years without interruption, China always proposes strengthening exchanges and mutual learning between different civilizations, so as to overcome estrangement and co-exist with each other. This March, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed Global Civilization Initiative, which can be summarized as four joint advocates, namely jointly advocate the respect for the diversity of civilizations, the common values of humanity, the importance of inheritance and innovation of civilizations and robust international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation. Only by abandoning the cold war mentality of “black or white” and vigorously promoting equal-footing dialogue among civilizations, can we address global risks and challenges and achieve common development.
  China and Georgia are both ancient civilizations in the world. The two countries were connected by the ancient Silk Road, gained friendship through constant exchanges, deepened cooperation and became strategic partners. During tens of centuries of exchanges, China and Georgia have left distinctive hallmarks in each other’s culture: for example, the word "Chinebuli", which means "beautiful" in Georgian , is related to ancient Chinese goods. 700 years ago, ancient Chinese books already recorded a nation’s name “Qu’er Zhi”and “Gu’er Zhi”, which sound similar to the present-day pronunciation of Georgia.

  
  This July, Georgian Prime Minister Garibashvili paid a visit to China. The two countries published a joint statement on establishing strategic partnership. In this statement, Georgia express its support for Global Civilization Initiative and stands ready to cooperation with China to its implementation. Looking back at different events during Prime Minister’s visit, cultural exchanges between China and Georgia were everywhere to be seen: at the welcoming banquet hosted by President Xi Jinping for foreign leaders attending the Chengdu University Games, Nocturne, written by Georgian composer Vaja Azarashvili, was one of the songs played at the scene. Before the banquet, Prime Minister savored the Chinese tea and watched the presentation of Chinese intangible cultural heritage like shadow puppetry. During his stay in Beijing, Prime Minister attended a ceremony in Beijing Language and Culture University to unveil the statue of the great Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli.
  With efforts from both sides, cultural and people-to-people exchanges yield fruitful results in this year. Chinese embassy in Georgia hosted cultural events like “Chinese Bridge” and Chinese Film Festival. Georgian embassy in China organized series of Georgian film presentation events. Georgian national troupe Erisioni also brought their splendid performance to Chinese Xinjiang Autonomous Region.
  One of the experience learned from Chinese development miracle over the past 40 years is the promotion of the rule of law in a comprehensive manner, which is not only the basis for a thriving market economy, but also a guarantee for the revitalization and prosperity of ancient civilizations. We stand ready to enhance exchanges and mutual learning with Georgia in culture and relevant legislation. Being both ancient civilizations that share values like hospitality, mutual respect, caring for family and elders, we have every reason to believe that the great Georgian civilization, which has made significant contributions to the humanity, such as wine, will be and should be revitalized and prosperous again in the 21st century" -- the Ambassador of China to Georgia H.E. Zhou Qian said in his speech.

• President Zourabichvili visits Kvareli Euroclub to mark its 4th anniversary

  On 28 November 2023, the Kvareli EuroClub in Georgia marked its four-year anniversary with an official ceremony and a public fair, the ‘EuroClub Village’. 

  The special event was organised as part of the ‘MORE EU in GEORGIA’ public outreach activities of the Young European Ambassadors (YEAs), with financial support of the EU NEIGHBOURS east regional communication programme, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Norway. 

  The official ceremony was attended by Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, Nicholas Cendrowicz, the Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Georgia, Anna Chernyshova, the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Georgia, as well as the ambassadors of Austria, Czech Republic, Ukraine, US, UK and Estonia and the representatives of France, Poland, Denmark, Norway, and NATO.

  The Kvareli EuroClub was founded by Young European Ambassador Nika Gurini in November 2019, with the support of the European Commission, DG NEAR, through the EU NEIGHBOURS EAST programme. In the four years since then, more than 2,000 young people have benefited from the different projects and activities organised by the EuroClub.

  The main mission of the EuroClub is to create a space for young people to interact and learn, to have access to non-formal education, and to stimulate civic activism at the community level. 

  “Such an initiative is exactly what our country needs the most in order to achieve our goal – the European road of Ilia [Chavchavadze], and for this, everyone’s involvement is necessary,” President Zourabichvili said in Kvareli. “The government, leaders, they come and go, but society remains, and society, if it is sure of itself, if society really knows what kind of future it wants, what it wants for its children, for the next generation, then that society will achieve its own, and it all starts in the city, village, community, all the initiatives started from there are the strongest.”

  To mark its 4th anniversary, the EuroClub Kvareli organised various events, including the ‘EuroClub Village’, where local youth were invited to celebrate the European Commission’s recommendation for Georgia’s EU candidacy and the EU’s support to Georgia. The event brought together more than 500 local young people.“Bringing people together is at the core of the EuroClub Kvareli vision and this event was a great opportunity for the local community to strengthen confidence in building Europe at home,” said EuroClub founder This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .“Discussing Georgia’s European aspirations, the role of youth in society  and the importance of civic activism for community development with the Georgian President and the representatives of diplomatic missions to Georgia was truly inspirational.”

   

  Photo credit: UNDP/Gela Bedianashvili

• Ambassador of Turkmenistan presented his Credentials to the President of Georgia

  

  On October 24, 2023, the ceremony of presenting credentials by Ambassador Dovletmyrat Seyitmammedov to the President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan in Georgia was held at the Presidential Palace.

  During the talks, the President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili congratulated the Ambassador of Turkmenistan on the appointment and wished him success in his diplomatic activities.

  In turn, the Ambassador conveyed warm greetings and best wishes to the President Salome Zourabichvili on behalf of the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

  Having expressed gratitude for the warm regards on behalf of the Leadership of Turkmenistan, the President of Georgia  Salome Zourabichvili asked the Ambassador to convey the warmest and most friendly greetings to the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, as well as expressed the wishes of peace and prosperity to the people of Turkmenistan.

  During the meeting, the sides touched upon the strengthening of relations between the two countries including the comprehensive expansion of bilateral political, trade-economic and cultural - humanitarian cooperation.

• Georgian President pardons Nika Gvaramia

  Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has pardoned Mtavari TV founder Nika Gvaramia.

  “I came to this decision after all the legal steps had been exhausted and the Court rejected the cassation appeal on June 19.

  I’m not going to explain why I made this decision as it is my discretionary right.

  I just want to remind you what I also said in the European Parliament, that such a decision, the president’s discretionary right, is not subject to anyone’s pressure, advice, recommendation, or any other type of threat. This is the president’s decision”, she underscored.

  The Tbilisi City Court sentenced Gvaramia to 3 years and 6 months in prison for abuse of power over his managerial decisions when he ran Rustavi 2 TV.

   

• MEETING OF SHALVA PAPUASHVILI WITH THE SPEAKER OF THE PARLIAMENT OF ICELAND

  The Speaker, H.E. Shalva Papuashvili held a meeting with the Speaker of the Parliament of Iceland (Althingi), Birgir Ármannsson.

  The parties hailed the recent intensification of Georgia-Iceland relations and highlighted the significance of high-level visits for further extension of the bilateral links. In this light, it was emphasized that Georgia is hosting the President of Iceland, Guðni Jóhannesson in the autumn of 2023.

  Speaker Papuashvili overviewed the progress of Georgia at the NATO integration path and upheld democratic reforms. As he underlined, Georgia attaches particular value to the opportunity to participate in the NATO Summit scheduled in July and expressed his hope for the support of Iceland in this regard.

  The parties touched upon the Russian war in Ukraine and its consequences for Georgia.

  Speaker Ármannsson expressed the support of his country to the NATO integration of Georgia and shared the experience of Iceland in the relations with the EU as a member of the European Economic Area (EEA). The parties agreed on further intensification of parliamentary ties.

  The meeting was held within the framework of the official visit of Speaker Papuashvili to the Czech Republic, where Mr. Papuashvili and the Chair of the EU Integration Committee, Maka Botchorishvili participate in the Conference of Speakers of the European Union Parliaments (EUSC).