In Borjomi Municipality, the fire localization and liquidation were in progress throughout the night with increased forces. Currently, liquidated and localized fire sources exceed the number of active fire zones.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia (MFA), Ilia Darchiashvili and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu had a telephone conversation, where the Turkish side expressed its readiness to assist in the elimination of forest fires raging in the Borjomi municipality of Georgia.
During the telephone conversation, the Turkish Foreign Minister expressed his interest  in the current situation in the municipality of Borjomi and the progress of the fire extinguishing works. He once again confirmed Turkey's commitment to provide Georgia with appropriate equipment.
Ilia Darchiashvili thanked his Turkish colleague for his help and once again emphasized the close partnership between Georgia and Turkey and noted the assistance provided by Turkey in similar situations in the past.
Within the framework of international aid, Turkey's firefighting plane with an 8-ton tank has already got involved in carrying out fire extinguishing works in Borjomi municipality. Additional aircraft are scheduled to be dispatched.

MFA of Georgia

In Borjomi Municipality, the fire localization and liquidation works continued throughout the night. Employees of various departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure, as well as the relevant services of the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture, actively participate in fire extinguishing process. Border police helicopters resumed their work in the morning.

Last week, the EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell travelled to Borjomi and Bakuriani to explore the results of the EU’s support to rural development in Borjomi municipality. During the trip, the Ambassador met with Borjomi Local Action Group (LAG) members and visited a rural development initiative in Bakuriani.

The Borjomi LAG is one of eight LAGs established with EU support across different regions in Georgia with the aim of encouraging diversified local economic growth based on the best European practices.

It represents a platform for partnership between local private sectors, civil society and public sector representatives, who contribute to the municipality’s social and economic development and support the participation of the local population.

“I am glad to see the enthusiasm and dedication of the members of Borjomi LAG, who serve diligently for the better future of the municipality,” said Ambassador Hartzell. “I really believe in these kinds of projects. They bring out talent and entrepreneurship from those best suited to assess the needs and opportunities of their local communities.” 

After the meeting, Ambassador Hartzell visited one of the municipality’s EU-funded rural development initiatives: a ski rental shop in Bakuriani.

EU Integration Committee organized the EU and UNDP supported working meeting in Borjomi on Strengthening Parliamentary Democracy in Georgia.
The meeting is participated by the Committee Members and Committee Staff, as well as the representatives of the Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, the Legal Issues, the Health Care and Social Issues, the Human Rights and Civil Integration and the Foreign Relations Committees, as well as the experts, Ivane Chkhikvadze and Adam Lazovski.
The participants are to consider Georgia-EU cooperation framework and strategic directions, as well as the role of the Parliament in EUAA implementation. The participants will hear about the experience of EU member and candidate states, the findings by the experts and the recommendations. As well as, the participants will develop the joint action plan.

First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Dimitry Kumsishvili opened the renovated hotel - Golden Tulip Borjomi (former Firuz Hotel), which is located in the historic building of Borjomi. The hotel will be managed by an international management company - Golden Tulip, which is a member of Louvre Hotels Group.
First Deputy Prime Minister toured the renovated hotel, which was primarily built for the Iranian Consul, in 1892 and now possesses a status of the unique cultural monument not only of Georgia. Dimitry Kumsishvili expressed his gratitude to the investor company of Worldfound Universal for their work.
"It is important that during the reconstruction, the historic appearance as well as the cultural value of the building was maintained," – Kumsishvili noted. Reportedly, $2 million was invested in the building renovation for installing a high-class hotel.
"Up to 50 people will be employed in the hotel, which is especially gratifying for us, since through the support of the economic policy of the Georgian Government, the private sector is creating new jobs in a variety of areas, including the tourism," – the Minister reported. According to him, only in 2013-2015, 508 location objects were put into operation in Georgia, which is 41% of the hotels of the country. As of today, tourism and the related sectors have employed more than 158 000 people.
As reported by the First Deputy Prime Minister of Georgia, currently, more than 1 200 hotels operate in Georgia. "This is an important result and we have a clear vision of how to increase the number of visitors from 6 to 11 million" - Kumsishvili said.
Golden Tulip Borjomi has 16 rooms (2 lux and 14 standard rooms). Hotel services include a restaurant, a fitness room, pool, sauna, and a treatment room, which will be used for massage and other medical procedures with Borjomi mineral waters.

Daughter of police officer Giorgi Beruashvili, killed by the criminal in the line of duty, was taken to school by Minister of Internal Affairs Giorgi Mgebrishvili for the first time.
Under the initiative of Giorgi Mgebrishvili it was established as a tradition that each year, children of the police officers fallen in the line of duty, receive presents and are taken to school by the Minister and other officials of the agency. This year Giorgi Mgebrishvili arrived in Borjomi to congratulate daughter of Giorgi Beruashvili, Tamar Beruashvili with the beginning of the school year, handed over presents and took her to school for the first time.
On 23 January, 2015 district inspector-investigator at Borjomi regional division of Samtskhe-Javakheti Regional Main Division Giorgi Beruashvili was fulfilling police duties in Likani when he was subject to multiple shots made by resident of Borjomi, several times convicted person. Criminal opened fire towards police officers and left the crime scene. As a result of fire both of the policemen received wounds. Law enforcers managed to detain the criminal. Medics did their best to safe officers’ lives, however Giorgi Beruashvili died due to the heavy injuries.
“Street, where I met Tamar to take her to school, is named after her father who is a hero, killed in the line of duty by the criminal’s bullet…
It was very hard for me to walk on this street, undertaken responsibility is very hard and realization of the fact that on this very important moment I have to take Giorgi’s daughter to school instead of him…
Today Tamar is experiencing the most important day in her life, which should be shared with her father…. Today entire police stands along with her, she will be member of our big family for the rest of her life… we’ll always take care of children of fallen policemen”.-stated Minister of Internal Affairs.

Electricity supply of majority of customers in Borjomi has been resumed. Technical service of JSC ENERGO-PRO Georgia still continues working in an emergency regime. Yesterday, late at night heavy rain and hail broke trees causing damage of electricity transmission lines and poles, resulting in electricity supply suspension to approximately 6 000 customers.  Not only local, but also other service center technical brigades are mobilized. Apart from that company management is as site controlling the conduct of works. As a result of the efficient repair activities carried out by EPG brigades, at present only 1000 customers are left without electricity supply.
Movement on roads was hindered throughout the night; however as a result of coordinated collaboration with local municipality, the mobile brigades reached the damaged area and started repair works. The repair activities are still in process and by the end of the day electricity supply of all suspended customers will be resumed.

Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia, Nodar Javakhishvili visited Borjomi to control and coordination of the disaster relief works. As a result of heavy rain and hail on August 4, houses and commercial properties were flooded in Borjomi. A flood damaged asphalt and slowed movement. Strong winds also damaged power lines and several thousand customers were left without electricity. In order to coordinate and control the situation, according to the Prime Minister's directive all relevant services had been mobilized on the spot.
All the necessary equipment and relevant services have been mobilized in the disaster-affected areas with coordination of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure. The road has been cleaned to direction of villages of Bakuriani and Borjomi municipalities. Currently movement is restored and road-cleaning works are ongoing.