The President of Georgia, H.E. Giorgi Margvelashvili has visited Georgian Bar Association on the occasion of the Lawyers Day and opened the new training center with support of the Presidential Reserve Fund. The project, supported by the Presidential Reserve Fund, aims the institutional development of Georgian Bar Association and the implementation of compulsory internship program for attorneys.
The President thanked Georgian Bar Association and the representatives of the Administration for supporting the implementation of the project. As he noted, the training center for attorneys aims to serve the strengthening of Georgian Bar Association, without which the fair society, objective court system, and legal state cannot exist. “The profession of attorneys requires the strong moral strength, as you put yourselves in accused person’s shoes and try to prove the society and state that justification might be found in every fault.
You defend exactly what I am responsible to defend according to the Constitution – human rights. It is the right of every individual to have unbiased court system. You have endured many hardships. We have heard about the attorneys who were often brutally treated by the system and we have also heard about your firm unity in protecting them.
This is natural as in the developing society violations are frequent. I am glad that those people, who will be responsible of protecting our citizens, will receive their professional knowledge in this training center. The cooperation between us will enable the young attorneys to serve the main thing – the creation of the civil and democratic state, built based on the Supreme Law ", - stated the President.
The President has once again highlighted his support and respect to Georgian Bar Association. "I will fully support the attorneys if any kind of pressure is exerted on them while executing their duties. I stand by your side and I am ready to make any appropriate political statement to fulfill serve our common duty.
My fundamental responsibility is to protect the Constitutional rights of Georgian citizens which you, in fact, exercise on your daily basis. I consider any form of pressure on attorneys as an infringement on the values that are protected by the Constitution”, - stated the President. Georgian Bar Association has awarded the President with Luarsab Andronikashvili Order for his contribution in the development of the legal profession.

The President of Georgia, H.E. Giorgi Margvelashvili has met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy, Mr. Paolo Gentiloni as a part of his official visit to Georgia. The meeting was mainly focused on the enhancement of bilateral relations between Georgia and Italy. The sides have also discussed the political and economic issues and the prospects of strengthening cooperation between Georgia and Italy in the fields of education, science, and culture.
At the meeting, the importance of Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic aspiration and the steps taken in this direction, both in the country and in the entire region, were highlighted. The President thanked Mr. Gentiloni for his firm support of Georgia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-recognition policy, and visa liberalization process. On behalf of the President of Italy, Mr. Gentiloni invited the President of Georgia to Italy.  
The meeting was also attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Mr. Mikheil Janelidze, the Head of the Administration of the President of Georgia Mr. Giorgi Abashishvili, the Secretary of the National Security Council of Georgia Mr. Davit Rakviashvili, the Secretary of the President of Georgia for Foreign Affairs Mr. Tengiz Pkhaladze, the Parliamentary Secretary of President of Georgia Mrs. Ana Dolidze, and the Political Secretary of the President of Georgia Mrs. Pikria Chikhradze. Following the official visit to Georgia, Mr. Gentiloni will visit Baku and Yerevan.

Most of the politicians who have decided to leave Republicans Party have a will to jointly discuss future political life – this statement was made by the Parliamentary Chairman, the Former Member of Republicans Party, Davit Usupashvili.
As for the information that Chairman of Parliament should cooperate with President Margvelashvili, Usupashvili said that President is politically neutral and he didn’t talk on this issue with him.

“The Parliamentary Elections of 2016 have successfully been held. First of all, I would like to thank the Georgian society whose active participation resulted in this important step taken forward to the Georgian democracy.
I would like to highlight the significant role of the local and international observation missions in this process; as a result of your work, we have identified some violations, consideration and eradication of which is extremely important for the development of the Georgian democracy.
I would also like to thank the media; as a result of your efforts, you enabled the electorate to familiarize with the programs of the political forces and to cast their votes accordingly.
I would like to congratulate to the political forces, “The Georgian Dream”, “United National Movement”, and “Patriotic Alliance” for becoming the members of the Parliament and wish success in their future endeavors.
Multi-party Parliament was not achieved, and in some ways, it was our society’s choice; however, at the same time, I would like to remind to our society that the political activity does not end with the elections, but begins. Therefore, I encourage everyone to be vigorously involved in discussions, government control, and active political dialogue.
I once again congratulate on the successful conduct of the elections of October 2016!” – stated the President.

The President of Georgia, H.E. Giorgi Margvelashvili has signed the decree of pardon according to which in total 168 prisoners were granted clemency.
“Today the President has granted clemency to 168 prisoners among which 6 prisoners are females. Among the pardoned, freedom will be granted to 114 prisoners, including 4 females today, while the rest of the 54 prisoners will receive various forms of commutations,” – stated the Chairman of the Pardon Commission, Mr. Zviad Koridze. The Pardon Commission has discussed in total 1095 cases.

“I congratulate the Abkhaz Language Day to our Abkhaz compatriots and the entire Georgian society. Abkhazian culture and identity is the priceless part of our diverse heritage. This especially concerns to the Abkhaz language, the foundation of the Abkhaz identity and culture, which according to the Constitution is recognized as the state language along with the Georgian language at the Abkhaz territory. Taking care of its protection is the primary duty of our state and society.
I would like our Abkhaz brothers to know that we aspire to overcome the painful traumas of the past and to be united under one language of peace, love, and cooperation”, - stated the President of Georgia, H.E. Giorgi Margvelashvili.

The President of Georgia, H.E. Giorgi Margvelashvili has held the farewell meeting with the Ambassador of Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Poland to Georgia, Mr. Andrzej Cieszkowski. At the meeting, the sides have discussed the importance of strengthening the Georgian-Polish relations and the active economic and political cooperation between the two countries. The discussion has also touched upon Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration process.
The President thanked Mr. Andrzej Cieszkowski for his contribution to the development of Georgian-Polish relations and wished him success in his future endeavors.

The newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Estonia to Georgia, Mrs. Kai Kaarelson has awarded credentials to the President of Georgia, H.E. Giorgi Margvelashvili. Following the official ceremony of awarding the credentials, the President held an introductory meeting with the Ambassador.
The sides have discussed the current friendly relations between Georgia and Estonia and the plans for the future cooperation. The discussion has also involved the importance of the exchange visits between the two countries. On behalf of the President of Estonia, H.E. Kersti Kaljulaid, Mrs. Kai Kaarelson thanked the President for his sincere congratulatory letter on the occasion of her election and for his kind invitation to Georgia.
The newly appointed Ambassador has once again expressed her support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia, the country’s non-recognition policy, and the European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations. The President wished success to the Ambassador in her future career.

The President of Georgia, H.E. Giorgi Margvelashvili has met with the permanent representative of OSCE, Günther Bächler. At the meeting, the President has once again highlighted the importance of the OSCE engagement in the current processes of Georgia.
The sides have also discussed the current situation in the Black Sea region, the geopolitical challenges of Georgia, and the post-election environment in the country. The security level in the occupied regions of Georgia and the progress of the Geneva format were also among the discussion themes.

The President of Georgia, H.E. Giorgi Margvelashvili and the First Lady, Mrs. Maka Chichua have attended the charity concert at Tbilisi State Conservatoire, dedicated to the 25th anniversary of independence of Georgia and the Georgia-Turkey relations.
The concert was performed by Izmir State Symphony Orchestra. Vakhtang Machavariani was the conductor of the concert, while Alexander Toradze – the soloist. The concert was also attended by the representatives of the Presidential Administration and the President's advisers.