As noted by the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili, a new plan of economic recovery is required in the difficult situation created by the novel Coronavirus and foreign investments acquire special importance in it. This will be the main duty of his Special Adviser. Mr. Hudak will be actively working towards this end. Namely, Vazil Hudak will focus on the mobilization of foreign public and private support for the New Economic Strategy of the Government of Georgia. He will interact with the European Union (EU), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and other international financial institutions (IFIs) as well as international businesses, investment funds and banks.

Vazil Hudak will center his efforts on select strategic, priority investment projects and will ensure the engagement of corporate and individual foreign investors.

"Today, I wish to introduce to you my Special Adviser - Mr. Vazil Hudak. He will work on foreign investments to Georgia. You may well be aware that we are working on a New Plan of Economic Recovery in the difficult situation created by the novel Coronavirus. Foreign investments will have a leading role in the future growth and economic development of Georgia. Country needs investments, which means that a quick recovery of the economy will follow. More people will get employed. More income will be generated by our citizens. Hence, we selected Mr. Vazil Hudak for being a great friend of Georgia and for his successful career as a Vice President (VP) of the European Investment Bank (EIB), Ministers of Economy and Finance of Slovakia. Prior to these, he worked at private banks: JP Morgan, Citibank. I wish to tell you that Mr. Hudak knows Georgia very well. He frequently visited our country in the capacity of the Vice President of the European Investment Bank. He knows our economic team pretty well. I also wish to note that Mr. Hudak was appointed as an EU Envoy for SME yesterday. He already held meetings with Ministers of the Economic Team of Georgia. His goal is to mobilize foreign public and private support for our New Economic Strategy. He will focus on the select strategic priority investment projects. For effective performance, he will interact with the EU, IMF, World Bank, EIB, EBRD and other IFIs. Also, he will work with international businesses, investment funds and banks.

Considering our current strategy, we highly value the European policies for SME. It will be implemented with the vision and professional advice of Mr. Hudak. Hence, I wish to once again express my gratitude to Mr. Hudak for accepting this offer and I am convinced that we will jointly reach the results that are now needed for our country" stated Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia.

As Vazil Hudak noted, he will work as an Envoy of the Prime Minister of Georgia for the development and advancement of the country in support of the Government of Georgia.

"First of all, I feel greatly honored to be back again. Georgia is very close to my heart and as the Prime Minister has noted, I have been to Georgia many times in different capacities. Most recently, I was visiting Tbilisi as a Vice President of the European Investment Bank (EIB). It is among the largest investors in Georgia and Georgian economy. I have a great honor to work for the development of the country - this time as an Envoy of the Prime Minister of Georgia in support of the Government.

We have to operate in a difficult period together. It is true for Europe and globally. It is due to COVID. However, I believe that difficult times present us with opportunities as well. We have an opportunity now to grow and develop in many different directions, create better quality in various areas, attract support from the USA, EU and other countries. We know how to recover the economy through investments, more economic development and advancement. I believe that this is the future of Georgia as well in the EU. The Prime Minister of Georgia already announced that I am an EU Envoy for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME). It is aimed as an endeavor for greater resilience and 50 billion Euros have been allocated for the program. It has 2 main aspects: digitalization and green or environmental initiative to address climate change. These are the future directions of Georgia as well - to become more digital, more modern and greener. I believe that Georgia will thus come closer to Europe and it is the major aspiration of the Government of Georgia too. I met all Ministers of the Economic Team to discuss all challenges faced in the process and studied various needs and challenges. Public funds are not sufficient to meet all these needs and that is why it is so important to mobilize other resources thereby engaging the private sector in the process. That is exactly where I see my role, to help the Government of Georgia in finding ways to mobilize other resources. International support will bring more benefit to the Government of Georgia. I see this goal achieved through the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) as well, which will benefit the Georgian economy. I indeed have a great honor to serve the country and Georgian people in the capacity of an Adviser of the Prime Minister of Georgia. It is an opportunity for strengthening ties between EU and Georgia. I take this mission very confidently" noted Vazil Hudak upon his appointment.

Vazil Hudak has a long career track record in working for the public and international financial sectors. He is currently Adviser to the Government of the Czech Republic on the Establishment of a National Development Fund. Also, he serves as a Deputy Chairman of GLOBSEC. At various times, Mr. Hudak was a Vice President of the European Investment Bank, Minister of Economy of the Slovak Republic, Deputy Minister of Finance of the Slovak Republic, Vice President of Economic and Financial Committee within the Council of the EU, Chief Negotiator for the EU Budget (SK EU PRES 2016), Chairman of the Board at the Slovak Investment Holding and Slovak Guarantee and Development Bank, Member of the Council of the International Bank for Reconstruction and International Investment Bank, Industry Head of Public Sector for the Central and Eastern Europe at J.P. MORGAN CHASE, Vice President of CITIGROUP, Vice President of the EASTWEST INSTITUTE. Vazil Hudak holds an MA in International Relations and Diplomacy, as well as JUDr in International Law.

Press Service of the Government Administration 

The President of Georgia, H.E. Giorgi Margvelashvili has hosted a meeting with OSCE Special Representative for the South Caucasus, Ambassador Günther Bächler at the Presidential Palace. The meeting has also been attended by the Ambassador of Italy, Antonio Enrico Bartoli, as the Ambassador of the country holding the OSCE chairmanship.
Conversation at the meeting touched upon the situation in the occupied territories of Georgia, issues of conflict resolution and security environment in the region.
President Margvelashvili has spoken about the International Geneva Discussions and the role of OSCE in conflict resolution issues.
The meeting, also attended by Head of Administration of the President Mr. Giorgi Abashishvili and Advisor to the President for Foreign Affairs Mr. Tengiz Pkhaladze also focused on negative impacts on freedom of movement and rights of Georgian citizens caused by the installation of barbed wire fences and banners.

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative on the South Caucasus, Kristian Vigenin (MP, Bulgaria), will be travelling to Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia from 24-30 September for talks with government officials, parliamentary leaders and civil society representatives in each country.

The Special Representative is expected to particularly address the impact that the protracted conflicts are having on the lives of people living in the region.

“It is far too easy to get lost in the statistics of ceasefire breaches and technical movements. For the people in the region these are not abstract concepts, but impact their well-being in a real way, and I hope to bring greater attention to the real human consequences of the protracted conflicts,” said Special Representative Vigenin.

Vigenin has regularly highlighted the role that parliamentary dialogue can play in conflict resolution processes. He plans to use the opportunity of the visits to Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia to speak with a range of political actors and civil society representatives on current events including democratic developments in each of the countries.

Vigenin was appointed Special Representative in February 2016 by the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. In his mandate, he is tasked with promoting dialogue in all segments of society, in particular at the parliamentary level, in order to encourage reconciliation and rehabilitation with regard to the protracted conflicts in the region.

This week’s visit is part of a range of activities he is undertaking in his role as Special Representative. Vigenin is a former Foreign Minister of Bulgaria and currently serves as Deputy Head of OSCE PA's Bulgarian Delegation.

The President of Georgia, H.E. Giorgi Margvelashvili has not considered the request of the Chairman of the Parliament, Mr. Irakli Kobakhidze to convene the special session and called on the Parliament not to adopt uncoordinated constitutional amendments in the accelerated manner.
"My refusal has a political content. I call on the Parliament not to adopt uncoordinated amendments in the accelerated manner. I encourage the Parliament to return to the recommendations and remarks suggested by the Venice Commission and propose the improved version of the Constitution. Let us create a document of agreement; the document that will be based on consensus and the fundamental principles proposed by the Venice Commission. We should not cause problems for the development of the Georgian democracy.
I hope that in this difficult period, respected deputies, the Parliamentary majority will not get involved in this extremely accelerated regime and continue to discuss the Constitution according to the principles that I have proposed", - stated President Margvelashvili.
The President has also assessed yesterday's decision of the parliamentary majority regarding the constitutional reform as an amendment that aims at reducing the power of the President’s Institute.
"Refusal of a transition to the proportional system - this amendment entirely changes the proposed project of the constitutional reform, which has been discussed by the Georgian society and the Venice Commission.
The name itself - fundamental amendments to the Constitution - and our expectation imply that the Georgian society would have taken another step in improving the Constitution; however, the only fundamental change which was made, was reducing the power of the President’s Institute. This concerns to the indirect presidential election system, functions and rights of a commander-in-chief and abolition of the National Security Council, all included in the draft; overall, all issues that we have been discussing from the very beginning when the Constitutional Commission was formed. This is a version of the Constitution, which has been adopted as a result of the attitude, directed against the President’s Institute”, - pointed out the President.