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Letter to the Editor

Tuesday, July 28
Dear Sir,

It seems once again that the municipality office doesn’t understand what local democracy means.

I have the information that they are on the way to spoiling one of the last oases in Tbilisi by the construction of more roads. This time it is in the area where the Zoo Park and the Fairytale Park are located. It seems that this decision has been taken without any discussions with the local community or any inhabitant of Tbilisi, and this is strange against the background of the Georgian authorities always bragging about their struggle for democratic improvements.

I can, as a comparison, describe how local democracy is functioning in my home country Sweden:

A city has of course plans for its development. It has a general plan with long term and short term perspectives and visions, which may be changed during the years depending on different factors. A city has also a detailed plan for the nearest future, covering the city as a whole and also each district of the city, and these plans have to be followed strictly after the final decisions are taken.

Before the final decision is taken, it is always possible for citizens to have influence on it. The general visions for the city are mostly described in the different political parties’ programmes, so the voters can then take those visions into account when casting their ballots. The detailed plans are more sensitive, and if new decisions or changes are to be made, they have to be brought up in open municipality meetings for debate. These meetings everybody can attend, and the different political parties must also finally agree on a draft plan. The plan is then put in remittance and explained in an exhibition where all details are described; advantages, disadvantages, benefits in short term and long term, environmental impact etc.

During this remittance time, everybody has the opportunity to raise their voice in different ways. One can call on the politicians, write articles in newspapers, write letters with multiple signatures and so on. After this period, the plan comes up for discussion again in the open municipality board room for a final discussion and decision making. After this, the detailed plan has to be followed strictly.


This is local democracy, but in the case I am describing I think only greed and money talks as usual. The actual area is, together with Vake Park, the only remaining green area in Tbilisi and also Vake is facing the same threat, and different construction projects are already slowly eating that park piece by piece. It’s a big shame for a country to have a capital without any green areas, especially in times when country after country looks for green solutions instead of pushing for more traffic in central areas.

I hope somebody can bring the local municipality politicians back to their senses, so they halt the exploitation and looks for ways to protect and make these last green areas more attractive for all people visiting the capital.



Morgan Tinnberg
Sweden/Georgia,
26 July, 2009