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The News in Brief

Wednesday, January 7
EU Commissioner Hahn set to visit Georgia

European Commissioner Johannes Hahn, who is in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, will visit Georgia this month.

Hahn will arrive in Georgian capital Tbilisi on January 15 and will hold meetings with Georgian high officials during his two-day stay here.

The upcoming visit was announced when Georgia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Gigi Gigiadze met Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Georgia Yanosh Herman in Tbilisi yesterday.

The pair discussed the priority areas of EU-Georgia co-operation. Special emphasis was put on the details of Hahn’s visit to Georgia on 15-17 January.

Gigiadze and Herman agreed to actively co-operate with a view to ensuring successful and fruitful visit of the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations to Georgia.

EU-Georgia relations dated back to 1992, shortly after Georgia declared its sovereignty following the break-up of the Soviet Union. Bilateral relations have further intensified since 2003, as consecutive governments have undertaken ambitious programs of political and economic reforms.

In June 2014 the EU and Georgia signed an unprecedented Association Agreement, which included a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (AA/DCFTA). The Agreement significantly deepened political and economic ties with the EU in the framework of the Eastern Partnership. (Agenda.ge)



Tbilisi Metro to extend its working hours on Christmas

Tbilisi’s Metro service will function for an extended period for the old calendar Christmas celebration. As Tbilisi City Hall has informed InterPressNews, it will function till 04:30 AM and will be free from 23:00 PM till 04:30 AM.

Traffic will be restricted on Rustaveli Avenue and Freedom Square due to the Alilo march from Roses Square to Holy Trinity Cathedral.

Tbilisi City Hall has allocated four buses for Alilo. The Alilo participants will provide orphanages with all kinds of donation using these buses. (IPN)



Interagency Council on Foreign Policy set up by Gharibashvili’s decision

The Interagency Council on Foreign Policy has been set up by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili’s decision.

According to the PM’s office, “the Interagency Council on Foreign Policy will develop recommendations for implementing Georgia’s foreign policy; it will also determine the key issues important for the positioning of Georgia in the international arena”.

The council will be chaired by the PM. It will include: the Foreign Minister; the Justice Minister; the Defence Minister; the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development; the State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration; the Head of the Government’s Administration and his deputy and the secretary of the state security and crisis management council; Several MPs and Speaker of parliament Davit Usupashvili will take part in the activity of the council. (Frontnews)



Is Airzena going bankrupt?

The decision has been taken. Three Russian airlines will fulfill 18 flights a week to Moscow. "Airzena" is waiting for the bankruptcy, it is unable to compete with large companies under these. Especially, when the Russian companies entered the Georgian market with practically dumping prices. (Rustavi2)



Margvelashvili congratulates Armenians on Christmas and Epiphany

As per Giorgi Margvelashvili, Armenians and Georgians have been fraternal nations for millennia and Georgia is proud of many Armenian citizens born here and other great sons of our country.

"My dear fellow citizens, I cordially congratulate you on these Holy Feasts of Christmas and Epiphany. Armenians and Georgians have been fraternal nations for millennia. During this time, along with the Georgians and the other peoples living in this land, you have been contributing to the prosperity and development of our homeland. Georgia is proud of many Armenian citizens born here and other great sons of our country. I wish health, happiness, peace and prosperity to you and your families", - Giorgi Margvelashvili’s congratulation letter says. (PIA. ge)