The messenger logo

The News in Brief

Thursday, December 13
Georgia’s mountain development strategy for 2019-2023

A total of 66 million GEL (about $24.84m/ˆ21.90m) will be allocated on developing mountainous regions in Georgia, to improve infrastructure and conditions for the local population.

The National Council for Mountain Development and the Fund for the Development of the Highlands of Georgia is allocating the funding, which will be spent on projects that are included to Georgia’s new mountain development strategy.

The ‘Development of High Mountain Regions of Georgia 2019-2023’ was presented by the Prime Minister of Georgia, Mamuka Bakhtadze on December 11. He discussed the challenges and local economic development in the regions.

The event was held within the International Mountain Day which Georgia marks for the first time today. ‘MountainsMatter’ is the theme chosen for this year’s celebration of International Mountain Day that has been marked worldwide on December 11 since 2003.

“We would have liked to have such a strategy since the day of Independence of Georgia. This would have enabled us to solve many problems that the Georgian mountain areas face earlier. But I am sure this strategy will enable us to solve all major problems in the shortest period of time,” said Bakhtadze.

He also noted that the development of road infrastructure will continue.



US Secretary of State called President-elect of Georgia

US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo called President-elect, Salome Zurabishvili on December 10 to congratulate her on election victory.

Zurabishvili’s press office stated that Secretary Pompeo “congratulated Salome Zurabishvili with her victory in presidential elections, wished her success in affairs of state and expressed hope that the newly elected president would visit the U.S. in near future.”

The parties discussed US-Georgian cooperation on common global security priorities.

The importance of electoral and judicial reforms for Georgia’s democratic development and Western integration were also emphasized.

During the phone call, Pompeo once again highlighted that the US supported Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty. (By Mariam Chanishvili)