How will Georgia deal with its next crisis?
With UK model from new Situation Room
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Georgia has opened a new crisis management centre that will better ensure state security, offer quicker and more efficient reaction to state emergencies and provide greater protection to the country’s citizens.
Today Georgia’s first-ever Situation Room was unveiled and officially opened. The facility will be used for better coordination during crisis situations.
A Situation Room is a properly equipped room at the country’s political headquarters – the Government’s Administration in capital Tbilisi - where the latest information on a political or natural disaster situation is channelled.
New Situation Room in Tbilisi, Georgia. Photo by the Press Office of the Prime Minister's Administration.
Georgia created this facility based on the British model, and British experts were involved in developing the space to make sure it meets local needs.
The official opening ceremony of the Situation Room was held today and attended by Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, British Government Adviser on Security and Crisis Management Issues Sir Garry Johnson and British Ambassador to Georgia Alexandra Hall Hall.
British Government Adviser on Security and Crisis Management Issues Sir Garry Johnson speaks at the opening of the new facility. Photo by the Press Office of the Prime Minister's Administration.
"We live in a region full of challenges. These challenges are different – some are regarding our territorial integrity and occupied regions and others are regarding natural disasters, which are frequent in our region,” PM Kvirikashvili said as he opened the room.
"Handling such challenges needs more coordination and the National Situation Room is based on the British model we’re implementing in Georgia. It gives us the opportunity for the best coordination between different agencies, which will let us cope with a crisis situation with the most efficiency.”
The Situation Room is a large space that’s fully fitted out with modern technology and divided into themed areas where about 100 people from different state agencies will be able to collectively manage a crisis situation.
In case of crisis, the capabilities of the National Situation Room can be projected in direct vicinity of the incident area via the special purpose built highly mobile vehicle. Photo by he Press Office of the Prime Minister's Administration.
If a crisis occurs, a special vehicle will be sent to the epicentre or near the crisis location. The vehicle has a permanent connection with the Situation Room and is able to provide those in the room with latest information. The vehicle can function independently.
Head of Georgia's State Security and Crisis Management Council Mindia Janelidze briefs the guests about the new Situation Room. The event is attended by PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Defence Minister Tinatin Khidasheli, British Government Adviser on Security and Crisis Management Issues Sir Garry Johnson, British Ambassador to Georgia Alexandra Hall Hall and other officials. Photo by the Press Office of the Prime Minister's Administration.
PM Kvirikashvili thanked the British side for their support of this initiative. He hoped British experts would remain involved in as the project was further implemented in Georgia.
The project was created in 2014 and the facility was built and equipped in December 2015.
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