PM Garibashvili names 2015 achievements, 2016 priorities

Georgia is now in full New Year mode - celebrating the achievements of 2015 and looking ahead to 2016, starting with the official lighting of the country’s main New Year tree.

The large tree in front of the Parliament Building on Rustaveli Ave in Tbilisi was illuminated last night to mark the start of the festive season.

The tree was lit up by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Tbilisi Mayor David Narmania and their families. The tree was the last detail to complete the New Year decorations in beautifully illuminated Tbilisi.

Yesterday Garibashvili hosted Georgia-accredited diplomats and international organisation representatives at a special reception to sum up the 2015 year and reveal the country’s priorities for 2016.

"Looking through our successes reached this year it is unbelievable that only one year has passed,” the PM said.

"[Last] January my team and I set goals and priorities, starting with European integration and finishing with reforms in order to make Georgia become part of regional and global events.”

Garibashvili said Georgia had fulfilled its goals in each aspect.

When talking about this year’s successes the PM named:

• Ratification of the European Union Association Agreement by 27 member states and the European Parliament;
• Taking the visa liberalisation process to a higher level;
• Implementation of the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package.
• Enforcing European-standard reforms; and
• Advancing Georgia in international rankings.

However, the PM said 2015’s most important and outstanding event was increasing Georgia’s role as a bridge connecting the west and east. In this context the PM talked about the importance of the new Silk Road project and Georgia’s role in it.

The head of the Georgian Government also named next year's priorities. These were:

• Continuing ambitious reforms;
• Maintaining stable progress on the European path;
• Using Georgia’s potential as a regional business hub;
• Collaborating with the international community against terrorism; and
• Holding fair, transparent and democratic Parliamentary Elections.

Garibashvili thanked the global community for their "immense role” in Georgia’s successful 2015 year.