Large-scale project launched to raise awareness in regions about Georgia’s western integration benefits
The project funded by the US State Department will last 18 months. Photo: N.Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has announced the launch of a large-scale project which aims to raise awareness of the Georgian people living in regions regarding the benefits of Georgia integrating into the political structures of the west.
The project, which will be carried out thanks to US financial support over the upcoming 18 months, is also supposed to act against anti-western propaganda in the country.
The US Department of State has allocated $500,000 for the project, which is named "Increasing Awareness and Involvement in the Georgian regions about the Country’s Western Integration Process.”
Zalkaliani thanked the US for its support and said that the implementation of the project carries particular importance.
Today, anti-western propaganda and the threats it triggers is challenging not only for Georgia, but also the entire democratic world,” Zalkaliani said.
He stated that over the past several years the Georgian government has carried out a range of reforms for the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration.
We will respond to the propaganda with successful reforms, economic advancement, strengthening of democratic values and with the demonstration of the benefits we have received on the Euro-Atlantic path. This will be our response and not counter-propaganda,” Zalkaliani said.
Acting US Ambassador to Georgia Elisabeth Rood praised Georgia’s role in the provision of international peace and security and stated that her country is ready to support Georgia achieve its Euro-Atlantic goals.
The project will be implemented by the Information Centre on the NATO and EU under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia.
The project will help with the opening of five more regional bureaus of the information centre and after the completion of the project the Information Centre on the NATO and EU will have 12 regional bureaus.
The project also includes support for active coverage of NATO and the EU-related issues in local media outlets.
The government of Georgia has initiated the elaboration of the EU integration roadmap, which will ensure European integration at a faster rate.
The Georgian government says that today’s Georgia-EU Association Council meeting highlighted the fact that "since the last meeting of the Georgia-EU Association Council Meeting Georgia has achieved enormous progress and vital outcomes”.
Today is one of the most important days for Georgia on its European Union (EU) integration path as the country’s Association Agreement (AA) with the EU is fully and officially coming into force.
Georgia is celebrating the first anniversary of signing its Association Agreement (AA) with the European Union (EU); an occasion described by Georgian leaders as a "giant step towards free Europe”.
Prime Minister of Georgia Mamuka Bakhtadze has announced the creation of communications departments within all Georgian ministries to raise public awareness regarding the country’s foreign policy and priorities.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has hailed 2018 as “very busy, but interesting and successful.”
"I believe that we have a serious outcome. However, much is still needed to be done to further strengthen political achievements and portray Georgia positively on the agenda of the international community,” Zalkaliani stated.