By NINO SHARASHIDZE
georgiatoday.ge
To mark Georgia’s Independence Day on May 26, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has invited non-resident Ambassadors to Georgia. According to the Ministry, the delegation will stay in Georgia on May 23-26 and take part in various events.
On May 23, the diplomatic corps will participate in a conference named ‘Presentation on Georgia,’ which will be attended by government members as well as non-resident ambassadors accredited in Georgia and the diplomatic corps. During the conference, the government officials will introduce the country’s foreign policy strategy and the dynamics of economic development as well as the investment, transport and tourism potential of the country.
On the agenda is also an educational trip to Samtskhe-Javakheti specially organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for resident and non-resident ambassadors accredited in Georgia. On May 24-25, the diplomats will be taken to historical sites and hold meetings with local regional heads. The Ministry’s press department explained that the tour is designed to give them a better understanding of the region.
In addition, it is expected that the event will promote the Samtskhe-Javakheti region and present opportunities there, which will allow diplomats to obtain more information about the cultural characteristics of the region and the current situation regarding its tourism, investment and infrastructure. also It is hoped that this will lead foreign ambassadors to provide the necessary information to important figures in their respective countries interested in Georgia including the political, public and business sectors, the Ministry’s representative said.
“These kinds of activities are accepted in international practice, as giving knowledge to foreign diplomats about the region is the best way to integrate this knowledge with the local community in their respective countries,” says Mari Narchemashvili, head of the Press and Information Department at the Foreign Ministry, recalling that the Ministry organized a similar tour in Kakheti region in October last year.
Honorary Consuls to Discuss Reforms with Foreign Ministry Officials
Honorary Consuls of Georgia from around the world will also visit the country on May 26 to take part in the Independence Day ceremonies. They will meet with the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to discuss the role of Honorary Consuls, measures taken by them and their future plans.
According to the Foreign Ministry, the Honorary Consuls will also get information about the activities of government, recent reforms, foreign policy strategy and the progress in European and Euro-Atlantic integration.
Georgia has Honorary Consuls in 11 countries, which perform various kinds of cultural-educational projects in order to promote, support and strengthen bilateral economic and cultural cooperation. They are also actively involved in charity work connected with Georgia. The Foreign Ministry underlines that “this will be the first meeting of Honorary Consuls in the history of Georgian diplomacy.”