Local democracy in Georgia: Council of Europe supports launch of national
forum for local government bodies
Strasbourg, 13.12.2004 – The Council of Europe is supporting the launch of a
forum that will defend the interests of local government bodies in Georgia,
and seek to build a culture of partnership between local and national
authorities. The National Association of Local Self-Government Units of
Georgia will be established on Friday 17 December, when delegates from all
parts of the country will meet in the capital, Tbilisi, to choose a
President for the new organisation. The Association will then be represented
in the Georgian delegation to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
of the Council of Europe.
The event, which is taking place at the Griboedov Theatre on Rustaveli
Avenue, will begin with speeches from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of
Georgia, Salomé Zourabichvili and the Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary
Committee for Regional Policy, Local Self-Government and High Mountainous
Regions, Vano Khukhunaishvili.
Other speakers will include the President of the Congress of Local and
Regional Authorities of Europe, Giovanni Di Stasi, the First Counsellor of
the European Commission Delegation to Georgia and Armenia, Jacques Vantomme
and the President of the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional
Authorities, Halvdan Skard.
Following the opening ceremony, the three presidential contenders will make
brief presentations before delegates vote for the candidate of their choice.
A press conference will take place at 5 pm at the Griboedov Theatre.
For more information please contact:
Olivier Terrien, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council
of Europe
Tel: + 33 3 88 41 22 47 ; Mobile: + 33 6 61 14 89 00 ; Fax: + 33 3 88 41 27
51/37 47 ;
E-mail: olivier.terrien@coe.int
Varlam Tchkuaseli, Steering Group on the National Association of Local
Self-Government Units of Georgia ; Tel: + 995 32 223635 ; Mobile: + 995 99
212713 ; Fax: + 995 32 223635 ;
E-mail: vtchkuaseli@civitas.ge
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