The third working group meeting of DCFTA on Assessment of the Mechanisms of IP Rights Enforcement of in Georgia took place on 16th of December. The topic is highly sensitive and widely discussed in Georgia. IPR is one of the fundamental and basic values in the EU.

Internal expert Mr. Giorgi Taktakishvili presented his recommendations on the following issues: Obligations of Georgia; Fulfillment of Obligations; Problem Solutions.

Generally, the third meeting was the most interactive, informative and beneficial for all stake holders, especially for the state representatives.

Bellow you can find the main features and findings of the meeting.

On December 12th, in the framework of the Project "Train the messenger- EU, Human Rights and Family Values" Levan Mikeladze Foundation held the final working group meeting with Kvemo Kartli Muslim religious leaders. The meeting took place at conference room of Juma mosque in Tbilisi. The meeting was attended by Iasin Aliev - Mufti of the East Georgia, the representatives of administration of Muslims of Georgia, Muslim religious leaders and ethnically Azeri students. 

During the meeting the invited experts made their presentations: Oliver Reisner (Jean Monnet Professor of European and Caucasian Studies at Ilia State University), Vano Chkhikvadze (EU Integration Programme Manager at Open Society Georgia Foundation (OSGF), Vakhushti Menabde  (Associate Professor Law Major at Ilia State University). The discussion was dedicated to Religious Freedom, the challenges of Secularism, EU Religious models, and EU-Georgia relations.  The project was implemented with the financial support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Georgia. 

On december 6th, in the framework of the project "Capacity Development of Civil Society in the Regions Essentially Populated with Ethnic Minorities in Georgia" Levan Mikeladze Foundation organized the educative meetings at public schools (N 2, 3, 5, 6) of Akhaltsikhe for senior pupils. The meetings were conducted by Oliver Reisner (Jean Monnet Professor of European and Caucasian Studies at Ilia State University), who made presentation about EU, Visaliberalization, EU-Georgia relations and related topics. The pupils asked many questions, especially in the field of opportunities to study in EU. During the meetings short documentary film of Toma Chagelishvili, called "Travel in Europe" was shown to the audience, which raised hight interest. In the end of the meetings informative brochures were disseminated about EU-Georgia relations, EU values, and Visa Free Travel in EU. The brochures were translated into Russian, Azerbaijan, Armenian and Georgian languages. The simultaneous translation from Georgian into Ethnic minority language (Armenian) was also provided where needed.

On December 5th, in the framework of the Project "Train the messenger- EU, Human Rights and Family Values" Levan Mikeladze Foundation held the third working group meeting with Latin and Armenian religious leaders and their parishes in Samtskhe-Javakheti region. The meeting took place at Hotel "Rabati" in Akhaltsikhe. 

During the meeting the invited project experts: KetevanAbashidze (Adjunct Professor at Ilia State University and Free University Tbilisi, European human rights Law and EU law), and Mikheil Mirziashvili (Chairman of the Board and Board Member of Center For Development and Democracy) and Oliver Reisner (Jean Monnet Professor of European and Caucasian Studies at Ilia State University) made the presentations.

The workshop discussed the essence and the benefits of the Association Agreement with EU, the rights of religious minorities in EU and Georgia, the European models of relationship between religion and state and the challenges of secularism in Georgia and EU.

The project was implemented with the financial support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Georgia

On November 25th, in the framework of the project "Train the Messenger - EU, Human Rights and Family Values" Levan Mikeladze Foundation organized the second educational meeting with Catholic religious leaders in Akhaltsikhe. The meeting was attended by Latin and Armenian Catholic priests of Samtskhe-Javakheti region and their parishes. At the meeting the invited project experts: Oliver Reisner (Jean Monnet Professor of European and Caucasian Studies at Ilia State University), Vakhushti Menabde  (Associate Professor Law Major at Ilia State University) and Mikheil Mirziashvili- (Chairman of the Board, the Center for Development and Democracy) made presentations. The meeting was moderated by Irakli Tabliashvili.

The workshop discussed the following topics: EU institutions and rules and procedures of Visa Free Travel. Challenges of religious buildings and education. The participants also got acquainted with European models of relationship between religion and state.  

The LevanMikeladze Foundation implements the project “Train the Messenger - EU, Human Rights and Family Values " with financial support of Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

On November 24-25, in the framework of the project "Capacity Development of Civil Society in the Regions Essentially Populated with Ethnic Minorities in Georgia" Levan Mikeladze Foundation organized the educative meetings at public schools  of Ninotsminda (N1,2,3,4) and Akhalkalaki (N1,4,5) for senior pupils. The meetings were dedicated to the discussion about EU, Visaliberalization, EU-Georgia relations and related topics. The pupils asked many questions, especially in the field of opportunities to study in EU. During the meetings short documentary film of Toma Chagelishvili, called "Travel in Europe" was shown to the audience, which raised hight interest. In the end of the meetings informative brochures were disseminated about EU-Georgia relations, EU values, and Visa Free Travel in EU. The brochures were translated into Russian, Azerbaijan, Armenian and Georgian languages. The simultaneous translation from Georgian into Ethnic minority language was also provided where needed.

On November 7th,  2016 in the framework of the project “Train the Messenger - EU, Human Rights and Family Values” the Levan Mikeladze Foundation held the fifth workshop for  religious Muslim leaders of Kvemo Kartli region. 

The meeting was attended by Ramin Igidov, Sheikh of all Georgia and head of the administration of Muslims of Georgia, Iasin Aliev - Mufti of the East Georgia, Muslim religous leaders of Kvemo Kartli and Muslim students of Georgia. 

The third WG meeting of Energy and Environment on Role and Functions of Energy Efficiency Fund (Agency) took place on 4th of November in the Ministry of Energy of Georgia.  Internal expert, Ms. Natalia Shatirishvili and international expert Mr. Artur Bobovnicky presented the recommendations on the existential problems in the field.

The meeting was moderated by Ms. Mariam Valishvili (Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Energy of Georgia) and Mr. Giorgi Mukhigulishvili (Senior Specialist at Think Tank “World Experience for Georgia”).

On October 31, 2016, the Levan Mikeladze Foundation held the third meeting of Strategic Communication working group on the topic “NATO Communication Strategy”. The meeting was organized in the framework of the project - “National Convention on the EU in Georgia”. The project is carried out in partnership with the Slovak Foreign Policy Association (SFPA) and with the financial support of the Slovak Aid and Europe Foundation.

The meeting took place in the State Chancellery. It was chaired by Ms. Mariam Rakviashvili, the Deputy State Minister on European and Euro Atlantic Integration and by Mr. David Sikharulidze, Chairman of the Atlantic Council of Georgia.