Conference on Challenges to Sustainable Democracy in Georgia and the South Caucasus

Press Release

Conference on Challenges to Sustainable Democracy in Georgia and the South Caucasus

In partnership with Georgian and regional organizations the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) is holding a conference on 8-9 June in Tbilisi at the Hotel Metechi Sheraton on 'Democratic Development in Georgia and the South Caucasus'. The conference is organized with the support of Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. The two-day conference is being held within the framework of the regional democracy assessment programme Georgia and the South Caucasus: Challenges to Sustainable Democracy initiated in September 2001 by International IDEA. The aim of the programme is to advance democracy in the South Caucasus region by promoting political dialogue and articulating a locally-owned democratic reform agenda.

The conference will open with keynote speeches from Mr. Avtandil Jorbenadze, State Minister of Georgia, Ms. Nino Burjanadze, Speaker of the Georgian Parliament and Mr. Patrick Molutsi, Director, International IDEA. Ms. Armineh Arakelian, head of Programme for Europe and the CIS, International IDEA will introduce the Institute's regional democracy assessment initiative in the South Caucasus. Mr. Ghia Nodia, lead writer of the Democracy Assessment Report in preparation within the framework of the regional initiative will introduce the work undertaken to date by International IDEA's team of partners and experts.

"The main objective of the conference is to provide an overview of the current state of democratic transition in Georgia within the regional context, and to focus attention on the prevailing challenges", says Ms. Arakelian.

The conference will review and discuss the findings and recommendations resulting from 10 regional workshops held in five regions of Georgia over the last five months (Kakheti Region (Telavi), Imereti Region (Kutaisi), Samegrelo Region, Adjara (Batumi) and Samtskhe-Javakheti). In addition the results of thematic workshops held in Tbilisi and analytical work undertaken to date by more than 25 experts from Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan will be presented.

During the conference, elected representatives of the regional workshops, the programme's core group of local experts from Georgia, specialists from Armenia and Azerbaijan and representatives of regional and international organizations and partners will have the opportunity to meet in a political dialogue that will shape the policy recommendations resulting from the Democracy Assessment Report due to be published by the end of 2002.

"International IDEA hopes that the democracy assessment process and the resulting report will be a useful tool for national, regional and international stakeholders in identifying and - equally importantly - addressing the critical areas requiring attention for furthering democratic consolidation in Georgia and the South Caucasus region", says Ms. Arakelian.

PRESS CONFERENCE

Following the conference a press conference will be held with members of the project core group of experts and representatives of International IDEA.

Date: Monday, 10 June
Time: 15.00 - 16.00
Location: Sheraton Metechi Palace Hotel, Tbilisi

Panel members:

Mr. Patrick Molutsi, Director, International IDEA;
Ms. Armineh Arakelian, head of Programme for Europe and the CIS; International IDEA
Mr. Ghia Nodia, Lead writer and expert;
Ms. Marina Muskhelishvili, expert;
Mr. Givi Ordenidze; Moderator

For further information regarding the press conference contact:

Mr. Givi Ordenidze
Project Media Co-ordinator in Tbilisi,
mobile: +995 77 456717,
e-mail: givi@una.ge

Ms. Tamuna Tomashvili
Project Assistant,
mobile: +995 77 738388
e-mail: tamotoma@hotmail.com

For further information about International IDEA's Programme in Georgia and the South Caucasus contact:

Ms. Armineh Arakelian
Head of Programme for Europe and the CIS,
tel/fax: 374-1-58 15 29
mobile: 374 9 42 47 46
e-mail: a.arakelian@idea.int

Visit the 'Georgia and the South Caucasus' project website

For further information about International IDEA contact:

Mr. Mark Salter
Senior Information Officer
tel: +46 8 698 3714
mobile: +46 70 429 3750
e-mail: m.salter@idea.int

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) exists to nurture, sustain and promote democracy around the world. Global in membership and scope, independent of specific national interests, and quick in its response, International IDEA is an intergovernmental organization with a unique mandate - to support the growth of genuine, sustainable democracy.