Hello Europe

Cybercrime

makaridze — Thu, 13 May 2010 13:00:51 +0000

Invited guests:

Rusudan Mikhelidze – Deputy Head of Analytical Department/Head of Legal Research

and Analysis Unit

Shalva Kvinikhidze – Head of International Relations Main Division. Ministry of Internal Affairs

Nika Kobakhidze – Detective Investigator of the Crimpol

In the transmission also took part:

Cristina Schulman – Head of Cybercrime Unit, Council of Europe

What does cybercrime deputizes and how this form of crime is fought in Georgia and all over the world, what does the convention of Council of Europe comprise about cybercrime and what has been done in the frames of the project, which Council of Europe and European Commission implement with Ministry for Internal Affairs and Ministry of Justice with the purpose of fighting against cybercrime – these subjects were discussed by the invited guests.

They also have talked about the ongoing regional conference on the day of the program, where the main subject was reinforcement of international cooperation in cybercrime investigation issues, the existing practice and experience in fighting against cybercrime.

Mrs. Cristina Schulman introduced to the listeners the project, which Council of Europe and European Commission implement with Ministry for Internal Affairs and Ministry of Justice with the purpose of fighting against cybercrime. She styled project as successful and noticed, that one of the main goals of the project was harmonizing Georgian legislation about cybercrime with one’s convection. In this point of view, she said, that Georgia may be considered as model country. She has also talked about the activities and work implemented by Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Internal Affairs with the purpose of joining international society effort against cybercrime.

Labor legislation and labor rights

makaridze — Thu, 06 May 2010 13:00:41 +0000

Guests of the program:

Mikheil Kordzaia – Executive Director of the nongovernmental organization Georgian Employers’ Association;

Paata Beltadze – Head Office, Georgian Trade Unions Confederation;

Raisa Liparteliani – Head of Legal Service of Georgia’s Trade Unions Confederation;

Irakli Kandashvili – Lawyer

According to the EU-Georgia action plan, Georgia needs to improve its effort to provide standards defined by the “European Social Charter” on the subject of compliance of trade unions common rights and labor standards with ILO conventions that the country has ratified

Guests explained what laws define labor legislation in Georgia and what international recommendations can do to improve current legislation

The Head Office of the Georgian Trade Unions Confederation talked about changes to be made and about draft legislation that their organization is preparing

Guests discussed how current legislation gives the possibility to defend the interests of employees on the one hand and of employers on the other

Development of micro business and production

makaridze — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 13:00:07 +0000

Invited guests:

David Aptsiauri – Professor of European Research Institute;

Giorgi Tsimintia – Consultant of Association of Young Economists of Georgia

In the transmission also took part: Kirk Ramer – Increasing Access to Finance for the Micro Businesses in the Conflict Affected Regions. Manager

David Narmania – Expert in Economic Issues

In the European neighborhood policy EU-Georgia action plan product policy is discusses, especially about development of small-scale business

In specific arrangements it is foreseen to work out special program and its development for the purpose of improving production environment and improving conditions to start the business.

David Aptsiauri explained, what does small business imply, what amount of annual income has to have the enterprise to be regarded as a small enterprise. How a small-scale business is explained in the Western countries and how this field is encouraged in Europe. He also talked how today’s circumstances for starting and developing micro-business could be evaluated.

Giorgi Tsimintia has talked about the research made by Association of Young Economists of Georgia. In the frames of the research up to 500 entrepreneurs were talked to and he introduced to the audience their considerations - how they estimate the business-environment and what problems exist for the small entrepreneur.

Kirk Ramer spoke about the project implemented by UNDP, with the financial support of EU, its goals and outcomes.

Natural Catastrophes

makaridze — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:00:48 +0000

Guests:

Rezo Getiashvili – Spokesman of the Caucasus NGO for environmental protection “CENN”, coordinator of the project “Open initiative of environmental protection” ;

Emil Tsereteli – Head of the Geological department at the National agency of environment;

Archil Nijaradze – Deputy of the Emergency Management Department of the Ministry of Internal.

Experts:

Ramin Gobejishvili- Geological expert at the “Vakhushti Bagrationi institute” of geography, board member;

Regional coordinators of the project “Open initiative of environmental protection” – Roman Tolordava, Gela Mtivlishvili, Ilia Guchmanidze da Zaza Bochorishvili.

Guests spoke about the regulation of natural catastrophes, what are the cause of natural cataclysms, how we can prevent them, what society should know about natural cataclysms, and what the country does to overcome this problem.

The European Commission awarded Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan 2 million Euros for prevention of natural catastrophes. This will reinforce local and central governmental programmes. This award also aims at the implementation of programmes that will inform society and increase awareness

Eastern Partnership and Civil Society

makaridze — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 13:00:06 +0000

Guests:

Kakha Gogolashvili – head of the Georgian-European center of low and politics.

Malkhaz Saldadze – Open Society foundation in Georgia, civil society support program coordinator.

Gia Nodia- head of the Caucasus Institute for peace, democracy and development.

Topics:

Participants spoke about the Partnership, about what this partnership means, its aim and what kind of opportunities it offers to the 6 member countries – Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Belarus and Ukraine. Guests also spoke about the Civil Society forum held in Brussels in the frame of the Eastern Partnership, about its goals and programmes. As it was mentioned, this program mainly aims at supporting the dialogue between civil society organizations of different countries and their governments.

Members of civil society organisations from EU countries participated in the forum.

Civil Society members expressed their point of views on their hope of getting closer to Europe.

Technological Research and Innovations

makaridze — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:00:53 +0000

Guests:

Oliver Reisner – spokesman of the European Commission in Georgia and project manager;

Mamuka Matsaberidze – head of the commercial department, Technical University.

Experts:

Mr. Per Eklund – Head of the European Commission Delegation to Georgia, ambassador.

Topics:

Science research enjoys very strong support in the countries of the European Union. One of the most important research programmes supported by the European Union, the 7^th frame programme, is implemented during the period 2007-2013 and is the main tool for financing research in Europe.

According to the European Union and Georgia’s action plan, in order to support Georgia’s economy and society it is very important to develop the country’s potential in the sphere of science researches and innovation.

During the broadcast were discussed Georgia’s steps in this direction, the country’s policy and its strategy towards scientific research

Listeners had the opportunity to listen to young authors of several innovative projects and to the winners of an international contest for young scientists organised by the educational organisations “Chaglari”, cooperating with the Ministry of education and science.

The main goal of the contest was to discover the best and most talented pupils and to stimulate their interest through research activities.

How to help IDPs after the War

makaridze — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:00:32 +0000

Guests:

Valeri Kopaleishvili – head of the administration at the ministry of refugees;

Nino Shushania – International Organization of Migration;

Maria Van Reiter- spokesman of European Commission in Georgia and project manager.

Topics:

Lives of people replaced after the war and state support; what kind of programs are implemented to improve their conditions, how the European Union helps them, health problems and physiological conditions of the refuges

Mrs. Maria Van Reiter said that people replaced after the August war had very strong support from the European Union at that time and now long=term projects are being implemented

We outlined the project “micro-financing for regions damaged during the war”. This project is implemented by the United Nations Development Programmed in three regions: Samegrelo-upper Svaneti, Qartli and Mckheta-Mtianeti.

The program has two main components: to train and inform people and also an offer micro-financing. This will help them to develop businesses, take credits and start new business.

In the rubric “successful story” listeners had an opportunity to listen to people who have already used this kind of support and started their own business.

Guests: Mr. Valeri Kopaleishvili spoke about state priorities and explained what the government has done to support refuges;

Physiologist Nino Shushanaia said that, as time goes by, more and more war-caused-problems are noticed among refugees.

Development of Environment Protection

makaridze — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:00:56 +0000

Guests:

Michael Nekvasil- Second Secretary, Deputy Head of the Project division; EC Delegation to Georgia;

Zaza Gamtsemslidze – First Deputy Chairman of the Environmental;

Zaal Lomtadze – Adviser to the Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources.

Expert:

Keti Gujaraidze – Political analyst at Association “Green Alternative”.

European Neighborhood Policy’s EU-Georgia’s Action Plan together with other subjects instructs Georgia to undertake various steps together with other issues about Environmental protection and natural resources. What are obligations of Georgia? Why is it important to harmonize Georgia’s environmental protection legislation with European legislation? Why is this significant for the EU common environment protection legislation? What has been done during the last years for the improvement of environmental protection?

Guests: Zaza Gamtsemslidze first Deputy Chairman of the Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Committee of the Georgian parliament spoke about Georgia’s steps concerning the harmonization of Georgian national environment protection legislation to EU Environment protection legislation and outlined the ongoing project about “cooperation for Black Sea environment protection”. In the framework of this project two significant documents were prepared – conception of Georgia on Water law and the guidebook that foresees Georgia’s water law harmonization with European directives.

Mr. Michael Nekvasil Second Secretary, Deputy Head of the Project division at EC Delegation to Georgia, emphasized the EU’s attitude toward environment protection legislation. He spoke about the importance of harmonization with European legislation in order to make more successful the cooperation with the EU and also about amendments in the national legislation of Georgia.

An adviser to the Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, Mr. Zaal Lomtadze highlighted several important aspects. He spoke about reform in the water sector. Precisely, about the introduction of integrated management principles, legal amendments in terms of waste management and on environment influence assessment procedure.

A political analyst of the association “Green Alternative,” Keti Gujaraidze , spoke about a publication prepared by the association on the EU-Georgia Action Plan in the field of environment protection and sustainable development. The action assessment was reviewed and recommendations were presented. Fulfillment of these conditions will facilitate meeting obligations predicted in the action plan.

Youth Participation in Armenia’s Social and Political Life

hareyan — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 11:28:56 +0000

The Guests of the programme “Youth Participation in Armenia’s Social and Political Life of Armenia” were Haykuhi Margayan, Coordinator of programmes of the NGO “World Independent Youth Union” and Ruben Markosyan, member of the expert group of Council of Europe’s Youth Directorate.

The main topics were youth involvment in EU initiatives, EU youth policies, youth involvment in Armenia, active participation, EU and CoE programmes implemented in Armenia, supplementary materials.

Georgia’s Audiovisual Legislation and Media Problems

makaridze — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:00:58 +0000

Guests:
Oliver Raisner – European Commission Delegation in Georgia, project manager;
Lika Chakhunashvili – Dean, Media-School, Caucasus University;
Tamar Gurchiani – Lawyer, Georgian Young Lawyers Association.

Experts:
Maia Miqashavidze – Dean, Journalism and Media-Management, Caucasus School

Tamar Babuadze – Journalist of the magazine “Liberal”

Zviad Qoridze – Independent journalist

Topics:
Guests talked about the legislation regulating media activities in Georgia, about the problems media faces today and whether those problems are caused by an ineffective legislation or, on the contrary, by the fact that legislation may be too liberal and the reasons of the ineffectively performance of the media should be found somewhere else.
Oliver Raisner outlined projects supported by the European Commission to foster democratization in Georgia, aimed at enhancing the role of media as a check and balance institute. He also explained why the existence of strong and independent media is so important.
Other issues were highlighted during the broadcast, such as licensing, media-organisation and ownership transparency. Most journalists say that legislation regulating media activity in Georgia is liberal, but it is not always implemented. Some details need improvement. Listeners had the opportunity to listen the views of fellow Georgian citizens about the journalists’ performance. It was clear from the reportage that there is demand for independent, objective and impartial media.