11th NATO Days to Raise Awareness
Georgia is celebrating its close cooperation with NATO for the 11th time this year.
Today, the NATO Days 2018 kick off, allowing allow young and old to get first-hand information on Georgia’s efforts to integrate into the Western defense alliance. The Information Center on Nato and EU, located near Liberty (Freedom) Square, held a press conference officially inaugurating this year’s event.
“NATO Days is an annual event for our Center, which aims to raise public awareness on Georgia’s integration into NATO. Georgia is NATO aspirant country and a majority of our citizens support Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration. However, it is crucial to deliver updated information to society about the NATO-Georgia Cooperation, current challenges, and future perspectives,” Nino Bolkvadze, Director of the Information Center on NATO and the EU, noted.
From 16 April to 1 May, the public has the opportunity to participate in various events to gain more insights on the dealings of the North American Transatlantic Organization. Part of the NATO Days, the NATO-Georgia Public Diplomacy Forum will gather representatives of the executive and legislative branches of Georgia to discuss important topics with regard to Georgia’s integration. The representatives will be joined by international and local NGOs, the North Atlantic Alliance, research institutions, think tanks, and the media to share and exchange ideas.
The forum lasts for two days, while the wider public can increase their NATO knowledge through seminars, lectures, competitions as well as other educational and informational events, such as the seminar “NATO-Choice for Peaceful and Stable Development,” which aims at working with teachers living close to the borders of the illegally occupied territories.
Sports enthusiasts won’t get a raw deal as a special rugby tournament is being organized to showcase the importance of one of Georgia’s most popular sports. For curious journalists sick of sitting behind the desk, the workshop “One Day as a Soldier” allows you to step into a soldier’s shoes. For once, media representatives can change their position from behind the camera to becoming the subject of the lens.
This year, NATO Days will be held in Tbilisi, as well as in eight regions of Georgia (Kakheti, Shida-Kartli, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Adjara, Samegrelo, Imereti, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Kvemo-Kartli). “Within the initiative of the Information Center on NATO and EU and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, various activities will be held in the regions in order to raise awareness and the engagement of locals in Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration process,” states the NATO Days administration.
A variety of events will also be held for representatives of ethnic minorities and Georgians living in villages near the occupation line. The interactive factor is important, thus focusing on competitions, sports activities and entertainment events, which will accompany the information sessions.
By Benjamin Music