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NPR News: 02-03-2024 8AM EST
State funding for four religious communities in Georgia: Muslims, Jews, Roman Catholics, and the Armenian Apostolic Church, will increase by GEL 1 million (around USD 375,000) in 2024, from GEL 5.5 million to GEL 6.5 million, the State Agency for Religious Issues reported on February 2. According to the statement, the Agency will decide on the allocation of the additional GEL 1 million to the four respective groups.
The four religious groups in Georgia have been funded from the state budget since 2014. This was an initiative of the recently resigned Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, which he made during his first term in office.
Funding from the state budget, the Agency emphasizes in the latest statement, is intended to at least partially compensate for the material and moral damage inflicted by the Soviet totalitarian regime. This was the stated goal in 2014, when the decision was made to introduce state funding for these four religious groups.
Meanwhile, the Georgian Orthodox Church, which enjoys a special status and important privileges under the 2002 constitutional agreement with the state, is also funded from the state budget, but to a much greater extent. The 2024 state budget allocates GEL 25 million to the Georgian Orthodox Church.
On February 2, the Parliamentary Bureau discussed Georgia’s Government’s future composition and the Governmental program “For Building a European State.” The program focuses, among other things, on continued collaboration with the EU in security and defense, de-occupation efforts and strengthening ties with the US. Special attention is also attributed to strategic cooperation with China.
The document states that the Georgian government intends to work actively with the EU institutions and Member States to start accession negotiations, taking forward the implementation of nine conditions outlined by the European Commission. Realizing the opportunities offered by the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area are identified as priorities, as is ensuring tangible benefits for citizens through Georgia’s integration into the EU single market.
The program notes that as Georgia integrates with the EU, its role in the development of transit and energy routes between Europe and Asia will become more important. Strengthening Georgia’s transit function with the EU, benefiting from membership in the European Energy Union, and participating in the Trans-European Transport Network are named as important objectives.
Sectoral integration focuses on participation in EU programs and cooperation with specialized agencies to improve legislative and institutional alignment with EU standards. Ongoing cooperation with the EU in the field of security and defense will be enhanced in line with the priorities of the EU Strategic Compass, with a special focus on maritime security in the Black Sea.
In addition, “active de-occupation efforts” will continue through the implementation of practical measures outlined in the European Union-brokered ceasefire agreement of August 12, 2008. The document emphasizes the importance of achieving the reaffirmation by Russia of non-use-of force commitment, the withdrawal of armed forces from the occupied territories of Georgia, and the establishment of international security mechanisms.
To deepen strategic cooperation with the US, the program outlines that intensive work will continue in the areas of defense, security, European integration, conflict resolution, trade, economic relations, and Georgia’s democratic institutions.
The program emphasizes special attention to the development of relations following the establishment of strategic cooperation with China, covering trade, people-to-people ties, culture, education, sectors and maintaining positive cooperation in international formats. Active cooperation between Europe and Asia to increase cargo traffic through Georgia is also a priority.
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State funding for four religious communities in Georgia: Muslims, Jews, Roman Catholics, and the Armenian Apostolic Church, will increase by GEL 1 million (around USD 375,000) in 2024, from GEL 5.5 million to GEL 6.5 million, the State Agency for Religious Issues reported on February 2. According to the statement, the Agency will decide on the allocation of the additional GEL 1 million to the four respective groups.
The four religious groups in Georgia have been funded from the state budget since 2014. This was an initiative of the recently resigned Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, which he made during his first term in office.
Funding from the state budget, the Agency emphasizes in the latest statement, is intended to at least partially compensate for the material and moral damage inflicted by the Soviet totalitarian regime. This was the stated goal in 2014, when the decision was made to introduce state funding for these four religious groups.
Meanwhile, the Georgian Orthodox Church, which enjoys a special status and important privileges under the 2002 constitutional agreement with the state, is also funded from the state budget, but to a much greater extent. The 2024 state budget allocates GEL 25 million to the Georgian Orthodox Church.
On February 2, the Parliamentary Bureau discussed Georgia’s Government’s future composition and the Governmental program “For Building a European State.” The program focuses, among other things, on continued collaboration with the EU in security and defense, de-occupation efforts and strengthening ties with the US. Special attention is also attributed to strategic cooperation with China.
The document states that the Georgian government intends to work actively with the EU institutions and Member States to start accession negotiations, taking forward the implementation of nine conditions outlined by the European Commission. Realizing the opportunities offered by the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area are identified as priorities, as is ensuring tangible benefits for citizens through Georgia’s integration into the EU single market.
The program notes that as Georgia integrates with the EU, its role in the development of transit and energy routes between Europe and Asia will become more important. Strengthening Georgia’s transit function with the EU, benefiting from membership in the European Energy Union, and participating in the Trans-European Transport Network are named as important objectives.
Sectoral integration focuses on participation in EU programs and cooperation with specialized agencies to improve legislative and institutional alignment with EU standards. Ongoing cooperation with the EU in the field of security and defense will be enhanced in line with the priorities of the EU Strategic Compass, with a special focus on maritime security in the Black Sea.
In addition, “active de-occupation efforts” will continue through the implementation of practical measures outlined in the European Union-brokered ceasefire agreement of August 12, 2008. The document emphasizes the importance of achieving the reaffirmation by Russia of non-use-of force commitment, the withdrawal of armed forces from the occupied territories of Georgia, and the establishment of international security mechanisms.
To deepen strategic cooperation with the US, the program outlines that intensive work will continue in the areas of defense, security, European integration, conflict resolution, trade, economic relations, and Georgia’s democratic institutions.
The program emphasizes special attention to the development of relations following the establishment of strategic cooperation with China, covering trade, people-to-people ties, culture, education, sectors and maintaining positive cooperation in international formats. Active cooperation between Europe and Asia to increase cargo traffic through Georgia is also a priority.
Also Read: