Minister’s Directives for 2007

Introduction

Minister’s Directives for 2007 is based on Georgia’s Foreign Policy Strategy for 2006-2009, outlining the main directions for the activities of Diplomatic service in 2007.

On the basis of this document, structural entities of the Ministry, diplomatic missions and consular offices must develop annual action plans.

The Directives set foreign policy goals and priorities that will guide activities of the Foreign Service during the year 2007. These include: restoration of territorial integrity, NATO integration, enhancing cooperation with the European Union, strengthening economic diplomacy, ensuring energy security, consolidation and promotion of democracy, enhancing bilateral relations, improving Georgia’s outreach, protection of Georgian citizens and their rights abroad and improvement of the management system. 

1. Consolidation of support from the international community for conflict settlement

Georgia’s supreme aim remains restoration of territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. Hence, the main task of our foreign policy is to ensure support and involvement of the international community in the process of peaceful resolution of the conflicts on the Georgian territory. From this perspective, the Foreign Service in 2007 will concentrate on the following issues:

·          Secure support of the international community for Georgia’s peace initiatives;

·          Contribute to direct bilateral dialogue with Abkhazian and Ossetian compatriots;

·          Replace the existing framework of conflict settlement with more effective and result-oriented negotiation formats; 

·          Replace current peacekeeping forces with international police forces;

·          Create preconditions for return of IDPs and refugees, and enhance public diplomacy to increase confidence among the conflicting parties;

·          Carry out joint projects in human, economic and environmental spheres with the participation of international donors;

·          Facilitate protection of human rights, including property rights, in the conflict regions and support international monitoring on this issue;

·          Facilitate eradication of illegal "passportization,” bank operations, cellular telephone connections, border checkpoints, illegal real estate acquisitions and other similar violations;

·          Gain essential support for adoption of the UN General Assembly draft resolution on the protracted conflicts in the GUAM area and increase GUAM’s role in conflict resolution;

·          Effectively use  UN and OSCE mechanisms for conflicts resolution;

·          Increase the European Union’s role in the conflict resolution process;

·          Promote Georgia’s integration into the European and Euro-Atlantic structures. 

With reference to Abkhazia the following issues will also be addressed:

·          Increase the effectiveness of the Georgian Mission to the UN;

·          Consolidate international support for the Legitimate Government of Abkhazia to facilitate rehabilitation of Upper Abkhazia;

·          Facilitate opening of a joint UN-OSCE human rights office in the Gali district;

·          Facilitate deployment of a UN civilian police component in the Gali district;

·          Intensify cooperation with UN Security Council members on conflict settlement in Abkhazia;

·          Intensify work with the UN Secretary General’s Group of Friends of Georgia and enhance constructive cooperation with UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG).

With reference to the Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, the following issues will also be addressed:

·          Facilitate implementation of the Peace Plan for South Ossetia/Tskinvali Region, endorsed by the OSCE ministerial meeting in Ljubljana in December 2005;

·          Support the demilitarization process of the conflict zone;

·          Facilitate implementation of socio-economic rehabilitation projects in the Tskinvali Region;

·          Facilitate creation of a joint police component;

·          Enhance cooperation with all forces/sides representing the interests of the population of the region;

·          Increase effectiveness of the Georgian mission to the OSCE;

·          Use the OSCE Permanent Council to inform OSCE member states about the developments in the conflict zone, and gain support for Georgia’s position/initiatives;

·          Hold meetings and consultations with appropriate officials regularly to inform the Spanish side – 2007 OSCE Chairman - to gain its support on conflict resolution. 

2. Accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Accession to NATO is one of the top priorities of Georgia’s foreign and security policy. Integration with NATO depends on two factors – successful implementation of reforms and a political decision of all members of the Alliance. The Foreign Service will direct its efforts in these directions in particular:

·          Facilitate successful completion of commitments undertaken under the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP);

·          Effectively use consultations in the framework of Intensified Dialogue (ID) to  assemble support for the Georgian position on various issues;

·          Provide timely updates on fulfilling the commitments undertaken in the process of NATO integration to respective NATO agencies and member states;

·          Intensify work in NATO headquarters, as well as in the capitals of the member states to obtain their support;

·          Organize high-level NATO-Georgia meetings in Tbilisi within the ID framework;

·          Increase public diplomacy activities to raise public awareness regarding the North Atlantic Alliance to intensify the process of Georgia’s NATO integration;

·          Create favorable conditions for moving to the next step of NATO integration – Membership Action Plan (MAP) - by intensifying political dialogue with the member states about Georgia’s involvement  in MAP.

3. Cooperation with the European Union

Enhancement of cooperation with the European Union is a priority of Georgia’s foreign policy. Further cooperation with the EU will be based on the European Neighborhood Policy Action Plan. Successful realization of the plan is an important task, which will facilitate establishment of qualitatively new contractual relationships between Georgia and the EU. In this context, our priorities are:

·          Work toward achieving a liberal trade regime with the EU: continue consultations on the free trade agreement and facilitate conduct of an EU feasibility study on free trade possibilities between Georgia and the EU;

·          Continue working toward reducing non-tariff barriers on Georgian export products, in particular, conclude the bilateral agreement on Mutual Recognition of Wine and Spirits, As Well As Other Foodstuffs;

·          Hold dialogues on energy issues with EU and ENP countries, within the frame of the European Energy Charter;

·          Effectively use resources and financial assistance made available by the European Neighborhood Policy Instrument (ENPI);

·          Continue a visa dialogue with the EU to simplify visa regimes for certain categories of Georgian citizens (officials, businessmen, scientists, students);

·          Continue work toward the EU’s more active engagement in peaceful resolution of conflicts;

·          Strengthen the mandate of the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus (EUSR) and his supporting team;

·          Support initiatives of the EUSR, among them the EU’s assistance to improve Georgia’s border management system, embracing the whole perimeter of Georgia’s state border,  including the conflict regions;

·          Conduct consultations with the EU about cooperation on migration management and border security;   

·          Contribute to the transformation of border security and migration management systems in accordance with European standards, and lobby for similar initiatives (Tbilisi Initiative) in the region, which will secure a safe neighborhood for the EU;

·          Use the assistance and experience of Georgia’s New Group of Friends in European and Euro-Atlantic integration;

·          Effectively use new forms of cooperation with the European Union such as the Technical Assistance Information Exchange Program (TAIEX), Twinning Program and Cross Border Cooperation;

·          Contribute to elaboration of the EU’s Black Sea policy;

·          Work for creation of Georgia’s Contact Group within the EU.

4. Economic Diplomacy

In order to strengthen the state’s sovereignty, ensure its prosperity and restore territorial integrity, it is essential to participate fully in the modern system of international economic relations and to create favorable conditions for sustainable economic development. In 2007, particular emphasis will be made on strengthening economic diplomacy in order to overcome the negative impact of the Russian economic blockade. The tasks of the Foreign Service are to facilitate export of Georgian products, attract foreign investment, contribute to full exploitation of the existing and potential transport corridors and to deepen regional and interregional economic cooperation. Derived from these, we will carry out the following activities:

Support of Export

·          Protect the rights of Georgian businessmen abroad and support their activities;

·          Help identify potential export markets;

·          Promote Georgian wine abroad;

·          Conclude agreements on preferential trade regimes with new partners, based on  common interests;

·          Continue consultations aimed at concluding free trade agreements with the USA, the EU and Turkey;

·          Inform Georgian exporters and entrepreneurs about trade regimes (taxes, technical requirements, competitive environment, etc.) in foreign markets;

·          Convert Georgia’s multilateral free trade relationships within the CIS into bilateral formats.

Attract Foreign Investment

·          Inform the international community about economic reforms in Georgia, its resources, investment climate and possible investment areas;

·          Improve international, multilateral and bilateral legal bases (agreements encouraging and protecting investments, avoiding double taxation on revenues and capital, eradicating tax-evasion, etc.);

·          Support investment projects in compliance with economic priorities of the country;

·          Inform international partners about Georgia’s foreign trade regime.

Exploiting Potential of Transport Corridor

·          Promote Georgia’s status as a regional transit center;

·          Support elaboration of the country’s transport strategy;

·          Work to increase competitiveness of the Transport Corridor Europe – Caucasus – Asia (TRASECA)

·          Work actively on joint interregional and regional transport projects.

Develop Regional Economic Cooperation

·          Facilitate elaboration of strategies with regard to the priority areas of Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM;

·          Facilitate realization of joint projects within the GUAM framework and ensure existence of an appropriate legal base;

·          Work toward creation of the Financial Institute of GUAM;

·          Fully realize a free trade agreement for GUAM;

·          Intensify work within GUAM aimed at initiating new routes of energy transportation;

·          Support harmonization of tariff policies within GUAM through elaboration of an appropriate legal framework and create conditions for moving on a unified tariff system;

·          Continue working within the GUAM framework to develop transit routes connecting Europe and Asia;

·          Initiate specific projects regarding transportation, energy, agriculture, tourism, small and medium business, science and technology within the frameworks of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) organization, and support their realization;

·          Complete the accession process to Asia Development Bank (ADB);

·          Elaborate specific projects within the format of the G11 forum of lower middle income countries, and support their realization;

Cooperation with International Economic and Financial Institutions

·          Actively cooperate with international economic and financial institutions (WB, IMF, IFC, IBRD, EBRD, etc.) for successful completion of reforms and improving the investment climate;

·          Ensure favorable trade regimes with member and candidate states of the Word Trade Organization (WTO).

5. Energy Security

Georgia has the capability to increase diversification of its energy supplies by fully realizing its energy corridor potential, as well as to contribute alternative energy supply routes for Europe. Hence, the main tasks of the Foreign Service are as follows:

·          Make effective use of existing transnational energy projects, for example, by increasing their capacities;

·          Attract investments to improve Georgia’s energy infrastructure and develop alternative sources of energy;

·          Effectively exploit existing Georgian energy, transit and transport routes;

·          Strengthen Georgia’s status as a transit country and propose alternative routes of energy supply to Europe;

·          Effectively cooperate with partners to draft and implement a strategy on the Trans-Caspian pipeline system;

·          Support dialogue between energy supplier, transit and consumer countries to diversify supply routes to the international market;

·          Enhance energy cooperation among GUAM states, as well as within the expanded GUAM format, and utilize GUAM’s transit potential to supply the European market with energy;

·           Work on energy issues in the BSEC working group;

·          Support discussions on energy security issues within the Economic Committee of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC);

·          Enhance cooperation to elaborate a Euro-Atlantic energy security strategy;

·          Support elaboration of a common position on fair competition in trade, and unrestricted transit in the energy sector, based on the European Energy Charter;

·          Study the possibility of transporting liquid natural gas and elaborate recommendations.

6. Consolidation and promotion of Democracy

Success of democracy in Georgia encourages democratic changes in the region, which, in turn, helps create a secure and stable environment in Georgia’s neighborhood. It is essential to display the democratic processes taking place in Georgia and to demonstrate the advantages of the democratic model of governance. From this viewpoint, the main issues are as follows:

·          Further cooperate with the Council of Europe (CoE) in order to strengthen democratic institutions in Georgia and consolidate our democratic achievements;

·          Effectively use GUAM to enhance democracy, the rule of law and fundamental human rights in the region;

·          Intensify cooperation within the framework of the Community of Democratic Choice (CDC) to promote and consolidate democratic processes;

·          Share the experiences of new democracies in Europe in order to consolidate democratic changes in Georgia and ensure international support;

·          Participate in the United Nations Democratic Fund (UNDEF) and attract funds for the implementation of democratic development projects;

·          Strengthen cooperation with appropriate international agencies working in the sphere of human rights, civil liberties and religious freedom;

·          Contribute to the fight against corruption by studying the experience of countries successful in eradicating corruption, and cooperating within formats such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Council of Europe’s Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO).

7. Georgia’s Outreach

The Foreign Service will provide the international community with truthful and objective information about Georgia to ensure adequate understanding and awareness by our partners regarding the democratic state-building process underway in our country, and to secure international support. For a successful information policy, the following issues will be addressed:

·          Active participation of Georgian ambassadors abroad in interviews, public speeches, roundtables, and other activities of that kind;

·          Timely dissemination of accurate information about Georgia by embassies;

·          Systematic circulation of objective information on Georgia in foreign mass media (articles, analytical materials, news, etc.);

·          Organization of cultural activities to promote Georgian culture;

·          Intensification of work with the Georgian diaspora;

·          Implementation of an information strategy;

·          Counteraction of negative propaganda;

8. Bilateral Relationships

The main target of our bilateral relationships is the South Caucasus and Black Sea neighborhood. We will strengthen cooperation with European countries to ensure their political support. Bilateral relations will be intensified with Central Asia, the Middle East and other Asian countries, especially in the economic field. Strategic cooperation with the United States will continue.  Derived from all these, the main directions will be as follows:

·          Enhance cooperation with the countries of the South Caucasus and Black Sea Region on regional security, conflict resolution, border management and control, joint economic projects, transport corridors, energy security, democratic transformation, culture and ecology;

·          Establish stable, pragmatic and predictable relations with Russia;

·          Emphasize the role of Georgia, as a Black Sea state, in common European security; promote cooperation within the Black Sea region aimed at ensuring security, stability, democratic development and sustainable economic growth; pursue a proactive policy to move the EU-Georgian relationships to a new stage, which will enable us to address more effectively common challenges, including energy security;

·          Strengthen bilateral political dialogue with European countries; establish a strategic partnership with Germany; actively work with the Portuguese EU Presidency and Spanish OSCE Chairmanship on appropriate issues; strengthen cooperation with northern European, namely Baltic and Scandinavian countries, as well as with Poland; intensify interaction with Georgia’s new Group of Friends on issues of European and Euro- Atlantic integration;

·          Continue our strategic partnership with the United States, especially in the spheres of defense and security, combating terrorism, economy, energy and democratic development:

·          Intensify relationships with Canada in the field of economy and foreign policy;

·          Increase economic cooperation with the countries of Central Asia and the Middle East, with particular emphasis on energy and transport potential; other spheres of collaboration are security and counter terrorism;

·          Intensify economic relations with China, India, Japan and South Korea and attract investments from them.

9. Protecting Georgian citizens and their rights abroad

Intensification of Georgia’s foreign relations, coupled with dynamic migration make it necessary to develop more effective mechanisms for protecting our citizens and their rights abroad. The tasks of Foreign Service in this direction are as follows:

·          Deepen international cooperation and improve bilateral and multilateral legal frameworks;

·          Continue working toward concluding bilateral agreements on readmission;

·          Elaborate recommendations on the conclusion of readmission agreements between Georgia and EU countries, within the ENP framework;

·          Hold negotiations with the EU (within the ENP) and other non-EU destination countries to create legal labor guarantees for Georgian citizens, including allocation of work place quotas;

·          Support developing a unified photo database of registered citizens to speed up their identification process;

·          Start dialogues with the European Union and its member states on a simplified visa regime for selected categories of Georgian citizens;

·          Enhance regional cooperation  aimed at harmonizing visa policy;

·          Develop consular relationships with countries in which Georgia does not have diplomatic missions or consular offices in order to protect the rights of Georgian citizens;

·          Ensure effective implementation of the consular agreement within GUAM and inform Georgian citizens about it.

10. Improvement of the Management System

To deliver effectively on the priorities of foreign policy it is important to improve the management system of the Foreign Service and develop a capable workforce, as well as to draft a new law on diplomatic service. Effective administration implies adapting the Ministry’s organizational structure to modern realities and demands, establishing the practice of strategic planning, improving the budgeting process, developing performance assessments and a result-assessment culture, streamlining decision-making, and optimizing the use of administrative and human resources. The Ministry will cooperate closely with the partner countries and appropriate international agencies in accomplishing the objectives set out above.  Perfection of the management system calls for the following tasks:

Implementing an Organizational Culture of Evaluation

·          Draft annual plans, defining criteria for evaluating work done by the Ministry’s structural entities and diplomatic missions;

·          Develop a monitoring mechanism that will be based on result assessment;

·          Delegate decision-making powers to appropriate structures of the Ministry within their defined spheres of responsibility;

·          Redesign and decentralize the decision-making process through empowerment of employees, granting them more flexibility.

Improving the Communication system

·          Finalize development of a unified network and database for the Ministry;

·          Simplify the information exchange between the Ministry and diplomatic missions and develop an electronic communication system;

·          Ensure information security;

·          Improve coordination between the Ministry and diplomatic missions;

·          Raise internal administrative effectiveness by simplifying bureaucratic procedures.

Improving the Human Resources Management System

·          Further optimize of the Foreign Service staff;

·          Develop an effective recruitment system;

·          Improve staff hiring, training and professional qualification mechanisms;

·          Train new employees;

·          Introduce clear job descriptions;

·          Introduce an effective performance management system for employee evaluation;

·          Develop mechanisms for motivation and encouragement;

·          Improve the rotation system;

·          Improve relevant legislation.