Meetings and Discussions

   

Round -Table Discussion on Regionalism and Local Self-Governance in Georgia

On December 12, 2003, the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies hosted the third discussion meeting within the framework of the project implemented together with International IDEA.

The Guest speaker, David Losaberidze of Caucasian Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development and the Foundation students   ─ the representatives of various governmental agencies discussed the regionalism and local self-governance in Georgia.

According to David Losaberidze, the current picture regarding the self-governance issues in the regions remains unfavorable. Introducing the self-governance institutions has not succeeded at eradicating the problems in the regions and the situation there remains practically the same.   

Mr. Losaberidze argued that despite the fact that local self-governmental bodies are entitled to solve the problems of the local need, in practice, they are unable to implement their main role. He noted that this is due to bureaucracy ─ centralized policy being conducted by the center and unqualified local personnel. 

Students and guest speaker also addressed the issue of local budgets. Mr. Losaberidze’s proposal considered introduction and implementation of the law on local budgets.  In the view of Mr. Losaberdize central budget should be comprised by total amount of local budgets. At the end, the audience discussed the possibility of bringing together the regions.

In November 2003, the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies together with International IDEA launched the discussion series “Building Democracy in Georgia”. Within the project’s framework, seven additional discussion meetings on various issues of domestic importance are planned to be arranged in the future.