Jun. 03 2024
Source Page: Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Georgia: Gareth WardFound: Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Georgia: Gareth Ward
Nov. 15 2023
Source Page: UK/Georgia: Agreement concerning Air Services [CS Georgia No.3/2023]Found: UK/Georgia: Agreement concerning Air Services [CS Georgia No.3/2023]
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the government of Georgia introducing a bill that would curtail LGBT+ rights on the UK government’s declaration that Georgia is a safe country for immigration purposes.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
In line with 80AA of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, we work closely with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to regularly monitor and review the situation in countries where migrants originate from, including how any new legislation is applied in practice.
Asked by: Adam Holloway (Conservative - Gravesham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, if he will hold discussions with his counterpart in Georgia on the conduct of Russia towards that country.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
As a valued international security partner, the UK holds regular discussions with the Georgian Government regarding combatting Russian hybrid aggression and illegal presence in Georgian territories. In November, the former Minister for Europe discussed Georgia's sovereignty over the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia with then Prime Minister Gharibashvili and Foreign Minister Darchiashvili, and His Majesty's Ambassador to Georgia regularly discusses these matters with Georgian counterparts. Countering Russian aggression in the region is a priority for the UK.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much funding has been earmarked in the next three years for the UK-led Strategic Communication Initiative under the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK led Strat Comms initiative as part of the Substantial NATO- Georgia Package (SNGP) concluded as planned in March 2024. We are currently considering our position on future Strategic Communication collaboration with Georgia.
Asked by: Adam Holloway (Conservative - Gravesham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether he has had recent discussions with his Georgian counterpart on the impact of the foreign agent bill on the treatment of (a) UK and (b) international non-governmental organisations during elections in that country.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The UK is committed to supporting a vibrant civil society in Georgia, which is an essential attribute of a healthy democracy. I [Minister for Europe] discussed this and a range of other issues with the Georgian Ambassador on 17 April, and on 2 May I publicly raised my concerns regarding the apparent excessive use of force by police during demonstrations in Tbilisi. His Majesty's Ambassador to Georgia has consistently made our concerns about the proposed law on Transparency of Foreign Influence known to the Georgian Government, most recently to the Prime Minister on 22 April and President on 4 May.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether he has received recent reports on civil and political rights in Georgia; and when he last met (a) his counterpart from and (b) other representatives of the Government in that country.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The British Embassy in Tbilisi reports regularly on developments in Georgia. The UK is committed to supporting a vibrant civil society in Georgia, which is an essential attribute of a healthy democracy. I discussed this and a range of other issues with the Georgian Ambassador on 17 April.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of recent clashes between protestors and police in Georgia; and what discussions he has had with international partners on the protection of civil liberties in that country.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The UK is committed to supporting a vibrant civil society in Georgia, which is an essential attribute of a healthy democracy. We are aware of the recent demonstrations in Georgia against the proposed law on transparency of foreign influence and are monitoring developments. We are working closely with international partners to raise our concerns regarding the re-introduction of this law, and the Minister for Europe highlighted our concerns to the Georgian Ambassador when they met on 18 April.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what information his Department holds on the spread of avian influenza in South Georgia; and whether his Department is taking steps to implement biosecurity measures to help prevent the further spread of avian influenza.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed in gentoo and king penguins, brown skua, kelp gul, wandering albatross, elephant seals and Antarctic fur seals on South Georgia. The effects appear to be localised. The FCDO is working to support the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI), alongside the British Antarctic Survey, to put in place strict biosecurity procedures and mitigation measures, including enhanced cleaning of clothing and equipment, and to monitor for further spread.
Dec. 06 2023
Source Page: IAGCI invites tenders to evaluate Home Office country information products on Bangladesh, the Philippines, and GeorgiaFound: invites tenders to evaluate Home Office country information products on Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Georgia