Georgia/ 3.4 International cultural co-operation  

3.4.1 Overview of main structures and trends

Georgia has signed various agreements, in the sphere of culture, with the EU countries, CIS countries (Commonwealth of Independent States), USA, China, Israel etc. These agreements are divided into:

• interstate agreements between governments in the sphere of culture;
• special inter-governmental cultural programmes; and
• agreements between Georgian ministries and departments with respective partner organisations in the sphere of culture.

The first group of agreements include those between Georgia and the UK, China, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Germany, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan (all in 1993), Poland, Russia, Turkey (all in 1994), Bulgaria , Uzbekistan (all in 1995), Spain, Israel (all in 1996), Greece, Iran, France, Kyrgyzstan (all in 1997), Italy (1999), Romania (2000), Estonia, Cyprus, Slovenia (all in 2005), Lithuania (2007), Slovakia (2009) and Malta (2010).

The second group of agreements includes intergovernmental programmes on cultural exchange with Russia (1997) and intergovernmental cooperation programmes on culture, education and science with Israel, Spain, and Greece for 2004-2006:

• Programme for Exchange in the Spheres of Science, Education and Culture between Georgia and the Russian Federation for 1997. Effective: 06.06.1997;
• Protocol on Cooperation between Georgian and Ukrainian Frontier Troops in the Sphere of Sports and Culture between the State Department of National Frontier Protection of Georgia and the State Committee for National Frontier Protection of Ukraine. Effective: 14.02.1997;
• Programme of Cooperation in the Education and Culture Sphere between Georgia and Spain (2004-2007). Effective 20.10.2004; and
• Grant Agreement on Project of Japan-Georgia Cultural Cooperation In Connection with the Study of the Japan Language in Tbilisi State University between the Government of Georgia and the Government of Japan. Effective: 24.12.2008.

The third group of agreements includes those between the Ministry of Culture of Georgia and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs of Armenia (1999) and between the Ministry of Culture of Georgia and the Georgian Cultural, Tourist and Trade Centre in Japan (2000) and so on:

• Agreement on Cooperation in the Sphere of Culture between the Ministry of Culture of Georgia and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs of the Republic of Armenia. Effective: 30.07.1999;
• Protocol of Intention of Understanding on Cooperation between the Ministry of Culture of Georgia and the Ministry of Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Italy. Effective: 10.12.2002; and
• Memorandum of Understanding on Procedures for Political Consultations in Common Interests between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Culture of the Republic of Costa-Rica. Effective: 17.11.2009.

Recently, Georgia has intensified its contacts with the Baltic countries and GUAM countries (The GUAM Organisation for Democracy and Economic Development is a regional organisation of four CIS states: Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova). The contacts with Ukraine have become especially close and many-sided.

The Ministry of Culture, Monument Protection and Sport of Georgia, newly established in 2004, seeks cooperation with bodies operating international cultural funds.

After the Russian-Georgian war of 2008, Georgia officially stopped its membership of the CIS.

Your Comments on this Chapter?