The authors conclude that Washington should no longer consider this area as a peripheral part, since its stability is directly related to Europe’s energy security.The Caucasus - Eurasia Economic BridgeThe study emphasizes that the war in Ukraine has accelerated the birth of a new Eurasian order. In this context, the South Caucasus is a key trade and transit corridor connecting Central Asia to European markets.However, analysts say this function is at risk as long as the North Caucasus remains under Russian dominance. The North Caucasus has been described as a “structural lock” that acts as a “sword of Damocles” on southern transit routes.Two key scenariosThe authors consider two main scenarios: Maintaining Russian control: Russia maintains its power projection and imposes a permanent “risk surcharge” on regional ties, which discourages investment and complicates economic planning. Weakening Russian influence: Weakening Moscow’s control over the North Caucasus frees the region from the blockade. This creates the opportunity for the Black Sea-Caspian region to become a fully integrated system, free from external constraints. The article concludes: “In this order, the protection of key points in the Black Sea-Caspian region becomes a strategic imperative for the West.” The authors urge politicians to start thinking about the region as a unified system now, so as not to miss the prospect of a Eurasia free from Russian influence.

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He said that the transaction is a significant event for the Georgian banking sector, both in terms of its scale and content."It is worth noting the importance of this transaction in the context of international investments, in particular in the direction of Chinese capital. It is noteworthy that the financial sector has been leading in terms of attracting foreign direct investments in Georgia for years. This transaction is another proof that the Georgian banking sector is in an active development phase and is attractive to foreign investors," said Beka Dochviri.As he noted, the implementation of such a large transaction for the financial sector is a very responsible event and required close cooperation with the National Bank."The implementation of such a large transaction for the financial sector is a very responsible event and requires close cooperation with the regulator both in terms of protecting the interests of consumers and maintaining financial stability in the sector. Accordingly, in order to effectively conduct this process, the National Bank has been actively cooperating with both banks over the past year," said Beka Dochviri.Another important aspect of the transaction is the strengthening of market competition."The merger of Basisbank and Liberty Bank creates a real opportunity for the emergence of a third relatively large systemic bank in the banking system, which, as a result of resource optimization and economies of scale, will contribute to the improvement of the competitive environment, which in turn will have a positive impact on the well-being of consumers. Ultimately, the acquisition of Liberty Bank by Basisbank is not just a merger of companies - it is a step towards a more competitive, diverse, development-oriented banking system," said Beka Dochviri.

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The discussions centred on Georgia’s current economic landscape and the robust indicators within its financial sector. The participants underscored the National Bank of Georgia’s consistent monetary policy and the resilience of the financial system.The conversation also addressed broader global challenges and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with reflections on how its duration may influence current macroeconomic forecasts.The IMF Managing Director praised Georgia’s achievement in maintaining healthy macroeconomic indicators and strong financial buffers.Attending the meeting were NBG Vice Presidents Ekaterine Mikabadze, Ekaterine Galdava, and Nino Jeladze, as well as Deputy Ministers of Finance Ekaterine Guntsadze and Giorgi Kakauridze.

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Under the current “Local Self-Government Code”, self-governing cities other than Tbilisi do not have the right to establish LEPLs and carry out activities such as expedited issuance of construction permits, regulation of outdoor advertising or other paid municipal services. According to the new draft, the city council will establish LEPLs upon the recommendation of the mayor, and the mayor will appoint and dismiss their head.According to the submitted document, municipal LEPLs may be established for the purpose of developing urban development concepts, preparing general plans, privatizing property, organizing public transport and regulating parking rules. In addition, the self-governing city council will be authorized, based on the mayor's proposal, to determine the fees required for the provision of these services.The initiators of the draft law are members of the parliamentary majority, including Irakli Kadagishvili, Nino Tsilosani and Dimitri Samkharadze. The enactment of the changes will allow self-governing cities to manage local resources more flexibly and accelerate the implementation of infrastructure or service projects.

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According to the SSSG, the delegation held meetings with senior officials from the Czech Republic’s intelligence services to discuss security matters.

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According to him, some essential solutions must be found in this situation.“We are eager to become a full-fledged member of the European Union. We share the same goal as North Macedonia, but we also recognise that the European Union itself is facing some very significant and fundamental challenges. For many years, there were some specific strengths for the European Union: a strong identity, a strong level of prosperity, and the strengths in terms of democracy and rule of law. But now, if you look at the current state of the European Union, it is facing challenges in all three of these areas. We are very much concerned about that, and we remain hopeful that the situation will improve in the future,” Irakli Kobakhidze has said.When we talk about the South Caucasus, Georgia’s Prime Minister said, all these uncertainties and global challenges are naturally affecting our region as well. At the same time, the South Caucasus is also gaining particular importance in light of these wider developments.“We are doing our best to take advantage of the relevant opportunities. For many years, Georgia has proved to be a reliable bridge between Europe and Asia, and we are working hard to strengthen our connectivity function as much as possible. In the current circumstances, when trade routes face special pressures, we can offer valuable services to our partners in different parts of the world. Georgia serves as a transit hub for the efficient movement of goods, services, energy, and digital data, and we will continue to do our utmost to strengthen that function.Our approach, which is grounded in peace, progress, and development, is proving successful. If you look at the economic data, Georgia’s economic policy and overall governance record speak for themselves. Over the last five years, Georgia has had the highest average economic growth rate in Europe, at 9.3% since 2021, and we have started this year strongly as well, with 8.4% growth in January and February,”Irakli Kobakhidze has stated.According to Georgia’s Prime Minister, the country is working to maintain peace and stability within its borders, ensure economic progress, and promote connectivity.“With this approach, we not only preserve peace at home, but also contribute to broader peace across the South Caucasus region. We are very proud to be a strong partner with Turkey in this regard,” Irakli Kobakhidze has stated.

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