Ambassador Ashot SMBATYAN: "Friendly relations between Armenia and Georgia have reached their political peak"

29.07.2025 (Caucasian Journal) The Caucasian Journal is pleased to welcome His Excellency Ashot SMBATYAN, the Ambassador of Armenia to Georgia, for our second interview.

Since the Ambassador’s previous interview in 2023, significant developments have occurred in Armenia, the South Caucasus, and globally. We hope to address all major topics in this conversation.

▶ Հայերեն. Read the Armenian version here.

▶ ქართულად: Read the Georgian version here.

Alexander KAFFKA, editor-in-chief of CJ: Your Excellency, since we are in Tbilisi, let’s begin with Armenia–Georgia relations. Our countries now have a Strategic Partnership Agreement signed about 18 months ago. Beyond its evident symbolic weight, what tangible results have been recorded, and what future initiatives are being developed? In addition to political and economic dimensions, could you also comment on military cooperation as outlined in the agreement signed last year by the defense ministers of Armenia and Georgia?

Ashot SMBATYAN: Yes, you are absolutely right, for over 30 years now, the friendly relations between Armenia and Georgia have reached their political peak, and in January 2024, the Prime Ministers of Armenia and Georgia signed the Joint Declaration on Establishing a Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Armenia and Georgia in Tbilisi. This elevated our relations to a qualitatively new level and laid the foundation for further deepening of bilateral ties in various fields.

Sjur BERGAN: “I don't think you can have democracy without good education” (watch video or read)

24.07.2025 (Caucasian Journal). What is the relationship between education and democracy? Why is EU membership important for education? 

The Caucasian Journal has a rare opportunity to pose these and other questions to Sjur BERGAN, one of Europe's leading education policymakers. He served as the head of the Council of Europe's Education Department for many years and played a pivotal role in shaping European higher education policy. Previously, he represented the CoE in the Bologna Follow-Up Group for over two decades, chaired the working groups on structural reforms, and was the main author of the landmark Lisbon Recognition Convention.

▶ ქართულად: The Georgian version is here.

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The full text version of the interview is below:

Sjur BERGAN: “I DON'T THINK YOU CAN HAVE DEMOCRACY WITHOUT GOOD EDUCATION”

Kai PURNHAGEN: “There is no compromise on safe food production and marketing”

16.07.2025. (Caucasian Journal) Given the current crucial period for Georgia's EU aspirations, our journal wants to help keep the public informed about what EU candidacy and integration really mean. One important topic that doesn’t get enough coverage is the EU’s food safety regulations. Today, we delve into the world of food regulation with our distinguished expert, Dr. Kai PURNHAGEN (Germany).

Professor Purnhagen holds the Chair for Food Law at the University of Bayreuth, where he also serves as Co-Director of the Research Centre for German and European Food Law. He is the co-author of the authoritative EU Food Law (Oxford University Press).

▶ ქართულად: The Georgian version is here.

Alexander KAFFKA, editor-in-chief of Caucasian Journal:  Dear Dr. Purnhagen, thank you for joining us. Let me start with a simple question, one that many citizens in an EU candidate country might ask: Will my food quality significantly improve or be better protected once our country enters the EU?

Kai PURNHAGEN: Thank you very much for having me, it’s a great privilege for me. I do not know enough about the Georgian food system to meaningfully answer your question. But what I do know is that the EU has the most rigorous agri-food legal system when it comes to food safety. It is very likely that on these terms, Georgian food will improve. Whether this will also have an impact on food prices will largely depend on how well the Georgian competition enforcement authorities will work. We have observed that in EU countries, where enforcement of competition laws functions effectively, food prices have remained relatively low compared to food safety and quality.

Alkis DRAKINOS: “The three Caucasian countries are the perfect conduit for trade between Asia and Europe”

26.06.2025. (Caucasian Journal) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), a key driver of economic development in Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean, is also an active player in the South Caucasus. The Bank's investments in private enterprise, infrastructure, and sustainable development are very significant. 

Today, we are privileged to interview Alkis Vryenios DRAKINOS, Director and Regional Head of the Caucasus for the EBRD, who began his tenure in Tbilisi in 2023.

▶ ქართულად: The Georgian version is here.

Alexander KAFFKA, editor-in-chief of Caucasian Journal: Dear Alkis, welcome to Caucasian Journal! Thank you for your time. You’re no stranger to our region, correct? Could you begin by sharing your professional background and previous experience in the South Caucasus?

Alkis DRAKINOS: Dear Alexander, many thanks for inviting me to the Caucasian Journal. I see it as a privilege to have the opportunity to share my experience and views with your readers. Yes, you're right, I'm not a stranger to the Caucasus. I first visited the region 30 years ago when I was a young Associate Banker at the EBRD, and it all started here in Tbilisi! This was my first professional visit bearing the business card of EBRD in a country of operations of the Bank, and it marked me for life.

     

Diana PAVELESCU: “EU standards give consumers confidence that what’s on the wine label is exactly what’s inside”

06.05.2025. (Caucasian Journal)  We always seize the opportunity to discuss winemaking, since it's such a vital industry in our region. So, what’s in store for winemakers in EU candidate countries like Georgia and Moldova as they look to integrate into the EU? Can they expect changes in pricing, quality control, and subsidies as they align with European standards? 

Our guest today, Diana PAVELESCU from Romania, is here to shed some light on these questions. Diana is the Secretary-General of ADAR (the Romanian Authorized Wine Tasters' Association) and the founder of the Romanian Wine Academy. She’s also a Wine Ambassador and has served as a wine advisor to the Romanian Minister of Agriculture, as well as a juror in various international wine competitions. 

▶ ქართულად: The Georgian version is here.

Alexander KAFFKA, editor-in-chief of Caucasian Journal: Dear Diana, welcome! Romania went through a big shift when it joined the EU. What are the key takeaways about how the situation changed or how local wines stacked up against the imports? Do you think the Romanian winemaking has experienced major changes due to EU membership? 

Diana PAVELESCU: Thank you for the invitation — it’s an honor to share our experience with you and your readers. I should mention that I currently work with Romania’s National Office for Vine and Wine Products, the institution responsible for vineyard certification and trade authorization for wines with protected designations of origin (PDO) and geographical indications (PGI).

Georgians are invited to apply for a 5-month Diplomatic Programme at the College of Europe in Belgium

18.04.2025. (Caucasian Journal). The College of Europe in Bruges (Belgium) has launched a call for the second edition of the European Union Diplomatic Programme for the Enlargement Region. The school is expected to run from 31 August 2025 until 31 January 2026.

This programme, funded by the European Commission, aims to foster regional cooperation among junior diplomats and/or officials of the enlargement region and their EU peers by strengthening their knowledge in EU affairs. The curriculum includes joint activities with the EU Diplomatic Academy.

The call is especially tailored towards junior diplomats and/or officials working in the field of foreign policy and EU accession from Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, and other candidate countries. 

Professor Jeffrey LAZARUS: “EU citizens receive excellent and usually free healthcare, but it's very unstandardized”

31.03.2025. (Caucasian Journal)  Healthcare, a subject of pressing public concern, has been underrepresented in the Caucasian Journal. Today, we address this by interviewing Jeffrey LAZARUS, Professor of Global Health at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and the Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York (CUNY SPH), whose career bridges Europe and North America. 

As Georgia navigates its European aspirations, we discuss the potential benefits of various healthcare systems and what joining the EU could mean for the health and well-being of the Georgian people.

▶ ქართულად: The Georgian version is here.

Alexander KAFFKA, editor-in-chief of Caucasian Journal: Dear Jeff [if I may], welcome to Caucasian Journal and thank you for your attention to our readers. If you were the main decision-maker responsible for the healthcare sector in an EU candidate country like Georgia, what future strategy would you choose? Would you adopt an existing model from another EU country, combine several models, or create a new one from scratch?

Jeffrey LAZARUS: My main message would be to focus on having a strong primary care system with a gatekeeper system of general practitioners or family doctors and then a strong network of specialists. General practitioners should be in the community, easy to access, and - something the EU is not so good at - there should also be easier telehealth like video access for consultation, so one does not always have to go to an office to see their primary care provider. 

Lasha BREGVADZE: "The Georgian criminal subculture originated from people dedicated to the liberation of their country"

23.03.2025 (Caucasian Journal). Today we are discussing quite a critical theme – the problem of organized crime – with one of the best experts in this field, Dr. Lasha BREGVADZE, the Head of the Organized Crime and Law Enforcement Research Center at Georgian Strategic Analysis Center. 

Alexander KAFFKA, editor-in-chief of Caucasian Journal:  Dear Lasha, thank you for your time. Organized crime is a troubling issue, but that should not deter us from addressing it. On the contrary, we must do so. International media reports frequently highlight Georgian involvement, we hear about deportations, and other related matters. I hope you will shed light on these topics for our readers. To start, I have a question: How did you become so deeply invested in this subject, leading to your dissertation?

Lasha BREGVADZE:  I was only 22 years old during the Rose Revolution of 2003.  That's when I was integrated into the law enforcement agencies. It was a tough time for Georgia. I was initially appointed as an investigator for special cases at the Ministry of Security, which was the name of the organization at the time. Later, I was transferred to the General Inspectorate of the Ministry of Justice, where I took on the role of Head of the Financial Audit Division.

Maestro Usui TOSHIKI: "I am absorbing the beautiful sounds from Georgia like oxygen"

19.03.2025 (Caucasian Journal). The Caucasian Journal is honored to welcome Maestro Usui TOSHIKI, an internationally acclaimed Japanese pianist often described as a "cultural bridge" between Japan and Georgia. Beyond his virtuosic performances, Usui serves as general manager of the Yokohama and Omi Sinfoniettas.

Alexander KAFFKA, editor-in-chief of Caucasian Journal:  Dear Usui-san, welcome to Caucasian Journal. First of all, I must say that I attended your performance in Tbilisi last year and became your fan. Thank you for your art! I was intrigued, however, to learn you are an honorary citizen of Sighnaghi, a small but extremely picturesque town in Eastern Georgia. Can you share the story behind this connection, to start our conversation?

Usui TOSHIKI: Thank you very much. It has been almost 10 years since I first visited Georgia. During my second visit, I went to the city of Sighnaghi. My first impression of it was that it was a perfect city, with traditional architecture, rich nature, and wonderful wine and food. Since then, every time I visit Georgia, I have had wonderful times visiting many wineries in Sighnaghi and holding concerts. 

Video: Watch our international Nordic Talk on education

26.02.2025 (Caucasian Journal). Last month, the Caucasian Journal hosted our third Nordic Talk, engaging participants from Armenia, Georgia, and the Nordic countries. You can learn more about the event here. We are now pleased to share the final video, available in English with Georgian and Armenian subtitles. 

The video is divided into two parts: Part 1 focuses on inclusive primary education, and Part 2 covers higher and professional education.

▶ ქართულად: Videos subtitled in Georgian are here.

▶ Հայերեն: Videos subtitled in Armenian are here.

What is a Nordic Talk? It is a series of live talks and podcasts addressing the biggest global challenges, organized internationally with the support of the Nordic Council of Ministers.

This Nordic Talk discussed how to benefit from the experience of Nordic partners in the field of education, focusing on the highly successful Nordic education model. As Georgia and Armenia take steps towards closer European integration, the importance of Western education models continues to grow. Georgia and Armenia have cooperated with Nordic countries, including in education. We examined the cooperation projects involving the Nordic countries, Georgia, and Armenia as case studies.

The discussion is now available in original (see below) and with subtitles in Armenian and Georgian.

To be the first to view all our exclusive video interviews, please subscribe here to our YouTube Channel.