2019-11-21
Tbilisi is hosting a wide-scale conference on strategic communication and fight against disinformation. Forum has been jointly organized by the European Union (EU) and Government Administration of Georgia.
Ms. Natia Mezvrishvili, Head of Government Administration of Georgia and H.E. Carl Hartzell, Ambassador of EU to Georgia made welcoming remarks at the forum this morning.
As noted by the Head of Government Administration of Georgia, effective measures are carried out by the Government of Georgia towards strategic communication with support of its international partners.
"Government of Georgia has recently made significant steps towards this end and effective mechanisms of strategic communication have been devised in line ministries and at the central level - within the Office of the Prime Minister of Georgia. We are closely cooperating with our partners towards this end through trainings and conferences, as well as by exchanging information" noted the Head of Government Administration.
EU Ambassador focused on the fight with disinformation and noted that it is a serious problem for all, including Europe.
"Today's event is really thrilling to me, because when it comes to the issue of fighting disinformation, it is really something that we are doing together. I am very proud and happy to see that EU Strategic Communications Team have come here. It's the first event where the Strategic Communications Team from Brussels is going out to the regions to host an event like this. So, it's special and as we know it is now bringing together experts and stakeholders from other parts of the wider region. So, it will be a good opportunity to exchange information. It is very clear that disinformation is a Plague for us all. In Europe it's a real challenge and we are doing our best to be as successful as possible in terms of fighting it within our own borders, but we are also working very closely with a country like Georgia and other countries to share information between ourselves and to make sure that we are stronger together when it comes to fight with this menace" added the EU Ambassador.
Event is held within the scope of Strategic Communication Week, which aims to inform general public on strategic communication and disinformation, experience sharing between EU and Eastern Partnership (EaP), facilitated public diplomacy with support of the EU on November 18-22, 2019.
Conference aims to facilitate the analysis of threats born by disinformation within the EU and its neighborhood, along with coordinated actions. Week is organized by the European External Action, EU Delegation, Center for Development and Democracy (CDD) and Sector 3 in partnership with the Government of Georgia, Parliament, Information Center on NATO and EU.