By the invitation of Mr. Kakha Kaladze, President of the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia and Mayor of Tbilisi a five-member delegation of the Council of Europe visited Tbilisi.

The delegation composed of Mr. Xavier Cadoret, Congress Vice-President and President of the Chamber of Local Authorities, Mr. Andreas Kiefer, Congress Secretary General, Ms. Marite Moras, Head of International Relations and Development Projects of the Council of Europe, Mr. Bryony Rudkin, Congress Spokesperson and Ms. Palau Lea, Representative of Congress Secretariat held meetings with the representatives of Georgia's central and local authorities.

Participants discussed the agenda of the relations between the Council of Europe and Georgia, talked about the success achieved by the cooperation between Council of Europe and Georgia, decentralization strategy document, the reforms undertaken to strengthen self-government and more participation of women in this process.

During the meetings participants also discussed the forthcoming Georgian Chairmanship of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers and future plans of cooperation. The hosts thanked the delegation of the congress for the support of Georgia. The guests wished Georgians luck on the forthcoming Georgian Chairmanship of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers.

Ms. Tamar Taliashvili, Vice-President of the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia and Vice-President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities also attended these meetings.

At the end of the visit, the Delegation will also meet with representatives of the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (NALAG).

On September 24 the delegation will participate in the ceremony which marks the 20th anniversary of Georgia’s membership in the Council of Europe, the 70th anniversary of the Council of Europe and the 25th anniversary of the Congress initiated by Mr. Kakha Kaladze.

During the conference, the European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life also will be signed, according to which local governments are taking responsibility to take measures and cooperate to improve equality within their jurisdiction.