



Area:69.700 square kilometers; slightly larger than South Carolina. 20% of total territory is not under government control.
Terrain: Mostly rugged and mountainous.

Nationality: Noun and adjective--Georgian(s).

Type: Republic.
Constitution: October 17, 1995.
Political parties: Political parties and leaders: For a New Georgia [Avtandil Jorbenadze and Vasha Lordkipanidze]; Revival Party [Aslan Abashidze] National Movement [Mikhail Saakashvili]; Labor Party [Shalva Natelashvili]; New Rights [Davit Gamkrelidze]; Burjanadze-Democrats [Nino Burjanadze and Zurab Zhvania]; Industrialists [Georgi Topadze]; Labor Party [Shalva Natelashvili] Suffrage: Universal over 18.

Economy (2001)
GDP: $3.6 billion.
GDP per capita: $744.
GDP growth: 5.3%.
Inflation rate: 3.4%.





The Georgian state is highly centralized, except for the autonomous regions of Abkhazia and Ajara, whose precise legal statuses have not been determined by law. Those regions were subjects of special autonomies during Soviet rule, and the legacy of that influence remains. Presidential elections were held in 1995 and again in April 2000, when President Shevardnadze was reelected to another 5-year term, following which he is expected to step down in 2005. Local elections, marred by irregularities, were held in June 2002. Parliamentary elections were held in 1995 and 1999, and most recently on November 2, 2003 with the pro-government party winning the largest percentage of the vote in an election marred by irregularities and fraud. The final distribution of seats in the new parliament and the establishment of coalitions is still uncertain. The previous parliament consisted of 15 factions.

Principal Government Officials
President--(On November 23, 2003, President Shevardnadze resigned in response to demonstrations in Tbilisi protesting the results of the November 2 parliamentary elections. Following his resignation, the Georgian Supreme Court nullified the results of the November 2 parliamentary elections. In accordance with the Georgian Constitution, the Speaker of the previous Parliament elected in 1999, Nino Burjunadze, became acting President. Presidential elections have been called for January 4, 2004, with parliamentary elections to follow soon after.)

State Minister--Avtandil Jorbenadze
Secretary of the National Security Council--Tedo Japaridze
Speaker of Parliament--Nino Burjanadze (independent)
Chairman of the Supreme Court--Lado Chanturia
Foreign Minister--Irakli Menagharishvili
Ambassador to the United States--Levan Mikeladze

Georgia maintains an embassy in the United States at 1615 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20009, telephone (202) 387-4537, fax (202) 393-4537.






Political Parties
There are seven major political parties and blocs in Georgia at present. The main pro-government bloc is called "For a New Georgia" and is led by State Minister Avtandil Jorbenadze and businessman Vazha Lordkipanidze. The Revival Party led by Jemal Gogitidze is overwhelmingly based in Ajara and is firmly under the control of that region's governor, Aslan Abashidze. The five main opposition parties are the National Movement, the Labor Party, the Burjanadze-Democrats bloc, the New Rights Party, and the Industrialist ("Industry Will Save Georgia") Party. The current composition of the Parliament remains undecided.

From 1994 until 2001, the pro-government party Citizens Union of Georgia had a distinct advantage over other parties, through its name recognition, parliamentary majority, and presidential support. Political forces represented in the Parliament were largely pro-government, easily outvoting a weak opposition, and the existing political layout seemed stable. By late 2001, as a result of acute internal political confrontations and a deteriorating social-economic situation in the country, the established majority led by the CUG split apart and Parliament Speaker Zurab Zhvania resigned.

In May 2002, the former opposition parties united to demand that the fractured CUG cede committee chairmanships. New committee chairmen were elected, representing a broad range of political parties and platforms. The CUG's mandate eroded further with their widespread defeat in the June 2002 local elections.


Growth through 2002 has been positive, and Georgia's economic performance is slowly improving, with GDP growth of 3% in 1999, 2% in 2000, and 4.5% in 2001, 5.3% in 2002 and 8.3% in the first nine months of 2003. Despite these setbacks, Georgia led the former Soviet Union in developing the legal infrastructure necessary for an attractive investment climate. Georgia maintains no currency controls, allows foreign investment in all but a few sectors deemed strategically important, and has implemented an impressive privatization program, including land privatization. Georgia was the second country of the former Soviet Union to join the World Trade Organization, which will provide additional opportunities for development.


Privatization is the only means to generate the capital needed to rehabilitate the sector. Due to a lack of investment, Georgia's transportation and communication infrastructure remains in very poor condition. The Ministry of Transport and Communication's agenda to privatize the telecommunications industry has been hampered by the lack of bidder interest.








The United States also provides Georgia with bilateral security assistance, including through the International Military Education and Training (IMET) program. Evolving U.S.-Georgia partnerships include the Georgia Train and Equip Program, intended to enhance Georgia's military capability and stimulate military reform, programs by the Georgia (U.S.) National Guard, visits by the Sixth Fleet and the Coast Guard to Georgia, and the Bilateral Working Group on Defense and Military Cooperation. The United States has declared its intention to more closely scrutinize the efficacy of its assistance monies. In September 2003, the United States completed an assistance review and announced cuts in two programs. In summer 2003, the exit of the American firm AES, which had been engaged in the electricity distribution sector was a major setback for the economy and investment in Georgia. On another front, in June, Georgia was placed on Tier 3 status with regard to the Trafficking Victims' Protection Act, which could have led to a suspension of all non-trade, non-humanitarian related assistance. During a ninety day grace period the Georgian government took sufficient steps to warrant a reassessment, and subsequently was placed on Tier 2 and thus did not lose any assistance.

Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--Richard Miles
Deputy Chief of Mission--Patricia Moller
Political/Economic/Commercial Affairs—Elisabeth Brocking
Public Affairs—Rowena Cross-Najafi
Defense Attache—Mitchell Jackson
USAID Director—Denny Robertson


[This is a mobile copy of Georgia (11/03)]