Translated material
Georgian blockbuster
American officials and actors arrived in Tbilisi
Today in Tbilisi, with the participation of the US Deputy Secretary of Defense, former American Ambassador to Russia Alexander Vershbow, the first meeting of the bilateral working group on security will take place. This group was created within the framework of the strategic partnership charter between Georgia and the United States, signed in January. Until the end of the year, meetings of groups on economics, issues of democracy development and humanitarian problems will be held.The greatest interest on the eve of the meeting in Tbilisi was aroused by the topic of deploying components of the American missile defense system (ABM) in Georgia. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Alexander Nalbandov explained that Tbilisi will consider this issue if Washington applies. So far there has been no such request, therefore, according to the official version, the working group does not intend to discuss it. The announced agenda boils down to the modernization of Georgian defense, regional security and the participation of Georgian military trained by American instructors in operations in Afghanistan.
The meeting of the working group will be the political debut of the new US Ambassador to Georgia John Bass, who last week presented his credentials to President Mikheil Saakashvili. The career diplomat has headed the special group for the restoration of Baghdad since July last year; previously, he oversaw various areas at the State Department, including relations between NATO and Russia.
The Georgian opposition believes that a new stage is entering in relations with Washington, which, in its opinion, will consist of a rethinking of American support for Mikheil Saakashvili. Vremya Novostei's sources in the opposition reported that one of these days, at the invitation of the American State Department, former presidential candidate and co-founder of the opposition movement “Defend Georgia” Levan Gachechiladze will go to the United States. Oppositionists say they want to convince the West not to confuse Georgia and Mr. Saakashvili, so that after a possible change of power the country can continue to receive Western support.
Meanwhile, the legendary 53-year-old Hollywood actor Andy Garcia arrived in Tbilisi yesterday. He will play the role of 41-year-old President Mikheil Saakashvili in a film about last year's war around South Ossetia. The film is being directed by American director Renny Harlin, who in 1990 released the blockbuster about the fight with terrorists “Die Hard 2” with Bruce Willis in the title role. The film about the Caucasian war does not yet have a title, but it is already planned to be shown in May 2010 at the Cannes Film Festival in France. Andy Garcia will stay in the Georgian capital until Wednesday, filming at the Tbilisi residence of President Saakashvili and on Rustaveli Avenue.