Georgia Donors’ Conference Opens in Brussels

Representatives of over 70 countries and international organizations gathered in Brussels on October 22 at a one-day donors’ conference to raise funds for Georgia’s post-war reconstruction. 

Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze leads the Georgian delegation in Brussels.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner called on the international community to "prove that we are on Georgia’s side,” AFP reported.

“We must prove by the generosity of the donations and the commitment to projects that we are not forgetting them and that we want a political solution,” he said.

President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso said in his opening remarks at the conference that the international community had a “moral imperative” to help Georgia.

He reiterated the European Commission’s pledge to provide EUR 500 million over three years to Georgia; individual EU member states are expected to add to that figure.

“That representatives of so many countries and international organisations should be gathered here today at a time when we are facing a grave financial crisis sends a strong signal about our commitment to Georgia,” AFP reported, quoting Barroso. “The EU firmly believes and upholds certain values and norms of conduct and those include peaceful resolution of disputes.”

He also said that aid to Georgia was important for Europe, because any conflict in Georgia “also has a potential cost for Europe, for our energy security and diversification strategy.”

A World Bank-led needs assessment mission in September drew up a report defining the most urgent needs for Georgia’s post-war recovery, saying that the country will need EUR 2.38 billion over the next three years in budget support, social sector support and for infrastructure development.

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