“The signature of the Memorandum of Understanding on Promotion of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe Programme is an important step in strengthening dialogue between the Georgian local government association and the government,” stated Congress president Anders Knape at the Ceremony of signature of the Memorandum between the Georgian Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport represented by Minister Mikheil Chkhenkeli and the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (NALAG), represented by its president, the Mayor of Tbilisi Kakha Kaladze, on 24 February 2020 in Tbilisi, Georgia. This ceremony took place during the president’s official visit to Georgia, organised in the framework of the Georgian chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers.
The president reiterated the support of the Congress for all initiatives by central authorities which consider the contribution of local authorities and promote the values of the Council of Europe: cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and transfrontier exchanges. “Such initiatives contribute to the fulfilment of the United Nations Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals on economic growth, reducing inequalities, sustainable cities and communities and building peace,” he underlined.
“Developing cultural routes is essential to build a European landscape of common values where relations are built on trust not only between countries, but also between cities and regions,” explained Mr. Knape. “Local authorities play a crucial role in upholding territorial identity and cultural dialogue, which have a significant impact on local economic development while providing an opportunity for public authorities to reengage with their citizens,” he concluded.
