Page 49 - GEORptSep20

Lithuania and Estonia.
The country is on the European Union's recently updated list of countries for which travel restrictions should be lifted.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry has ​turned down​ Russia’s offer to allow Georgia to carry out reconnaissance flights along the boundaries of the occupied Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions in accordance with the Open Skies Treaty, dubbing the invitation as “cynical“ and accusing Russia of trying to exploit the agreement “for political gain.”
Russia is ready to allow observation flights relating to the Open Skies Treaty in the 10-kilometre strip “along the Caucasus border” if Georgia permits Russia to fly over its territory, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on May 26, according to RIA Novosti.
“Over the years, Russia has been systematically violating the provisions of the Treaty and politicising it. Russia has been making fruitless efforts since 2010 to use the agreement as a tool to legitimise the illegal recognition of Georgia's occupied territories,” the Georgian Foreign Ministry said in a press release.
It reminded that Russia, in 2010, banned the observation flights in the vicinity of the occupied regions on the grounds that they were independent states not subject to the Treaty.
Georgian officials also reminded that in 2012 Tbilisi suspended the implementation of the Open Skies agreement with Russia. The Georgian side does not accept Russian flights, nor does it conduct surveillance flights on Russian territory. Georgia said it has been pursuing a consistent policy throughout the years and the 2012 decision remains in force.
9.1.4 ​Tourism sector news
Georgia delays international flights and hence foreign tourism until August
Regular international flights to Georgia will not resume before July 31, the Georgian Civil Aviation Agency announced on June 25.
Georgia was planning to once more accept international flights and thus open up to foreign tourism on July 1, but such hopes have been dashed with the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic failing to diminish globally in line with hopes and expectations.
The country has lifted most of its restrictions imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19 in June. It has re-opened shops, hotels, restaurants and cafes, while restoring public and inter-city transportation. Hotel owners and tour operators remain, however, pessimistic about the outlook for the nation’s tourism industry this summer.
The decision to delay international regular flights for a month will wipe out most of Georgia’s potential for the receipt of international tourists. This is no small matter as foreign tourism usually directly and indirectly accounts for one-fifth of its economy.
“The decision to resume regular air traffic will be made based on the epidemiological situation in the world and in Georgia," read the statement published by the civial aviation agency.
The agency called on travellers not to buy tickets to Georgia until the exact date of the resumption of international flights is officially announced.
Earlier, economy minister Natia Turnava had announced that the ban on regular flights may be extended until the end of July due to rapid increases in the number of new coronavirus cases seen in neighbouring countries. Turnava said that the main tasks for the Georgian government were to strengthen the gains made in properly managing the country’s epidemiological situation and protect the population.
49​ GEORGIA Country Report ​September 2020 ​ ​www.intellinews.com