He is taking over at a time when Europe faces challenges from all points, whether we look East to the ascending China and an aggressive Russia or West to President Trump. Those challenges are a given, but there is another country that merits the attention of the new Commission. What happens in Georgia, given its precarious position next to Europe’s belligerent Russian neighbour, should also be firmly on the EU’s agenda.

During June 2019, mass protests took place in Georgia, culminating in police violence being used against peaceful marchers on 20 June. Soon afterwards, the founder of leading Georgian financial institution, London-listed TBC bank, Mamuka Khazaradze, announced a new political movement, stating that the police violence had been a “red line” and that a new Georgian political movement was required to build Western style democracy and mend the widening political rifts in the country. The new Georgian politics seem to be well on the way to being developed, with an event taking place in Anaklia last week at which the ‘Lelo’ movement was born at a seaside rally and it is widely thought it will mature into an official political party in the autumn. Comparisons are being drawn with Macron’s “En Marche”movement that swept to power in France.

However, the European Union should be on high alert. Perhaps unsurprisingly, shortly after his political announcement, prosecutors brought fraud charges against Lelo founder Mamuka Khazaradze and his colleague Badri Japaridze. Concerns that the case is politically motivated have been fuelled by the fact that an 11-year old transaction had to be exhumed in order to try and make a case against Khazaradze. The timing of the charges is seen as being linked to the fact that the Lelo movement is viewed as a potentially serious rival to the main political parties, Georgian Dream (GD) and the United National Movement (NDM). Until now, GD leader Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgia’s richest man, has had the financial clout needed to feel secure in a country where money talks in politics. The entry into politics of a leading business figure such as Khazaradze seems to have caused some unease inside Georgian Dream, not least because polling figures show there is definitely a gap to be filled, with voters disillusioned with both GD and UNM.

The Anaklia deep-water port development, with which Khazaradze has been closely involved, is another reason that his political move is being resisted. Such a transformational transit hub between Asia and Europe is likely to irritate Georgia’s Russian neighbours who will see it as a threat to their influence and domination of regional infrastructure. It is likely that GD Chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili feels threatened by the project.

Europe has every reason to work for a prosperous and democratic Georgia. There have been ups and downs since we all watched with hope as the Rose Revolution took place. Georgia’s vital position at the crossroads between East and West means it could play a big role in global trade and the country’s democratic future is vital.  Prosecution of political opposition figures does not go unnoticed by the international community. The UK, France and USA have all had their embassies voice concerns about the Khazaradzecase. It is up to Georgia to decide what kind of country it wants to be, but its European friends have a crucial role to play. Let’s hope our no-nonsense EU foreign policy chief Josep Borell does indeed have Georgia on his mind.  

The post Will the EU’s new foreign policy chief have Georgia on his mind? appeared first on Brussels Express.

Nine years after his stellar US-debut, Georgian pianist Luka Okros is visiting Belgium for the first time. On Saturday February 16th, he will perform at Bozar Centre for Fine Arts. The program includes pieces by Schubert, Liszt and Rachmaninov. Luka has won many awards, including the Piano Award by Tabor Foundation at the Verbier Festival, the Hong Kong International Piano Competition, the Valencia Iturbi Prize International Competition, and the Scottish International Piano Competition.

Ahead of his visit in February, Luka speaks with Brussels Express about his childhood in Georgia, his first encounter with music, his dreams for the future and the images that are evoked in his mind when he thinks of Belgium.

Mauricio Ruiz: How was your first encounter with music and when did you start playing the piano?

Luka Okros: Everything started in 1994-1995, in very hard years for my country, when I was 3 or 4. We had a piano at home, it was a gift from my grandfather to my mom when she was a kid. It was very common thing to have a piano at that time in Georgia. I used to push keys and I fell in love with it, so I spent more and more hours at the piano. A friend of our family taught me in about a month how to read and write music scores. I was desperate to learn, so shortly, when we had some guests, I could already perform for them. Going behind the curtains, my mom would announce me and only after that I’d come out and play.

MR: Could you tell us a little about your upbringing and the life you had to follow to hone your skills?

LO: I was born the year the USSR collapsed, followed by economic, social and poverty problems. No jobs. Many families, including mine, lost a lot of money as a result of huge devaluation. Civil war and internal conflicts during 1990s made all this even worse. Not much of fun.

I remember how bad the pianos were. Few people would care to buy or restore them during that time. It was very cold in our music school, as the heating didn’t work, so we had to wear coats and gloves with wholes for the fingers to practice on the instrument. Gave me good skills – I can play nearly any piano but would try to avoid it.

MR: Could you describe what you felt when you performed at Carnegie Hall at 18?

LO: It was an amazing feeling. Acoustic is just marvelous, and the piano had a magical sound there. I was nervous a lot. Huge responsibility for a school boy. I’m happy, that I’ll be able to go back there this year, but now as an adult and will do a proper coming-back-debut this autumn. Very much looking forward to it.

MR: Why did you choose the particular pieces in this program (Schubert, Liszt, Rachmaninov)?

LO: When I was in Vienna I found scores of Schubert outside of the musical shop and I fell in love with those impromptus. I want to present them to public in a way I feel them.

With Rachmaninov it’s easier: he is my favourite composer, I feel him with my blood. This mix of Russian-European, but meanwhile with lots of Caucasian colours, it makes his music unbelievable deep and close to my soul. And obviously any piano recital should finish in a way, that people could definitely remember some sparkles – Liszt’s Rhapsody is just that ending dessert which gives you a wonderful after-taste.

MR: You’ve played in some of the most important locations in the world. What is it still out there for you? What do you dream of achieving that you haven’t yet done?

LO: I’d love to perform with orchestras, I’m dreaming about performing with legendary orchestras like LSO, Berlin Phil, Philadelphia Orchestra, and many others. As well as playing chamber music with amazing musicians. I really want to have more time for composition, as it’s my childhood dream to become a composer. I want to create my own festival to bring classical music to more people, especially to young generation. I hope that this is only my first steps to what I’d like to do in my life.

MR: Is this your first time in Belgium? If no, is there anything in particular you like about the city? If yes, what have you heard about it and what images come to your mind?

LO: Yes, this is my first time to Belgium. But since I have a sweet tooth, I’ve tasted a lot of Belgian chocolate. Hopefully the public will welcome me as sweet as your wonderful chocolates are. Also, two more things come to my mind – Belgium national football team and Tintin as I am a big fan of the cartoons.

The post « I was born the year the USSR collapsed. The piano at home was a gift from my grandfather to my mom, » — Pianist Luka Okros in Brussels appeared first on Brussels Express.