From: Maia Nikoleishvili
Sent: 31 January, 2019 18:08
To: Mariam Darakhvelidze
Cc: Ketevan Goginashvili; Sopo Belkania; Mariana Mkurnali; Tamar Basilia
Subject: FW: 2019 UNECE Regional Forum Side-event
Importance: High

გიგზავნით ჟენევაში საქართველოს  მისიიდან მიღებულ მეილს, რომელიც ეხება 19-22 მარტს ელჩის მონაწილეობასა და სიტყვით გამოსვლას პარალელურ ღონისძიებაზე: „sustainable development agenda and drug policy¨.

გთხოვთ, გვაცნობოთ თქვენი პოზიცია, მნიშვნელოვნად მიგაჩნიათ თუ არა ღონისძიებაში საელჩოს მონაწილეობა და შეძლებთ თუ არა შესაბამისი ინფორმაციის მიწოდებას.

იხილეთ თანდართული დოკუმენტაცია.

ველი თქვენს პასუხს.

პატივისცემით,

მაიკო

From: Ekaterine Khositashvili [mailto:ekhositashvili@mfa.gov.ge]
Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2019 4:32 PM
To: Sopo Belkania <sbelkania@moh.gov.ge>; Mariana Mkurnali <mmkurnali@moh.gov.ge>; Tamar Grigolaia <tgrigolaia@mfa.gov.ge>
Cc: Tamar Basilia <TBasilia@moh.gov.ge>; Maia Nikoleishvili <mnikoleishvili@moh.gov.ge>
Subject: FW: 2019 UNECE Regional Forum Side-event

I hope this email finds you well.

I would like to take this opportunity to renew our close relationship with the Permanent Mission of Georgia. We have in the past been in communication with Ms Ekaterine Meshveliani and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with you directly.

On behalf of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, I have the pleasure of writing to you to inquire about a potential co-sponsorship for a high-level side-event at the 2019 Regional Forum on Sustainable Development for the UNECE Region which will take place from 21-22 of March in Geneva.

Last year, the Global Commission published its second position paper, Drug Policy and the Sustainable Development Agenda, which provides an analysis of how sustainable development could be impeded by drug control. The paper recommends that drug policy reforms be an integral part of national sustainable development strategies and is a vital step towards taking the market out of the hands of criminals while ensuring health, safety, dignity and equitable development is achieved among all populations. Please find in attachment, a copy of the position paper.

The paper was presented at a side-event in New York on 26 September 2018 at the 73rd United Nations General Assembly by two former Heads of State (Switzerland), UN Under Secretary-General for Policy and three Ministers and Deputy-Ministers of Foreign Affairs (Senegal, Thailand and Mexico). The office of the Secretary-General released remarks to the side-event with a sense of urgency on the international community that "without action, the world drug problem will remain unchecked and will impact the future of humankind."

The Global Commission sees the upcoming Regional Forum as an opportunity to not only present its work among the European Community, but to collaborate with key-stakeholders and exchange on ideas on how to better implement policies that are aligned with the SDGs and Agenda 2030 which includes, poverty, health, governance, gender, human rights and environmental protection.

Please find in attachment, a concept note for the event. In the coming weeks, our Chair and former President of Switzerland, Her Excellency Ruth Dreifuss, will formally invite His Excellency Mr Victor Dolidze to be one of our distinguished guests, to share experiences and exchange ideas on policy and practice.

On behalf of the Global Commission, I thank you for your attention and I remain available should you have any questions.

Thank you ever so much.

With kind regards,