1. EUROPEAN YOUTH PARLIAMENT GEORGIA1st Regional Session inAkhaltsikhe11-March,11-13th of March, 2011. European Youth Parliamentwww.eypej.org www.eyp.org.ge

2. Welcome to the Akhaltsikhe 1st Regional Session!!!European Youth Parliament Georgia continues its activities and after successfully organizedsessions in different regions of Georgia is pleased to announce that Regional Session inAkhaltsikhe will be held on the 11-13th of March with the greatest support of Children andYouth National centre.Over 50 young people will come together to discuss innovative solutions to internationalissues, touching questions from the environment and culture to trade and security affairs.For three days the participants take part in various activities. Starting from teambuilding,where they learn different methods of ice-breaking, time-keeping and communicationfollowed by committee work, where they discuss their given topics in smaller groups, inorder to finally present the results of their discussions at the General Assembly. Why Akhaltsikhe is interesting for you?The capital and biggest town of Samtskhe-Javakheti, Akhaltsikhe means New Castle inGeorgian. In fact, far from being new, the castle that dominates the town dates from the12th century. The local power in Akhaltsikhe from the 13th to 17th centuries was the Jakelifamily, but from 1688 until 1828 it was the centre of apashalik (an Ottoman administrativearea governed by a pasha). Little of Akhaltsikhes Soviet-era industry remains, andunemployment is high, but its a pleasant enough place, mostly used by travelers as astaging post for the cave city at Vardzia and the beautiful Sapara Monastery.European Youth Parliament www.eypej.orgwww.eyp.org.ge 3. ProgramOpening CeremonyFriday, 11th of March.The Opening Ceremony willmarkStart of the academic part ofthe session.The board of the Session(President and vice-presidentsof the session) will announcesession officially opened.Dress Code: Formal (suit, shirt,tie, dress/skirt.No jeans or casual wear).TeambuildingFriday, 11th of MarchOn the first day of the session,delegates are divided into 5committees that are coordinated bychairpersons. Creative methodsand games are used to makedifferent individuals to functiontogether as a team. For efficientcommittee work during thefollowing days.Dress code: Comfortable, sports/outside activity clothing (Provide rain protection!). www.eyp.org.ge 4. Committee WorkFriday, 11th of March Saturday, 12th of MarchOn the first and the seconddays of the session,committeeswillstartdiscussing their topics withthe aim of compiling aresolution. This is alsocontinued on the third dayand is called.Chairpersons will guide the group throughbrainstorming and other activities to geteverybodys ideas into the resolution.Committees have the chance to defendtheir resolutions on the final day duringthe General Assembly.Dress Code: SmartCommittee DinnersSaturday, 12th of MarchThe organizers will book tables at a selection of local restaurants.Each Committee will be given the chance to go out for a mealtogether. This is a very special moment for the committee whichcan spend some time together off committee work enjoying somefine local restaurants. Committee Dinner will not be covered bythe participation fees so you will have to pay your meal yourself.www.eyp.org.ge 5. Committee Presentation &EuroconcertthSaturday, 12of MarchThe title says it all. Each committee willmakeshortstageperformancecomposed on the subjected wordspresented by press team. Euro concert isan opportunity for the delegationsmusician(s) to entertain the sessionparticipants and its supporters. Allparticipants are encouraged to take partPerformances should be polished andwell rehearsed. Euro concert is aserious event and performances shouldrespect the importance of the event.Dress Code: Formal/Elegantwww.eyp.org.ge 6. General AssemblySunday, 13th of MarchAt the all the committees meetto present and discuss theirresolutions. The proposingcommittee has the chance todefend their resolution, anddelegates from othercommittees have the right tomake attack speeches. The opendebate lasts for about 30minutes and members of the GAhave the chance to askquestions from the proposingcommittee.At the end of discussion, the delegates havethe vote either in favor or against theresolution. Those resolutions that are passedare subsequently presented to the EuropeanParliament, National Governments and othernational and international governing bodies. While it is true that the European Parliamenthas gone on to discuss issues brought up byEYP resolutions, the main aim of EYP is not toexert political influence but to enable theparticipants to experience democraticdecision making. Dress Code: Formalwww.eyp.org.ge 7. Farewell Party Sunday, 13th of March, Sunday, March, An amazing evening to conclude the session!!!! Whatdoes the dress Formal/elegant clothing Suits for gentlemen, suit/skirt/dress for ladies for Opening Ceremony, General Assembly, Euro concert and farewell party Smart clothing For Committee Work. This is rather flexible. Jeans are ok, but no jeans with holes, no t-shirts with holes, no trainers. Casual clothing For evening activities. Basically, anything you like. www.eyp.org.ge 8. AkhaltsikheThe city is first mentioned in the chronicles in the 12th century. In the 12th - 13th centuries it was the seat of theAkhaltsikhelis, dukes of Samtskhe, whose two most illustrious representatives were Shalva and Ivane Akhaltsikheli (ofAkhaltsikhe). From the 13th up to the 17th century the city and Samtkhe were governed by the feudal family of theJakelis. In 1576 the Ottomans took it and from 1628 the city became the centre of Akhaltsikhe (Turkish: Ahska)Province of Ottoman Empire. In 1828, during the Russo-Turkish War of 1828-1829, Russian troops under thecommand of General Paskevich captured the city and, as a consequence of the 1829 Treaty of Adrianople (Edirne), itwas ceded to the Russian Empire as part of first Kutaisi and then Tbilisi governorates. In the old part of the city onecan see an old fortress, castle and mosque, the old fortress of the Jakelis (13th-14th century), and St. Marines Church.The hills nearby the city harbour the Sapara Monastery (10th - 14th centuries).www.eyp.org.ge 9. VENUESAkhaltsikhe State University It is the venue for Committee Work.Hotel Bona deaHotel Bona Dea was opened in 2009 andmeets modern standards. It is located in anecologically clean environment; there is amodern interior in hotel and attentive staff.http://hotelbonadea.ge/home.phpwww.eyp.org.ge 10. Getting There and BackNon-stop flights to Tbilisi are available from Amsterdam, Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich,Istanbul, London, Paris, Prague, Vienna, Moscow and Kiev. The flying time from London is 4.5 hours; from North America about 12 hours. Connecting flights to Yerevan andBaku are also available. From Tbilisi to Akhaltsikhe it is easy to travel by bus, taxi, minibusand train. The trip takes 3 hours.Visa requirementsA passport valid at least 6 months is required for all nationalities. No visa required fornationals of Israel, Japan, Canada, Turkey, United States and European Union membercountries for stays up to 90 days. CIS nationals (except from the Russian Federation andTurkmenistan) do not require a visa for stays up 90 days.MoneyGeorgias currency is Lari, sub-divided into 100 Tetri. One Euro is roughly 2.4 Lari and 1.8USD is One Lari (9/09/ 2010). Currency can be changed easily across the city and there isno quantity limit. Credit & debit cards are accepted in hotels. Cash point machines areavailable in Akhaltsikhe - and TRAVELERS Cheques can be exchanged in banks.TelephoneCountry code: 995. Area code for Akhaltsikhe: 265. Coverage is good and extends the wholeregionwww.eyp.org.ge 11. AGENDAMarch,11th of March, 201107:30-07:30-08:00 Gathering of the participants at station08:00 Departure from Tbilisi11:00-11:00-11:45 Arrival in Akhaltsikhe, Delegates check in/registration12:00-12:00-12:45 Opening Ceremony12:45-12:45-13:15 Coffee break13:15-13:3013:15-13:30 Preparation for Teambuilding (Departure to the Castleof Akhaltsikhe)13:30-13:30-15:30 Teambuilding at the Castle of Akhaltsikhe15:30-15:30-16:30 Sightseeing (Departure to Museum)16:30-16:30-16:45 Arrival at University16:45-16:45-17:30 Dinner17:30-17:30-19:30 Committee work19:30-19:30-20:00 Coffee break20:00-20:00-21:30 Committee work21:30-21:30-22:00 Lunch22:00-22:00-23:30 Party www.eyp.org.ge 12. 12th of March08:00 Wake up call 08:30- 08:30-09:30Breakfast 10:00- 10:00-12:00Committee work 12:00-12:30 12:00- Coffee break 12:30- 12:30-14:30Committee work 14:30- 14:30-15:30Dinner 15:30- 15:30-17:30Committee work 17:30- 17:30-18:00Coffee break 18:00- 18:00-19:00Committee work and finalizing resolutions 19:00- 19:00-21:30Committee dinner 21:30- 21:30-22:30Preparation for Committee presentations & Euroconcert 22:30- 22:30-00:00Committee presentations & Euroconcert00:00 Departure to hotel www.eyp.org.ge 13. 13th of March,March, 09:00 Wake up call09:30-09:30-10:30Breakfast11:00-11:00-13:30General Assembly, (committees 1-2)13:30-13:30-14:00Coffee break14:00-14:00-15:30General Assembly, (committees 3-4)15:30-15:30-16:30Dinner16:30-16:30-18:00General Assembly, (committee 5) Closing Ceremony19:00-19:00-22:00Farewell party22:00-22:00-22:30Check out, Departure from Hotel 22:30 Departure to Tbilisiwww.eyp.org.ge 14. HEAD-ORGANIZER HEAD- Tinatin SandroshviliHEAD-ORGANIZERHEAD-Vasil TskhvarashviliOrganizer OrganizerNika Marika Gigashvili Kurdadze OrganizerOrganizerLikaNini LezhavaGogoladzeContact: akhaltsikhe@eyp.org.gePlease visit eyp.org.geTelephone: +995 98 479620+995 98 555526+995 97 079706= www.eyp.org.ge