Georgia, Tbilisi, Sept.18 /Trend/
Recently an established American company specialising in public and governmental relations was hired by the Office of the Georgian Prime-Minister Vano Merabishvili for 320,000 dollars for a period of 16 months. The company is directed to familiarise itself with and interpret the policy and programmes of the Georgian government to public and governmental representatives of USA.
The only founder of the Fianna Strategies Company is Molly Mcquie, who has worked for one of the most influential lobby companies in Washington, the Podesta Group. This company happens to have been the contractor for the Georgian National Security Council since 2010. One of her responsibilities was conducting the affairs with Georgia.
According to official documents presented to US Ministry of Justice by Fianna Strategies, the aim of assisting the Georgian Prime Minister's administration is going to be the 'development of US support to foreign and domestic policy of Georgia', the Georgian mass media reported.
According to the contract which covers the period from September 1, 2012 to December 31 2013, the consultant will assist the Prime Minister's administration with the 'presentation of information on the programmes and aims of the administration to an appropriate audience' namely the executive power of the USA, Congress, non-governmental and research organisations, as well as to mass media.
The assistance team is also considering recommendations to the representatives of the Georgian Government during preparations of public performances and declarations.
The consultant will receive a monthly salary of 1500 dollars to cover 'reasonable expenses', except for transportation expenses inside USA and abroad, apart from basic value of the contract.
A similar contract was signed between the Georgian Ministry of Defence and American company on public relations HDMK.
The 50,000 dollar contract is aimed towards the 'presentation of information on policy priorities of the Ministry of Defence to US Government representatives and American mass media they happen to be linked with bilateral Georgia-American relations. They contribute to direct relations between ministry officials and competent structures in the USA, between representatives of executive bodies and the US mass media', is noted in the document, presented to the US Ministry of Justice by HDMK early in September.
At the end of 2011 and in the beginning of this year during the time in office of Dmitry Shashkin, HDMK also served the Georgian Ministry of Education. Dmitry Shashkin, currently the Minister of Defence, visited the USA last week.