[79] Georgia was the first non-Baltic republic of the Soviet Union to officially declare independence. In the northwest corner of the state is the Appalachian Plateau, with deep caves and the 2,393-foot-tall Lookout Mountain. [271] Additional projects also include the construction of the economically important KarsTbilisiBaku railway, which was opened on 30 October 2017 and connects much of the Caucasus with Turkey by standard gauge railway. Having vanquished both a Donald Trump-backed Republican challenger and Democratic star Stacey Abrams to win reelection, Kemp is looking to expand his influence in his second term, free from the caricature of the gun-toting, pickup-driving, migrant-catching country boy that emerged during his first campaign for governor. In 2016, 2,714,773 tourists brought approximately US$2.16billion to the country. [47] The Golden age of Georgia left a legacy of great cathedrals, romantic poetry and literature, and the epic poem The Knight in the Panther's Skin, the latter which is considered a national epic. It is the chief cultural, educational, industrial and economic center of Georgia. The Greater Caucasus Mountain Range plays an important role in moderating Georgia's climate and protects the nation from the penetration of colder air masses from the north. The colony an now state was named after King George II. Other prominent peaks include Mount Kazbek at 5,047m (16,558ft), Shota Rustaveli 4,860m (15,945ft), Tetnuldi 4,858m (15,938ft), Ushba 4,700m (15,420ft), and Ailama 4,547m (14,918ft). Other deciduous species include several varieties of maple, aspen, ash, and hazelnut. [70] Following the annexation of eastern Georgia, the western Georgian kingdom of Imereti was annexed by Tsar Alexander I. [80] In August 1991, Romania became the first country to recognize Georgia. [305], Islam is represented by both Azerbaijani Shia Muslims (in the south-east) ethnic Georgian Sunni Muslims in Adjara, and Laz-speaking Sunni Muslims as well as Sunni Meskhetian Turks along the border with Turkey. ", "Ruling party in Georgia decisively wins parliament vote", "Georgian government offers concessions to end crisis", "Transparency International urges dialogue with civil society during political crisis in Georgia", "Georgian Dream, Opposition Reach Consensus over Electoral Reform", "Georgia elects Salome Zurabishvili as first woman president", "Georgia protests: Tbilisi police fire water cannon at demonstrators", "New EU Proposal: Amnesty for Rurua, Melia, 2022 Snap Polls if GD Gets Less than 43% in Locals", "President Michel to Start Consultations after GD's EU-Brokered Deal Withdrawal", "Mikheil Saakashvili: Georgian ex-president arrested returning from exile", "Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Relations between Georgia and the Republic of France", "Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Relations between Georgia and the Federal Republic of Germany", "Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Relations between Georgia and the State of Israel", "Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Relations between Georgia and Japan", "Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Visa Information for Foreign Citizens", "Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka", "Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Relations between Georgia and the Republic of Turkey", "Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Relations between Georgia and Ukraine", "Relations Between Georgia and the United States of America", "U.S. [228] A number of large carnivores live in the forests, namely Brown bears, wolves, lynxes and Caucasian Leopards. There are several architectural styles for castles, towers, fortifications and churches. Ca. [252] 2015 calculations place Georgia's nominal GDP at US$13.98billion. Saakashvili believed in 2008 that the country is "on the road to becoming a European democracy. A University of Georgia football player and team staff member were killed in a car crash early Sunday morning after the team's national championship victory celebration. [266] Other tourist attractions are Cave City, Ananuri Castle/Church, Sighnaghi and Mount Kazbek. Thereafter, the kingdom declined and eventually disintegrated under the hegemony of various regional powers, including the Mongols, the Turks, and various dynasties of Persia. The Georgia Department of Driver Services serves the public by offering commercial and regular passenger vehicle drivers licenses, driver's permits, and state identification cards. [274] There are a number of seaports along Georgia's Black Sea coast, the largest and most busy of which is the Port of Batumi; whilst the town is itself a seaside resort, the port is a major cargo terminal in the Caucasus and is often used by neighbouring Azerbaijan as a transit point for making energy deliveries to Europe. [297], The most widespread language group is the Kartvelian family, which includes Georgian, Svan, Mingrelian and Laz. The Georgia Department of Driver Services serves the public by offering commercial and regular passenger vehicle drivers licenses, driver's permits, and state identification cards. [30], Archaeological evidence indicates that Georgia has been the site of wine production since at least 6,000 BC, which over time played a role in forming Georgia's culture and national identity. Both peasants and workers found expression for their discontent through revolts and strikes, culminating in the Revolution of 1905. The 2014 census, carried out in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), found a population gap of approximately 700,000 compared to the 2014 data from the National Statistical Office of Georgia, Geostat, which was cumulatively built on the 2002 census. On 9 April 1991, shortly before the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Supreme Council of Georgia declared independence after a referendum held on 31 March. referred to early western Georgians as Colchians and eastern Georgians as Iberians (Iberoi, in some Greek sources). [225], Because of its high landscape diversity and low latitude, Georgia is home to about 5,601 species of animals, including 648 species of vertebrates (more than 1% of the species found worldwide) and many of these species are endemics. In comparison, that places Georgia in the top 50 out of 180 countries, among Central European and Mediterranean EU member states. [267], Today transport in Georgia is provided by rail, road, ferry, and air. (1996). Lake Paliastomi area). [143], Meanwhile, Salome Zurabishvili won the 2018 presidential election in two rounds, becoming the first woman in Georgia to hold the office in full capacity after Parliament Speaker Nino Burjanadze held the office as female interim President twice, in 2003 and 2007. This method of cultivation is called maglari. The highest mountain in Georgia is Mount Shkhara at 5,068 metres (16,627ft), and the second highest is Mount Janga (DzhangiTau) at 5,059m (16,598ft) above sea level. In 19181919, Georgian general Giorgi Mazniashvili led an attack against the White Army led by Moiseev and Denikin in order to claim the Black Sea coastline from Tuapse to Sochi and Adler for the independent Georgia. The Georgia Board of Pharmacy will hold a public hearing on proposed amendments to the rules attached below at its meeting on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at 9:00 AM at the Department of Community Health at 2 Peachtree Street NW, 6th Floor, Atlanta, GA 30303. Companies in Georgia don't just grow, they change the landscape. [258] Georgia was ranked 63rd in the Global Innovation Index in 2021, down from 48th in 2019. Archaeological research demonstrates that Georgia has been involved in commerce with many lands and empires since ancient times, largely due its location on the Black Sea and later on the historical Silk Road. [286] On the basis of that back-projection, Geostat has corrected its data for these years. [280][c] The Georgian Jews are one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world. [224] The area can be split into two separate sub-regions; the Lesser Caucasus Mountains, which run parallel to the Greater Caucasus Range, and the Southern Georgia Volcanic Highland. Georgia, Georgian Sakartvelo, country of Transcaucasia located at the eastern end of the Black Sea on the southern flanks of the main crest of the Greater Caucasus Mountains. Or, in front of a mural in Atlanta, or a bowl of shrimp and grits in Savannah. [224] Historically, the western portion of Georgia was known as Colchis while the eastern plateau was called Iberia.[225]. [87], Following the Rose Revolution, a series of reforms were launched to strengthen the country's military and economic capabilities, as well as to reorient its foreign policy westwards. [93][94] A bomb explosion on 1 August 2008 targeted a car transporting Georgian peacekeepers. One explanation put forward by UNFPA is that families of emigrants continued to list them in 2002 as residents for fear of losing certain rights or benefits. However, subsequent Iranian and Ottoman invasions further weakened local kingdoms and regions. Georgia (Georgian: , .mw-parser-output .noitalic{font-style:normal}romanized:Sakartvelo; IPA:[skrtvl] (listen)) is a transcontinental country at the intersection of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. In contrast with western Georgia, nearly 85 per cent of the forests of the region are deciduous. The executive branch of power is made up of the Cabinet of Georgia. It is bounded on the north and northeast by Russia, on the east and southeast by Azerbaijan, on the south by Armenia and Turkey, and on the west by the Black Sea. [226], The west-central slopes of the Meskheti Range in Ajaria as well as several locations in Samegrelo and Abkhazia are covered by temperate rain forests. Locate Northern Tool + Equipment retail stores in Georgia with helpful information including store address, open hours, driving directions + more so you can find the portable generators, pressure washers, air compressors and power tools that will help you complete any do-it-yourself project. Since 1991, Georgia has made impressive progress fighting corruption, developing modern state institutions, and enhancing global security. It was settled by people from England. [334] The Georgian language is written in three unique scripts which, according to traditional accounts, were invented by King Pharnavaz I of Iberia in the 3rd century BC. [177], Georgia applied for EU membership on 3 March 2022, soon after the beginning of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. In the original grant, a narrow strip of the province extended to the Pacific Ocean.. [214], Georgia contains two official autonomous regions, of which one has declared independence. The posted speed limit in the area is 40 mph, but police did not say how fast the SUV may have been going when it crashed at 2:45 a.m. Sunday. [62], On 22 December 1800, Tsar Paul I of Russia, at the alleged request of the Georgian King George XII, signed the proclamation on the incorporation of Georgia (Kartli-Kakheti) within the Russian Empire, which was finalized by a decree on 8 January 1801,[63][64] and confirmed by Tsar Alexander I on 12 September 1801. [349] Wrestling remains a historically important sport of Georgia, and some historians think that the Greco-Roman style of wrestling incorporates many Georgian elements. [100] However, escalating assaults against Georgian villages (located in the South Ossetian conflict zone) were soon matched with gunfire from Georgian troops,[101][102] who then proceeded to move in the direction of the capital of the self-proclaimed Republic of South Ossetia (Tskhinvali) on the night of 8 August, reaching its centre in the morning of 8 August. Despite these increasingly difficult relations, in May 2005 Georgia and Russia reached a bilateral agreement[90] by which Russian military bases (dating back to the Soviet era) in Batumi and Akhalkalaki were withdrawn. [225], Eastern Georgia's landscape (referring to the territory east of the Likhi Range) is considerably different from that of the west, although, much like the Colchis plain in the west, nearly all of the low-lying areas of eastern Georgia including the Mtkvari and Alazani River plains have been deforested for agricultural purposes. [206][208], Since independence, Georgia maintained harsh policies against drugs, handing out lengthy sentences even for marijuana use. Brian Kemp is done being underestimated. Much of eastern Georgia experiences hot summers (especially in the low-lying areas) and relatively cold winters. "[170] He was quoted as saying that if NATO accepts Georgian membership with the article on collective defence covering only Tbilisi-administered territory (i.e., excluding the Georgian territories Abkhazia and South Ossetia, both of which are currently Russian-supported unrecognized breakaway republics), "we will not start a war, but such conduct will undermine our relations with NATO and with countries who are eager to enter the alliance. Towards 778, Leon II (r. 780828) won his full independence with the help of the Khazars and was crowned as the king of Abkhazia. [162], The explicit western orientation of Georgia, deepening political ties with the US and European Union, notably through its EU and NATO membership aspirations, the US Train and Equip military assistance programme, and the construction of the BakuTbilisiCeyhan pipeline, have frequently strained Tbilisi's relations with Moscow. The proto-Georgian tribes first appear in written history in the 12th century BC. 120 parliamentary seats were elected through proportional vote while 30 seats were elected through single mandate majoritarian constituencies. Georgia (country) - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to content Search Create account Create account Log in Pages for logged out editors learn more Talk Contributions Getting around Main page Simple start Simple talk New changes Show any page Help Contact us Give to Wikipedia About Wikipedia Tools What links here Related changes It is the chief cultural, educational, industrial and economic center of Georgia. For much of the 20th century, Georgia's economy was within the Soviet model of command economy. The southern portion of the country is bounded by the Lesser Caucasus Mountains. Coniferous forests only dominate in the Borjomi Gorge and in the extreme western areas. Georgia is the 24th-largest state in area and 8th most populous of the 50 United States. ATLANTA (AP) Georgia Gov. Simmering disputes within two regions of Georgia; Abkhazia and South Ossetia, between local separatists and the majority Georgian populations, erupted into widespread inter-ethnic violence and wars. [52] Tamar was given the title "king of kings" (mepe mepeta). An official website of the State of Georgia. Georgia is a representative democracy governed as a unitary parliamentary republic. [b][10] Tbilisi is its capital as well as its largest city, home to roughly a third of the Georgian population. [27] The earliest evidence of wine to date has been found in Georgia, where 8,000-year old wine jars were uncovered. Georgia was incorporated into the Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic, alongside Armenia and Azerbaijan, in 1921 which in 1922 would become a founding member of the Soviet Union. By 1994 the gross domestic product had shrunk to a quarter of that of 1989.[239]. Georgia was further weakened by several disastrous invasions by Tamerlane. [272][273], Air and maritime transport is developing in Georgia, with the former mainly used by passengers and the latter for transport of freight. In 2019, Georgia ranked 61st on the Human Development Index (HDI). Other airports in the country are largely underdeveloped or lack scheduled traffic, although, as of late, efforts have been made to solve both these problems. S. Neil MacFarlane, Centre for International Relations, Queen's University, 1997, "Georgia/Abchasia: Violations of the laws of war and Russia's role in the conflict", "Russia The IngushOssetian conflict in the Prigorodnyi region", "EurasiaNet Eurasia Insight Georgia's Rose Revolution: Momentum and Consolidation", "Russia Hands Over Batumi Military Base to Georgia", Russia's retention of Gudauta base An unfulfilled CFE treaty commitment, "Countdown in the Caucasus: Seven days that brought Russia and Georgia to war", "Georgia calls on EU for independent inquiry into war", "Russia resurgent? [81], On 26 May, Zviad Gamsakhurdia was elected as the first President of independent Georgia. [263] In 2019, the number of international arrivals reached a record high of 9.3 million people[264] with foreign exchange income in the year's first three quarters amounting to over US$3 billion. The true total number of fungal species occurring in Georgia, including species not yet recorded, is likely to be far higher, given the generally accepted estimate that only about seven per cent of all fungi worldwide have so far been discovered. [citation needed], "Republic of Georgia" redirects here. Georgian is the primary language of 87.7 per cent of the population, followed by 6.2 per cent speaking Azerbaijani, 3.9 per cent Armenian, 1.2 per cent Russian, and 1 per cent other languages. [200], Human rights in Georgia are guaranteed by the country's constitution. [318], Most of these institutions offer three levels of study: a bachelor's programme (three to four years); a master's programme (two years), and a doctoral programme (three years). There is an independent human rights public defender elected by the Parliament of Georgia to ensure such rights are enforced. See what steps you need to take. [233] Although the amount of available information is still very small, a first effort has been made to estimate the number of fungal species endemic to Georgia, and 2,595 species have been tentatively identified as possible endemics of the country. Georgia is also subdivided into 76 municipalities 12 self-governing cities (including the city of Tbilisi) and 64 communities. As result of the mixed proportional-majoritarian system, with a threshold of 5% for the proportional vote and redefined majoritarian districts, only four parties entered parliament, with the Georgian Dream party gaining a constitutional majority of 77% (+36 seats). University of Georgia Athletics has shared links on its social media for people wishing to support the families. "[196] In 2012, the World Bank called Georgia a "unique success" of the world in fighting corruption, noting "Georgia's experience shows that the vicious cycle of endemic corruption can be broken and, with appropriate and decisive reforms, can be turned into a virtuous cycle. [22] The Georgian circumfix sa-X-o is a standard geographic construction designating 'the area where X dwell', where X is an ethnonym. [290] Initially the out-migration was driven by non-Georgian ethnicities but increasing numbers of Georgians emigrated as well,[291] due to the war, the crisis-ridden 1990s, and the subsequent bad economic outlook. [232] According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, there are 4,300 species of vascular plants in Georgia. Located along the banks of Kura River, Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia. Boeder; et al. On 13 April 2006, the discussion of the assessment report on implementation of the Individual Partnership Action Plan was held at NATO Headquarters, within 26+1 format. [163] The European Union has identified Georgia as a prospective member,[164] and Georgia has sought membership. [58] Heraclius nevertheless stabilized Eastern Georgia to a degree in the ensuing period and was able to guarantee its autonomy throughout the Iranian Zand period. The Action Plan was formally approved at the EUGeorgia Cooperation Council session on 14 November 2006, in Brussels. This made it easy for the remaining Georgian realms to fall victim to the early Muslim conquests in the 7th century. [202], The government came under criticism for its alleged use of excessive force on 26 May 2011 when it dispersed protesters led by Nino Burjanadze, among others, with tear gas and rubber bullets after they refused to clear Rustaveli Avenue for an independence day parade despite the expiration of their demonstration permit and despite being offered to choose an alternative venue. Tourist attractions include more than 2,000 mineral springs, over 12,000 historical and cultural monuments, four of which are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Bagrati Cathedral in Kutaisi and Gelati Monastery, historical monuments of Mtskheta, and Upper Svaneti). The country's Western orientation soon led to worsening relations with Russia, which culminated in the Russo-Georgian War of 2008; Russia has since been occupying a portion of Georgia. Mingrelia, although a Russian protectorate since 1803, was not absorbed until 1867.[72]. The country covers an area of 69,700 square kilometres (26,900sqmi), and has a population of 3.7 million people. From 1,5001,800 metres (4,9215,906ft), the forest becomes largely coniferous. Georgia is bordered by Tennessee in the north, South Carolina and the Atlantic Ocean in the east, Florida in the south, and Alabama in the west. [225], The term Lesser Caucasus Mountains is often used to describe the mountainous (highland) areas of southern Georgia that are connected to the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range by the Likhi Range. [321], Tbilisi has become the main artery of the Georgian educational system, particularly since the creation of the First Georgian Republic in 1918 permitted the establishment of modern, Georgian-language educational institutions. [328] Georgian culture was influenced by Classical Greece, the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the various Iranian empires (notably the Achaemenid, Parthian, Sassanian, Safavid, and Qajar empires),[329][330][331][332] and later, from the 19th century, by the Russian Empire. The United States established diplomatic relations with Georgia in 1992 following Georgias 1991 independence from the Soviet Union. [14] At the early stage of its appearance in the Latin world, it was not always written in the same transliteration, and the first consonant was being spelt with J as Jorgia. Companies in Georgia don't just grow, they change the landscape. Combined population of urban (23,433 in 1922) and rural (2,326 in 1917) communities. Georgia national basketball team qualified to EuroBasket during the last three tournaments since 2011. [265] According to the government, there are 103 resorts in different climatic zones in Georgia. Despite the Soviet takeover, Zhordania was recognized as the legitimate head of the Georgian Government by France, UK, Belgium, and Poland through the 1930s. Notice of Intent to Amend Rule 480-10-.01. In June 1941, Germany invaded the Soviet Union on an immediate course towards Caucasian oil fields and munitions factories. It was the last direct election of a Georgian president, as additional constitutional reforms removed the popular vote. [citation needed], Georgian ecclesiastic art is one of the most notable aspects of Georgian Christian architecture, which combines the classical dome style with the original basilica style, forming what is known as the Georgian cross-dome style. Ranking fourth among the U.S. states east of the Mississippi River in terms of total area (though first in terms of land area) and by many years the youngest of the 13 former English colonies, Georgia was founded in 1732, at which time its boundaries were even largerincluding much of the present-day states of Alabama and Mississippi. [201] Georgia has ratified the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in 2005. Edn 10. [74], The 1918 GeorgianArmenian War, which erupted over parts of disputed provinces between Armenia and Georgia populated mostly by Armenians, ended because of British intervention. Notable painters from the 20th century include Niko Pirosmani, Lado Gudiashvili, Elene Akhvlediani; notable ballet choreographers include George Balanchine, Vakhtang Chabukiani, and Nino Ananiashvili; notable poets include Galaktion Tabidze, Lado Asatiani, and Mukhran Machavariani; and notable theatre and film directors include Robert Sturua, Tengiz Abuladze, Giorgi Danelia, and Otar Ioseliani. [33] In the 4th century BC, a kingdom of Iberia an early example of advanced state organization under one king and an aristocratic hierarchy was established. Announces New Military Assistance Program for Georgia", "Why was Georgia not granted EU candidate status? A University of Georgia football player and team staff member were killed in a car crash early Sunday morning after the team's national championship victory celebration. [67], In May 1801, under the oversight of General Carl Heinrich von Knorring, Imperial Russia transferred power in eastern Georgia to the government headed by General Ivan Petrovich Lazarev. [73] The Menshevik Social Democratic Party of Georgia won the parliamentary election and its leader, Noe Zhordania, became prime minister. Access to higher education is given to students who have gained a secondary school certificate. Companies in Georgia don't just grow, they change the landscape. [276], Like most native Caucasian peoples, the Georgians do not fit into any of the main ethnic categories of Europe or Asia. It was an "official" reason, but instability of economic relations with Russia is well known, as they use the economic ties for political purposes. During the classical era, several independent kingdoms became established in what is now Georgia, such as Colchis and Iberia. Locate Northern Tool + Equipment retail stores in Georgia with helpful information including store address, open hours, driving directions + more so you can find the portable generators, pressure washers, air compressors and power tools that will help you complete any do-it-yourself project. [281][d] Georgia was also once home to significant ethnic German communities, numbering 11,394 according to the 1926 census. [133] Due to the incomplete transition to parliamentary democracy, a year of uneasy cohabitation between rivals Ivanishvili and Saakashvili followed until the October 2013 presidential elections. The Georgia Board of Pharmacy will hold a public hearing on proposed amendments to the rules attached below at its meeting on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at 9:00 AM at the Department of Community Health at 2 Peachtree Street NW, 6th Floor, Atlanta, GA 30303. An official website of the State of Georgia. The following four universities are also located in Tbilisi: Georgian Technical University,[323] which is Georgia's main and largest technical university, The University of Georgia (Tbilisi),[324] as well as Caucasus University[325] and Free University of Tbilisi. [182] Georgia also participated in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan; with 1,560 troops in 2013, it was at that time the largest contributor among non-NATO countries[183] and in per capita terms. Joseph Stalin, an ethnic Georgian born Iosif Vissarionovich Jugashvili ( ) in Gori, was prominent among the Bolsheviks. [304][c] Azerbaijani once served as a lingua franca for communication among various nationalities inhabiting Eastern Caucasus. "Dictionary of the Fungi". Michael W. Hughey, Springer, Mar 29, 2016. [353], Basketball was always one of the notable sports in Georgia, and Georgia had a few very famous Soviet Union national team members, such as Otar Korkia, Mikheil Korkia, Zurab Sakandelidze and Levan Moseshvili. [207] Georgian opposition leader Nino Burjanadze said the accusations of planning a coup were baseless, and that the protesters' actions were legitimate. "Christianity and the Georgian Empire" (early history) Library of Congress, March 1994, webpage: Sketches of Georgian Church History by Theodore Edward Dowling, Nakhutsrishvili, I.G. Georgia is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. There are also smaller communities of Greek Muslims (of Pontic Greek origin) and Armenian Muslims, both of whom are descended from Ottoman-era converts to Turkish Islam from Eastern Anatolia who settled in Georgia following the Lala Mustafa Pasha's Caucasian campaign that led to the Ottoman conquest of the country in 1578. The United States established diplomatic relations with Georgia in 1992 following Georgias 1991 independence from the Soviet Union. The common pheasant (also known as the Colchian Pheasant) is an endemic bird of Georgia which has been widely introduced throughout the rest of the world as an important game bird. Also, the population registration system from birth to death was non-functional. On 69 March 2006, the IPAP implementation interim assessment team arrived in Tbilisi. This history which has shaped its cultural, religious, and political evolution translated into Georgians considering themselves a European nation. In addition, 435 were wounded, including 35 amputees. [227], Eastern Georgia has a transitional climate from humid subtropical to continental. The Lesser Caucasus Mountains partially protect the region from the influence of dry and hot air masses from the south. [217], In both Abkhazia and South Ossetia large numbers of people had been given Russian passports, some through a process of forced passportization by Russian authorities. University of Georgia Athletics has shared links on its social media for people wishing to support the families. Georgian polyphony is based on three vocal parts, a unique tuning system based on perfect fifths, and a harmonic structure rich in parallel fifths and dissonances. [166] The majority of Georgians and politicians in Georgia support the push for NATO membership. [317] The school system is divided into elementary (six years; ages 612), basic (three years; ages 1215), and secondary (three years; ages 1518), or alternatively vocational studies (two years). Georgia is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. On 2 March 2005, the agreement was signed on the provision of the host nation support to and transit of NATO forces and NATO personnel. This electoral imbalance became a key issue of political and civil society strife in the following years. [180] STC Delta now produces a variety of military equipment, including armoured vehicles, artillery systems, aviation systems, personal protection equipment, and small arms.