Subject: RE: COVID Response- CDC TA
From: Tamar Gabunia </O=EXCHORGANIZATION/OU=EXCHANGE ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=E6CA04F38EC94D0CADAB9CBDF90FCDDE-TAMAR G>
To: "Aparicio, Juan J (Tbilisi)" <[email-masked]>
Cc: "Hedges, Sarah" <[email-masked]>, "Geleishvili, Marika (CDC Tbilisi)" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2020 12:39:58 +0000

Dear Juan

Many thanks for your positive feedback. Much appreciated! We look forward to our cooperation with CDC on COVID response.

პატივისცემით,

თამარ გაბუნია

მინისტრის პირველი მოადგილე

Sincerely,

Tamar Gabunia, MD, MPH

First Deputy Minister

From: Aparicio, Juan J (Tbilisi) [mailto:[email-masked]]
Sent: 13 April, 2020 16:37
To: Tamar Gabunia <[email-masked]>
Cc: Hedges, Sarah <[email-masked]>; Geleishvili, Marika (CDC Tbilisi) <[email-masked]>
Subject: Re: COVID Response- CDC TA

Dr. Gabunia,

Thank you very much for this message.  As I mentioned earlier, the Ambassador has made it clear that we should do all we can to support your work in this time.  My CDC colleague Sarah Hedges should be in touch shortly on steps to move forward with your request.

Best,

Juan José Aparicio | Political Officer

United States Embassy Tbilisi, Georgia

(O): +995 32 227 76 29 | (M) +995 598 080 254

Email: [email-masked]

From: Tamar Gabunia <[email-masked]>
Sent: Friday, April 10, 2020 6:02 PM
To: Aparicio, Juan J (Tbilisi) <[email-masked]>
Cc: Hedges, Sarah <[email-masked]>; Geleishvili, Marika (CDC Tbilisi) <[email-masked]>
Subject: COVID Response- CDC TA

Dear Juan

First of all I would like to express my gratitude for the conference call this afternoon to discuss COVID19 response and possible assistance from US CDC. As mentioned the areas of particular importance are (1) Infection control at selected “Fever Clinics/COVID centers” (2) strengthening capacity of the ministry/NCDC in epid-surveillance ( overall planning, mobilizing local field epidemiologists,  elaborating guidelines/protocols for epid response, lab capacity building etc.). There is a public health advisory group established at the ministry which provides recommendations to the government on effective response strategies and needed actions. As we’ve mentioned during the call, it would be helpful to have US CDC experts engaged with us in these discussions.  It would also be a big help to have the CDC local office staff ( Dr. Geleishvili and other colleagues) working in the ministerial building, if acceptable. Most of the ministerial staff currently work from home. We can provide a safe space to host the CDC local office.

Thanks again and look forward to hearing back on the above points.

პატივისცემით,

თამარ გაბუნია

მინისტრის პირველი მოადგილე

Sincerely,

Tamar Gabunia, MD, MPH

First Deputy Minister

From: Geleishvili, Marika (CDC/DDPHSIS/CGH/DGHP) [mailto:[email-masked]]
Sent: 10 April, 2020 13:43
To: Tamar Gabunia <[email-masked]>
Cc: Aparicio, Juan J (Tbilisi) <[email-masked]>; Hedges, Sarah (CDC/DDPHSIS/CGH/DGHP) <[email-masked]>
Subject: FW: Urgent: I need your approval to attend a meeting at MoH

Dear Tamar,

I have received a call from Alisa inviting to join the meeting at 3 pm at MoH. As you are aware, I need to get approval from the Embassy FO to attend any face-to-face meeting.  Below you can see the email, asking for more justification why the meeting should be in person.

Sorry for disturbing you during such a busy time.

Regards,

Marika

Marika (Mariam) Geleishvili

Senior Advisor, US CDC-South Caucasus Office

Tbilisi, Georgia

E-mail: [email-masked]

Mobile: (+995) 591 916 599

From: Slack, Anne (Tbilisi) <[email-masked]>
Sent: Friday, April 10, 2020 1:22 PM
To: Geleishvili, Marika (CDC/DDPHSIS/CGH/DGHP) <[email-masked]>; Aparicio, Juan J (Tbilisi) <[email-masked]>; Hedges, Sarah (CDC/DDPHSIS/CGH/DGHP) <[email-masked]>
Subject: RE: Urgent: I need your approval to attend a meeting at MoH

Dear Colleagues,

Not even our Ambassador is holding face to face meetings.  They’re all by remote means.

We’d need to know more details as to why a face to face meeting is needed and discuss it with at least Liz and maybe the DCM.

Regards, Anne

On April 10, 2020 at 13:19:29 GMT+4, Geleishvili, Marika (CDC/DDPHSIS/CGH/DGHP) <[email-masked]> wrote:

Thanks Juan,

I don’t think I’m invited to attend that meeting – at least I was not told that they need me for the meeting with the Ambassador. May be they want me after the meeting?

Sorry,

Marika

Marika (Mariam) Geleishvili

Senior Advisor, US CDC-South Caucasus Office

Tbilisi, Georgia

E-mail: [email-masked]

Mobile: (+995) 591 916 599

From: Aparicio, Juan J (Tbilisi) <[email-masked]>
Sent: Friday, April 10, 2020 1:16 PM
To: Geleishvili, Marika (CDC/DDPHSIS/CGH/DGHP) <[email-masked]>; Hedges, Sarah (CDC/DDPHSIS/CGH/DGHP) <[email-masked]>; Slack, Anne (Tbilisi) <[email-masked]>
Subject: Re: Urgent: I need your approval to attend a meeting at MoH

Marika,

The Minister of Health will be meeting the Ambassador via Webex today at 1400.  I hesitate to approve a meeting with minister because, protocol-wise, she should meet with the Front Office.

Anne, thoughts?

Best,

Juan

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On April 10, 2020 at 13:12:24 GMT+4, Geleishvili, Marika (CDC/DDPHSIS/CGH/DGHP) <[email-masked]> wrote:

Dear Juan and Sarah,

Sorry for the urgent notification. Right now I received call from the Dr. Tamar Gabunia’a assistant, asking to attend a meeting at MoH. The meeting is planned with Dr. Gabunia and the Ministers Ekaterine Tikaradze. I’m not aware what is the agenda.  The meeting is scheduled at 3 pm.

I’d like to make it clear: I’m aware that I shouldn’t make any promises or share any information from our side.

Please, let me know how to proceed.

Marika

Marika (Mariam) Geleishvili

Senior Advisor, US CDC-South Caucasus Office

Tbilisi, Georgia

E-mail: [email-masked]

Mobile: (+995) 591 916 599