[mika-r]

Hier der Bericht:

" New GEL 200 banknote unveiled under wraps
By Eka Basilaia

On September 20, the National Bank of Georgia held a briefing to announce the winner of the competition for the design of the new 200-lari note.

The selection commission, consisting of six members and headed by National Bank President Roman Gotsiridze, made its decision Tuesday and revealed the three top finalists at the press conference.

"We have been discussing for an hour and a half, instead of the planned half hour. The decision was really hard to make. We had presentations from five prominent foreign firms. Georgian designers were highly qualified as well," Gotsiridze stated.

The winning submissions will be awarded money - the first place winner will receive GEL 3,000, the second place winner GEL1,500 and the third place winner GEL 500.

According to the commission's decision, first prize went to Georgian designer Nodar Malazonia, who has designed all the Georgian lari notes in circulation. However, Gotsiridze noted that the reverse of the note needs some refining. Coming in second was Robert Kalina from the Austrian firm Oesterichische Note und Sicherheitsdruck and occupying third place was the Swiss company Orell Fussil security Printing Ltd., which did not present an individual designer. The new GEL 200 note will be put in circulation at the end of next year.

The Georgian National Bank first launched an international contest for revealing the best designs for the GEL 200 note in August of the current year. Taking part were Georgian artists/designers (Nodar Malazonia, Mamuka Gongadze, Giorgi Kutsishvili, Davit Beitrishvili, Ilia Naxutsrishvili, Shalva Lursmanashvili) and major foreign companies (the German firm Giesecke & Devrient, the Belgian National Bank, the Austrian firm Oesterichische Note und Sicherheitsdruck, the Swiss Orell Fussil Security Printing Ltd. an the Swedish Crane AB.).

The new note depicts early 20th century Georgian statesman Niko Nikoladze on the front and an image of the Abkhaz capital of Sokhumi on the reverse.

According to the commission members, applicants were free to choose from among 20 photographs and slides provided by the National Bank for the image of Sokhumi to be depicted.

"National currency is a bearer of many important messages" Gotsiridze told journalists. "One is economics: Niko Nikoladze is the symbol of Europe and economic choice. Nikoladze was the initiator of one of the most successful projects in the Georgian economy's history - the Poti Port. Sokhumi is our beloved city. As long as we are alive we should not forget Abkhazia. Everyone, while carrying the note, should always remember that there is a problem with Abkhazia and that it should be settled."

The commission presented samples of only the second and third place finishers. For security reasons, the winning banknote was not revealed. As Gotsiridze stated, it will become known to the public only after the decision is made to put it into circulation, otherwise there will be a risk of counterfeit."

Quelle: http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/0...ews_0952_5.htm