Archive
Search results
Page 541 of 763
Tbilisi Says ‘No’ to JCC Session in Moscow
The Georgian side will agree to participate in a session of the quadripartite Joint Control Commission (JCC) only in Tbilisi or Tskhinvali, capital of breakaway South Ossetia, the Georgian Deputy State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Giorgi Volsky told Civil Georgia on February 20. Initially, talks within the frames of the JCC – involving negotiators from Georgia, …
20/02/2006 - 13:09
Tbilisi Insists on Rotation of Peacekeepers
The Georgian side will reopen roads to Tskinvali – capital of breakaway South Ossetia – only after the Georgian peacekeeping units are able to reach the Georgian village of Achabeti via Tskhinvali, Paata Bedianashvili, commander of the Georgian peacekeeping battalion, told Georgian reporters late on February 19. The Georgian side blocked roads to Tskhinvali both …
Reports: S.Ossetia against Rotation of Georgian Peacekeepers
The Georgian peacekeeping battalion stationed in the South Ossetian conflict zone blocked the main highway in the region after the South Ossetian side refused to let the unit of Georgian peacekeepers reach Georgian villages north of the breakaway region’s capital Tskhinvali, Russian news agencies reported on February 19. Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli announced on Saturday …
19/02/2006 - 23:57
Tbilisi Makes Conciliatory Gestures towards S.Ossetia
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli announced on February 18 that Tbilisi will start, as he put it, a “unilateral demilitarization” of the South Ossetian conflict zone and, in addition, offered to hold talks between the Interior Ministers of Georgia and the unrecognized republic. Both of these initiatives appear to conciliatory signals by Tbilisi towards Tskhinvali and Moscow …
Ukraine Ready to Send Peacekeepers to S.Ossetia under International Aegis
Ukraine is ready to send troops to the South Ossetian conflict zone if the UN or OSCE leads a peacekeeping operation there, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry announced on February 17. “Ukraine is ready to consider participation in an international peacekeeping mission in South Ossetia exclusively under a UN or OSCE mandate and if a relevant decision [is made by] the Verkhovna Rada …
PM: Georgia Starting Demilitarization Process in S.Ossetia
Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli said on February 18 that the units of the Georgian Military Police currently deployed in the South Ossetian conflict zone will become part of the Georgian battalion of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces (JPKF). As a result, the Georgian side will increase its peacekeeping troops in the conflict zone to 330 servicemen. …
Tbilisi Agrees on Talks between S.Ossetian, Georgian Interior Ministers
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli said on February 18 that Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili is ready to hold talks with Interior Minister of breakaway South Ossetian Mikhail Mindzaev either in Tbilisi or Tskhinvali. Nogaideli, who was speaking after a session of the Georgian government’s coordination council on S.Ossetia, said that Tbilisi’s aims at “protecting human rights …
Controversial MP Quits Parliament
MP Koba Bekauri from the ruling National Movement party said on February 18 that he will quit the Parliament. This announcement comes six months after a scandal involving his involvement in suspected commercial wrongdoings in the Opiza customs terminal erupted. Although Bekauri denied any wrongdoings, he said that “a seat in the Parliament has never been my goal …
18/02/2006 - 18:45
Saakashvili Condemns Kokoity’s Statement
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili expressed protest regarding the recent statement of South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity, who said that Tskhinvali will consider any forces, which express readiness to replace the Russian peacekeepers, as “aggressors.” “We want to be careful. But the problem is when yesterday the leader of the separatist enclave [South Ossetian leader Eduard …
Bezhuashvili Slams Moscow for Refusal to Participate in JCC
Georgian Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili slammed Russia for its refusal to participate in the session of the quadripartite Joint Control Commission (JCC) in Vienna on February 20-21 and described this refusal as “irresponsible.” “I think that it is irresponsible, because just now it was necessary to launch a dialogue… We should utilize all means to …
Russian Envoy Slams Resolution on Peacekeepers at OSCE
Speaking at the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on February 16, Russian Deputy Permanent Representative to the OSCE Vladimir Voronkov said that the resolution of the Georgian Parliament on situation in breakaway South Ossetia and peacekeeping forces stationed there “indicates, that Georgia might take path leading to destabilization in the region.” In a statement, posted …
Reports: Russia Offers JCC in Moscow, Instead of Vienna
Russia proposed to hold a session of the quadripartite Joint Control Commission (JCC) over South Ossetian in Moscow instead of Vienna, the RIA Novosti news agency quoted unnamed Russian diplomat from the Foreign Ministry on February 17. JCC meeting, which involves negotiators from Georgia, Russia, breakaway South Ossetian and Russia’s North Ossetia, was planned for …
MPs Condemn Ombudsman’s Stance on Treaty between State and Orthodox Church
The Georgian Parliament approved on February 17 with a 103 to 5 vote Georgian Public Defender’s report on human rights in Georgia for the first six months of 2005. But the document approved by the Parliament gives a negative assessment to the part of the Public Defender’s report, which speaks about the religion freedoms. In …
17/02/2006 - 22:06
New CEC Chairman Appointed
The Parliament approved on February 17 Guram Chalagashvili as a new Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC). Chalagashvili, who was nominated for this position by President Saakashvili, previously served as the secretary of CEC. The opposition parliamentarians criticized Chalagashvili as “a person controlled” by the authorities. This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) …
Patarkatsishvili to Buy Shares in Berezovsky’s Businesses
Tbilisi-based influential media and financial tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili plans to buy into business assets of his long-time business partner Boris Berezovsky, the Russian newspaper Vedomosty reported on February 17. “We have met a week ago in Israel and I have agreed to sell shares in business,” Berezovsky said in an interview with Vedomosty. Georgian media …
Georgia Seizes Russian Military Vehicle in Adjara
Georgian Military Police detained on February 17 a vehicle of the Russian military base located in Adjara Autonomous Republic. According to the Georgian Defense Ministry the Russian military vehicle, which was detained in Batumi, was carrying 42 anti-tank shells. The Georgian side claims that the vehicle’s movement was not authorized, as the Georgian Defense Ministry …
Georgian Soccer Star Brother Murder Suspects Arrested
Four persons suspected of abduction and murder of Levan Kaladze, who is brother of Georgian footballer Kakhi Kaladze, who plays in AC Milan, were arrested, Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili and Prosecutor General announced at a news conference on February 17. “On January 16 Levan Tsintsadze was arrested in St. Petersburg after the request of …
Khaindrava: Moscow Hesitates to Hold JCC in Vienna
Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Giorgi Khaindrava said on February 17 after talks with the Russian Foreign Ministry officials in Moscow that the Russian side indicated it is against of holding session of the quadripartite Joint Control Commission (JCC) in Vienna. He said at a news conference in Moscow that although no official …
Energy Facilities for Sale
The Georgian Economy Ministry announced that it will launch acceptance of privatization bids for three electricity distribution companies and six hydro power plants on May 16, 2006. Experts anticipate that two energy giants will emerge on the Georgian energy market after the privatization. USD 119 million is the total initial bidding price of these energy …
Russian MPs Condemn Georgia’s Resolution on Peacekeepers
The Russian State Duma, the lower house of the parliament, adopted a statement on February 17, in which it condemned the Georgian Parliament’s resolution from February 15 and called on the Russian leadership to take measures on ensuring security in the Caucasus region against the background of aggravated situation in the South Ossetian conflict zone, the …
Tbilisi Calls on Moscow for Constructiveness over S.Ossetia
The Georgian Foreign Ministry called on the Russian side on February 17 “to accept with understanding” the Georgian Parliament”s resolution on South Ossetia and peacekeepers stationed there and to undertake constructive steps and assist in implementation of the Tbilisi”s peace plan to solve the South Ossetian conflict. “We believe the potential of the peacekeeping process is …
Georgian PM Comments on Resolution on Peacekeepers
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli said on February 17 that the government follows the Georgian Parliament’s resolution and hold consultations with “partner states” and Russia over resolution of the South Ossetian conflict peacefully.“Withdrawal of the Russian peacekeepers from the conflict zone is not an aim in itself for us, but their presence there is also …
Defense Minister Okruashvili Calls for Fair Elections in S.Ossetia
Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili called for fair presidential elections in unrecognized South Ossetian republic, which are scheduled for this November. “International community should mount certain pressure on Russia in respect to, at least, secure normal local elections in the region [South Ossetia], which as so called government [of breakaway South Ossetia] plans will take …
Controversial Ex-Governor to Become Chief of National Guard
Former governor of Imereti region Akaki Bobokhidze will become a new chief of the National Guard. Bobokhidze, who currently heads the ruling National Movement party’s regional office in Imereti, conformed on February 16 that Defense Minister Okruashvili offered him this position. Bobokhidze resigned from the governor’s position in December, 2005 after a scandal involving a …
WB Approves USD 5 Million Grant for Georgia
The World Bank approved a USD 5 million grant for Infrastructure Pre-Investment Facility (IPF) Project for Georgia on February 16, the World Bank reported. This project will facilitate infrastructure investments that have strategic importance by ensuring that proper feasibility work is carried out in a timely manner in order to enable the government to make …
Georgian Security Forum Opens in Tbilisi
The Georgian Security Forum organized by the Georgian Defense Ministry in conjunction with the International Security Advisory Board for Georgia (ISAB) was officially opened in Tbilisi on February 17. Defence Minister Irakli Okruashvili, Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli and other officials are participating in the forum. According to the Georgian Defense Ministry, ISAB Chairman General Sir Garry …
Parliamentary Chairperson Meets OSCE Envoy
Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze held talks with Special Envoy of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Senator Pierre Chevalier on February 16, who arrived in Georgia to assess the current situation in the country. The Special Envoy of the OSCE Chairman-in –Office said at a joint briefing after the talks that he had already got acquainted with …
Georgian MPs to Visits Moscow
A Georgian parliamentary delegation, led by Vice-Speaker Mikheil Machavariani, will pay a visit to Moscow in the near future, the Georgian media sources reported. This visit will follow a trip by a group of Russian parliamentarians from the State Duma to Georgia on February 14-16. The Russian parliamentarians held talks with their Georgian counterparts and also …
Russian Rescuers Search for Ukrainians in Abkhazia
A team of rescuers from the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations launched a search for three Ukrainian speleologists who went missing in breakaway Abkhazia after an avalanche occured near the Khipsta mountain in the Gudauta district, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported on February 16. The body of one speleologist was recovered shortly after news broke about the avalanche on …
16/02/2006 - 22:10
Russian Chief of Staff Comments on Peacekeepers
Chief of Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Yuri Baluevsky, warned on February 16, that “civil war” might resume in South Ossetia if the Russian peacekeepers pull out from the region. “If tomorrow the peacekeepers go [from South Ossetia] we may return to 1992 – a resumption of civil war… Statements about the Russian peacekeeping forces …
Opposition Slams Report Denying MP’s Commercial Wrongdoings
Opposition parliamentarians criticized a report prepared by the investigative parliamentary commission, which was set up to probe into allegations about commercial wrongdoings committed by MP Koba Bekauri, from the ruling National Movement party. The report prepared by the commission says that MP Koba Bekauri was not involved in any illegal commercial activities in the Opiza customs terminal. But …
Resolution on Peacekeepers Leaves Room for More
Diplomacy
Despite a strong-worded resolution on the peacekeeping forces stationed in the South Ossetian conflict zone passed by the Georgian Parliament on February 15, developments surrounding this breakaway region are most likely heading towards the negotiating format rather than a further aggravation of the situation on the ground, at least for time being.On the one hand, the resolution gives the Georgian government space …
OSCE Calls on Georgia to Use Caution over Peacekeepers
The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, called on the Georgian government for “a measured response” to the Georgian Parliament’s February 15 resolution on the peacekeeping forces stationed in the South Ossetian conflict zone, the OSCE press office reported on February 16.“While reconfirming the OSCE’s support for the territorial integrity of Georgia and recognising the …
Paper: Opposition Parties in Search of Forms for Cooperation
Consultations are underway among the opposition parties over forms of cooperation on the eve of the local self-governance elections scheduled for this autumn, the Georgian daily Rezonansi (Resonance) reported on February 16. But, according to the paper, there are certain disagreements about the forms of cooperation. “Labor Party advocates are boycotting the elections, while the New Rights …
Tags: Salome Zurabishvili
Bagapsh Speaks of Conflict Resolution Process
Abkhaz leader Sergey Bagapsh said that the lifting of economic sanctions against Abkhazia would foster progress in the conflict resolution process, Apsnypress news agency reported. Sergey Bagapsh addressed the Parliament of breakaway Abkhazia with an annual report on February 15. He expressed concern that Tbilisi has recently changed its position over the Abkhaz-Georgian draft agreement over non-resumption of …
Russian Speaker Condemns Georgia’s Resolution on Peacekeepers
Boris Gryzlov, the Chairman of the State Duma, Russia’s lower house of the Parliament, condemned the resolution on the Russian peacekeepers passed by the Georgian Parliament on February 15 and said that the “Georgian scenario” will lead to a resumption of hostilities in the South Ossetian conflict zone. “Those statements which were made in the Parliament of Georgia do …
Abkhazia Ratifies Cooperation Treaty with South Ossetia
The Parliament of breakaway Abkhazia ratified an agreement on friendship and cooperation between Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which was signed by Abkhaz and South Ossetian leaders Sergey Bagapsh and Eduard Kokoity, respectively, in Tskhinvali last September, Apsnypress news agency reported on February 15. According to the agreement, the sides are committed to render mutual assistance …
State Minister Khaindrava Visits Moscow
State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Giorgi Khaindrava left for Moscow on February 16 to negotiate the peace process in breakaway South Ossetia with officials from the Russian Foreign Ministry . Khaindrava said before his departure that he will also meet with Russian chief negotiator over South Ossetian issues Valery Kenyaikin to discuss issues related with …
IMF Upbeat about Georgia’s Economy in 2006
Q&A with Head of IMF Middle East and Central Asian DepartmentA mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) paid a fact-finding visit to Georgia on February 8-15 to assess the current economic situation in the country and discuss Georgia’s performance under the Poverty Reduction and Economic Growth Program (PREGP), through which Georgia has already received …
EU Commissioner for ENP to Visit Georgia
EU Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), Benita Ferrero-Waldner, will visit Georgia on February 16 as part of his South Caucasus trip. During the visit she will hold consultations with the Georgian leadership over the ENP Action Plan, as well as discuss the “frozen conflicts” in the region and issues related to …
Moscow Concerned over Georgian Parliament’s Resolution
The resolution calling for revision of the 1992 Sochi agreement and cessation of the Russian peacekeeping operation in the South Ossetian conflict zone, which was adopted by the Georgian Parliament on February 15, triggered concerns in Moscow, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a statement issued on Wednesday. The statement reads that …
South Ossetian leader Comments on Peacekeepers
South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity warned on February 15 that Tskhinvali will introduce visa rules for “those citizens of Georgia who do not live on the territory of South Ossetia,” if any illegal actions are taken against the Russian peacekeeping troops stationed in the breakaway region. He also ruled out the possiblity of replaceing the …
15/02/2006 - 20:26
Russian MPs Meet S.Ossetian Leader, Chief Peacekeeper
A group of Russian MPs met with South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity and Commander of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces Maj. Gen. Marat Kulakhmetov in Tskhinvali on February 15 to discuss the current situation in the conflict zone. “The key task of the South Ossetian leadership is to maintain peace in the Caucasus,” the South Ossetian …
Tbilisi Wants to Increase Police Role in S.Ossetia
Speaking with Georgian parliamentarians on February 15, Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution issues Giorgi Khaindrava said that Georgia should fully utilize those agreements reached in frames of the Joint Control Commission in previous years which are in line with the Tbilisi’s interests. “The 1996 Moscow memorandum says that the peacekeepers should start transferring their duties …
Full Text: Resolution on Peacekeepers
Tbilisi, February 15 Resolution of the Parliament of Georgia on the Current Situation in the Former South Ossetian Autonomous District and the Ongoing of the Peacekeeping Process In accordance with paragraph 2 of the resolution No 1927-II of the Parliament of Georgia on the “Current Situation in the Conflict Regions on the Territory of Georgia and …
Parliament Passes Resolution on Peacekeepers
Parliament unanimously approved, with 179 votes, on February 15 a resolution instructing the government “to revise the Sochi agreement from 24 June 1992” and to secure a replacement for the current peacekeeping operation in South Ossetia “with an effective international peacekeeping operation.” The Joint Peacekeeping Forces (JPKF) were stationed in the South Ossetian conflict zone under the Sochi …
Parliament Approves Resolution on Peacekeepers
Parliament unanimously approved, with 179 votes, on February 15 a resolution instructing the government ?to revise the Sochi agreement from 24 June 1992? and to secure a replacement for the current peacekeeping operation in South Ossetia ?with an effective international peacekeeping operation.? The Joint Peacekeeping Forces (JPKF) were stationed in the South Ossetian conflict zone under the …
MPs Debate on Resolution on Peacekeepers
The Parliament launched debates on Wednesday over a draft resolution on the situation in the South Ossetian conflict zone and the Russian peacekeeping forces stationed there. The draft resolution, which was presented at the session by MP Givi Targamadze, Chairman of Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Security, instructs the government ?to revise the Sochi agreement from …
Lavrov: Tbilisi’s Actions Against Peacekeepers Goes Beyond all Bounds
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on February 15 that the Georgian authorities’ attitude towards the Russian peacekeepers stationed in the South Ossetian and Abkhaz conflict zone “goes beyond all bounds.” “The facts are ignored and falsified [by the Georgian side], regular provocations take place against our peacekeepers by violating the existing agreements. They [the Georgian …
Reports: One Dies in Gali Shooting
One local resident was killed and another injured on February 14 as a result of raid carried out by the Abkhaz militia group in the Georgian village of Ganakhleba, Gali district of breakaway Abkhazia, the Georgian Foreign Ministry reported on Wednesday. The Georgian media sources also reported on Wednesday that shooting was heard in the …
Page 541 of 763
This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)