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Azerbaijani Vice-Premier Visits Georgia
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli is holding talks with Azerbaijani Vice-Premier Abbas Abbasov, who arrived in Tbilisi on a two-day working visit on July 12. According to the press office of the Georgian Prime Minister, the issues of economic and regional cooperation are being discussed. The representatives of the two countries will also discuss the details …
12/07/2005 - 11:30
Okruashvili Speaks of ‘Intrigues’ against Him
In an interview with the Georgian daily Rezonansi (Resonance), published on July 11, Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili accused some officials in the National Security Council of masterminding “political intrigues” against him. The Defense Minister also spoke about the current challenges in the Georgian army and his point of view regarding the conflict in South Ossetia. Irakli …
11/07/2005 - 18:58
First Group of Border Guards Graduate OSCE-led Training
Border guards are trained in mountain rescue operations in Kazbegi. The first group of 77 Georgian border guards graduated, on July 11, from a month-long course carried out in frames of the OSCE-led Training Assistance Programme (TAP). A total of 850 border guards will undergo TAP, which is being conducted by international experts at four training centers throughout Georgia. …
Nationwide Exams Launched in Georgia
About 32 thousand would-be students will participate in nationwide entry exams being conducted throughout Georgia, starting from July 11 and lasting until July 21. The final results of the examinations will be announced on August 20. According to the new Education Law, all potential students willing to be enrolled in a higher education center have to pass standardized nationwide …
PM: Tbilisi Expects Response Steps from Tskhinvali, Moscow
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli said on July 11 that the Georgian side expects the de facto authorities in South Ossetia to take adequate steps regarding the proposals which were pushed by President Saakashvili at the Batumi international conference on July 10 and which envisages a peaceful resolution to the South Ossetian conflict. During the Georgian government-sponsored, …
Talks over Abkhaz Railway Start in Tbilisi
Officials from Georgia, Russia and breakaway Abkhazia will meet on July 11 in Tbilisi to discuss the technical details of rehabilitating a railway between Russia and Georgia via Abkhazia. During the talks, the three sides are expected to agree over the composition of an expert group which will assess the current condition of a 60-km portion …
Tbilisi Pushes South Ossetia Peace Initiative at Batumi Conference
In his opening remarks at an international conference on South Ossetia in Batumi on July 10, President Saakashvili described Tbilisi’s proposal about the South Ossetian status as “a dream list,” which provides Tskhinvali everything it desires except independence. “We will not tolerate Georgia’s disintegration,” Saakashvili said.The Georgian government-sponsored two-day conference, assembled in Batumi, Adjara Autonomous Republic, …
10/07/2005 - 15:41
Conference on South Ossetia Opens in Batumi
A two-day conference on resolution of the South Ossetian conflict opened in Batumi, Adjara Autonomous Republic on July 10, and featured the participation of representatives from international organizations, local and international experts and Georgian governmental officials. Authorities in breakaway South Ossetia boycotted the conference. In his opening remarks President Saakashvili said that Tbilisi?s peace proposal over South Ossetia is …
New Abkhaz Navy Commander Appointed
Aleksander Voinski was appointed as the new Commander of breakaway Abkhazia’s Navy on July 7, Abkhaz news agency Apsnipress reported. According to the Georgian media, Voinski, who replaced Zurab Gitsba, previously served as Deputy Secretary of the Abkhaz National Security Council. This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
09/07/2005 - 18:51
De-Facto Authorities Ignore the Conference on South Ossetia in Adjara
A two-day international conference regarding the South Ossetian conflict resolution, which will be opened on July 10 in Georgia’s Black Sea resort of Chakvi, Adjara Autonomous Republic, was designed by the Georgian government to demonstrate its determination to peacefully solve this nearly 15-year-old conflict. But the authorities in breakaway South Ossetia, who have boycotted the meeting, fear that …
Saakashvili Speaks of Vigorous Peace Process in S.Ossetia
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, said while speaking with reporters before his departure to Batumi, Adjara Autonomous Republic late on July 8, that the Georgian side will continue the ?aggressive peace process? to solve the South Ossetian conflict.In Adjara, President Saakashvili will address a Georgian government-sponsored international conference on July 10-11, which will discuss Tbilisi?s peace proposal over …
Georgia Ratifies NAMSA Treaty on Missile Demilitarization
The Georgian Parliament ratified on July 8 the agreement between the Georgian government and the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA) on demilitarization of guided missiles in Georgia. The NAMSA will conclude contracts with Georgian companies over providing them with special equipment to conduct missiles demilitarization as envisaged by the agreement. This post is also …
Saakashvili Hails Ruling Party, Urges Opposition to Cooperate
During the meeting with the parliamentarians from the ruling National Movement party on July 8 President Saakashvili praised the parliamentary majority for keeping its unity and deal with many challenges for past one year. ?This parliamentary majority has dealt with the Adjara issue; this parliamentary majority will be able to deal with the South Ossetian …
Russian MPs Call for Increasing Gas Price for Georgia
Russia?s lower house of Parliament, the State Duma, adopted a statement on July 8 urging the Russian government to consider a possible increase in gas prices for Georgia, Moldova, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Ukraine. The State Duma also called on the Russian government to demand from Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine to repay debt accumulated for …
08/07/2005 - 18:39
Amendments to Election Code Passed with Second Hearing
The Georgian Parliament unanimously approved amendments to the election code, related with the new rule of electing Tbilisi City Council (Sakrebulo), with its second hearing on July 8. Parliamentarians from the ruling National Movement party, who comprise a majority in the Parliament, decided to discuss these amendments with its third and final reading, during the autumn …
Major Road in S.Ossetian Conflict Zone Closed Down
Both Ossetian and Georgian sources reported that a central road in the South Ossetian conflict zone, which connects the Georgian villages and passes through the breakaway region?s capital Tskhinvali, has been blocked by a group of local, Georgian residents on July 8. Protesters are demanding the release of those four Georgians who were reportedly kidnapped in …
National Security Concept Approved
The Georgian Parliament approved, on July 8, the National Security Concept with a 136 to 0 vote. The document outlines the country?s fundamental national values; national interests; threats; challenges; major directions of Georgia?s national security policy; and foreign policy priorities. The adoption of a National Security Concept was among those commitments undertaken by the Georgian government under the Individual …
New Ambassador to Switzerland Approved
The Parliament unanimously approved former Finance Minister Valery Chechelashvili as Georgia?s new Ambassador to Switzerland on July 8. Chechelashvili resigned from the Finance Minister?s position on June 29 following the high-profile arrests within the Tax Department involving corruption charges. This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
Georgia Expects USD 300 mln from U.S MCA Assistance Program
Georgia will receive about USD 300 million through the U.S. Millennium Challenge Account assistance program, which is USD 100 million more than initially planned, the Millennium Challenge Georgia Fund (MCG), which is in charge to administer this assistance in Georgia, reported. This decision was made following a visit by representatives of the MCG to the United States, held on June …
Journalists Accuse Government of Pressuring Media
A group of Georgian journalists signed a statement on July 7 expressing concern for the attempts by the government to control media sources’ editorial policies. This statement, signed by some 76 journalists from about 20 media sources, reads that the Georgian leadership has started ?attacks against the media sources from the very first days? that followed the 2003 Rose Revolution. A decision by the Tbilisi-based …
Georgia Condemns Terrorist Attacks in London
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili sent a letter of condolence to British Prime Minister Tony Blair regarding the terrorist attacks which occurred in London on July 7. ?I am deeply shocked by the outrageous terrorist attacks that took place in London. This tragedy once again unveils the threat terror poses to countries that cherish the values of freedom …
Russian Transport Minister Visits Georgia
Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin, who currently co-chairs the Russian-Georgian inter-governmental commission, will arrive in Georgia for a two-day working visit on July 8. According to the Russian Transport Ministry, the Russian Minister will hold talks with the Georgian co-chairman, Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli and representatives of business circles. The issues of trade and economic cooperation between …
Reports: Commerce Chamber Chief may Run for MP
Tbilisi-based Imedi television station reported on July 7 that the ruling National Movement party plans to nominate Jemal Inaishvili, the President of the Georgian Chamber of Commerce, as its candidate to run for MP in the single-mandate constituency in Batumi, Adjara Autonomous Republic. ?I can not yet confirm this, but if there is such a proposal …
07/07/2005 - 20:06
Russian Businessmen Visit Abkhazia
A group of Russian businessmen, led by chairman of the Russian business lobby organization ?Business Russia? Boris Titov, met with President of breakaway Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh in Sokhumi on July 7. According to the ?Business Russia? public movement’s web-site, the delegation is planning to meet with the local Abkhaz businessmen as well discuss potential cooperation. Boris Titov is also …
EU New Neighboring Policy- Is Georgia In?
On the 6-th day of July 2005, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation together with the United Nations Association of Georgia organized a seminar for mass media representatives and press centers in the public sector. The theme of European Union and Georgia: New Neighborhood Policy was certainly pertinent to the transformations now occurring in the country. Consequently, …
Authorities Accused, as TV Station Takes Talk-Show off the Air
A decision by the Tbilisi-based Mze (the Sun) television station to halt its daily political talk-show Archevanis Zgvarze (On the Verge of Choice) sparked debates regarding the authorities? pressure on media sources? editorial policy. This decision by Mze television follows a statement by influential parliamentarian from the ruling National Movement party Giga Bokeria, who criticized the way Mze TV covered June 30-July …
Three High-Level Defense Officials Sacked
News broke on July 6, that Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili sacked chief of the intelligence department of the MoD Malkhaz Maisuradze, chief of the logistics service of the MoD Ivane Beridze and navy commander Levan Bakradze. According to the Georgian Defense Ministry, “negligence of duties” was the reason behind this decision by the Defense Minister to dismiss …
Election Code Amended
Legislators from the ruling National Movement party approved amendments to the election code with its first hearing on July 7, changing the rule of electing the Tbilisi City Council. Opposition parliamentarians boycotted these discussions.Initially, the Parliament planned to discuss these amendments during an autumn plenary session, but the ruling National Movement party insisted on passing the amendments …
Ex-Finance Minister Nominated as Ambassador to Switzerland
President Saakashvili nominated former Finance Minister Valery Chechelashvili as Georgia?s Ambassador to Switzerland. The Parliament will discuss this nomination at the session on July 8. Chechelashvili resigned from the Finance Minister?s position on June 29 following the high-profile arrests within the Tax Department involving corruption charges. Former Deputy Foreign Minister Giorgi Gomiashvili was nominated initially …
Ruling Party Hurries to Amend Election Code
At a special session of the Parliament on July 7, convened by President Saakashvili, legislators will discuss draft amendments to the election code and the law on local self-governance. Amendments to these laws became necessary after the Parliament passed, with its final hearing on July 1, a new rule for electing the Tbilisi city Mayor and City …
Political Parties Outline Rules for Election Campaigning, Funding
Representatives from both the opposition and ruling National Movement parties, as well as officials from the Central Election Commission (CEC) signed a Memorandum on Funding of Political Parties at an event held under the aegis of the Council of Europe (CoE) in Strasbourg. According to the Memorandum, which is an informal agreement between the political parties, …
06/07/2005 - 19:46
Analysts Call for Cautious Approach to Abkhaz Railway
Officials from Georgia, Russia and breakaway Abkhazia plan to meet in Tbilisi on July 11 in frames of a series of negotiations involving discussions over the rehabilitation of the Abkhaz portion of the Russo-Georgian railway. These series of talks were launched last month after Tbilisi softened its stance over the reopening of the Abkhaz railway. …
Sokhumi Wants Tbilisi to Compensate War Damage
Abkhaz Parliament Speaker Nugzar Ashuba said, during an interview with the Russian online news service Kavkazky Uzel on July 5, that the Parliament of the breakaway region will discuss the issue of compensation of damage caused by the Georgian side during the armed conflict in 1992-93. According to the Abkhaz Speaker, the damage caused by the war amounts to …
Azerbaijani Border Guard Chief Visits Georgia
Visiting Commander of the Azerbaijani Border Guard Service Elchin Guliyev met with his Georgian counterpart Badri Bitsadze in Tbilisi on July 6. ?There are some problems on the [Azeri-Georgian] border, which are basically related to border delimitation. We are ready to contribute to the activities of an intergovernmental commission, which is working over this issue,? Badri Bitsadze …
Ivanov: New Army Brigades in North Caucasus to Protect Border
Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov said on July 5 that the formation of two mountain rifle brigades at the Russo-Georgian border aims at ensuring security on this section of the border after the Russian military bases are withdrawn from Georgia, RIA Novosti news agency reported. ?The brigades will provide assistance to border guards in case of an attempt …
OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Adopts Resolution on Abkhazia
The Washington Declaration, adopted by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on July 5, states that ?the continued lack of progress on key issues of comprehensive settlement of the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia is unacceptable.? The Resolution on the Situation in Abkhazia, which is a part of the Washington Declaration, also stresses the urgent need for progress in …
Russian Security, MFA Officials Visit South Ossetia
After talks with the Georgian officials in Tbilisi on July 5, Russian Deputy Secretary of National Security Council Yuri Zubakov and Valerie Kenyaikin, the Russian Foreign Ministry?s special envoy, left for the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali on July 6. There, they are planning talks with the authorities of the breakaway region, after which they will …
ExxonMobil Exports Azeri Oil via Georgia
ExxonMobil launched the first export of Azeri oil to western markets via Georgia?s Black Sea port of Batumi on July 2. ExxonMobil, which has the rights to export Azeri oil, announced last December that it will not participate in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline project and instead signed a five-year contract with the Azpetrol company to export 10 million …
05/07/2005 - 19:16
Tbilisi Blacked Out
Most of the eastern part of Georgia, including the capital city Tbilisi, was blacked out on July 5 for the second time in the past two days because the damaged high-voltage power line ?Imereti.? The power supply was partially restored after an hour. Energy Minister Nika Gilauri said that the bad weather conditions caused the damage to the power line. The eastern part …
President to Address Conference on South Ossetia
President Saakashvili will address the international conference, being organized by the Georgian government to discuss Tbilisi?s proposal over the resolution of the South Ossetian conflict, planned for July 10-11 in Batumi, Adjara Autonomous Republic, the President?s press office reported.Authorities of breakaway South Ossetia have announced that they will boycott this conference, which was initially was planned …
Sokhumi Accuses Tbilisi of Attempting to Thwart Railway Talks
Both the Secretary of the National Security Council and the Foreign Minister of breakaway Abkhazia condemned the detention of two Turkish vessels in the Abkhaz portion of the maritime border on July 2-3 by the Georgian coastguard, regarding it as an attempt by Tbilisi to thwart talks over the resumption of the Russo-Georgian railway via Abkhazia, …
Saakashvili Proposes New Anti-Organized Crime Legislation
President Saakashvili said on July 5 that he plans to submit a draft law making mere participation in a criminal organization an indictable offence to the Parliament for approval. The President said that the initiative means that, if approved, it will not be necessary to prove that a suspect is linked to a specific offense, but, rather …
South Ossetia Holds Maneuvers
500 serviceman from the breakaway South Ossetian Defense Ministry are taking part in military exercises, which were launched in South Ossetia’s Java district on July 5, the unrecognized republic’s Press and Information Committee reported. Java, which is regarded as a stronghold for the South Ossetian militia groups, lies beyond the zone of responsibility of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces, …
Paper: Okruashvili, Alasania at Odds over Military Unit in Kodori
The Georgian daily Rezonansi (Resonance) reported on July 5 that Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili and Chairman of the Tbilisi-based Abkhaz government-in-exile Irakli Alasania have been involved in ?an open confrontation? over the issue of the recent aboloshment of the “monadire” (hunter) military unit, based in the Kodori gorge – the only part of breakaway Abkhazia controlled by the central authorities …
Poll: 86% of Georgians for Peaceful Resolution of Conflicts
A public opinion survey, which was funded by USAID and conducted by the International Republican Institute (IRI) between May 26 and June 10, says that 86% of those 1,493 Georgian citizens surveyed believe that ?negotiations and peaceful means? should be the only methods employed in solving the Abkhaz and South Ossetian conflicts. Last week some media sources, …
Saakashvili: MoD to Contribute to Social Program in Javakheti
President Saakashvili said on July 4 that the Georgian Defense Ministry will make all its procurements of agricultural and food products solely in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, based on availability. He said that this initiative is part of a state social program for this region that will help ease the economic consequences that will result from the withdrawal …
Russian Security Official Visits Georgia over South Ossetia
Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council Yuri Zubakov will arrive in Georgia on July 5 to discuss the issues of peaceful settlement of the South Ossetian conflict, RIA Novosti reports. Yuri Zubakov will be accompanied by Valerie Kenyaikin, the Russian Foreign Ministry?s special envoy, who represents the Russian side at the quadripartite Joint Control …
Two Companies Pull Out from Airport Construction Consortium
Two companies – the Luxembourg-based Gestion en Technique Sp?ciale (GTS) and the U.S. company A&J, pulled out from a consortium that also involves the Turkish ?elebi Group and which was set up to reconstruct the international airport in Tbilisi. According to the Georgian Economy Ministry the two companies failed to meet deadlines and provide necessary financial guarantees. A consortium …
04/07/2005 - 18:26
Russian MPs Want to Increase Gas Price for Georgia
Russia?s lower house of Parliament, the State Duma, will discuss a draft statement on July 6 urging Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov to consider a possible increase in gas prices for Georgia, Moldova, Latvia, Estonia and Ukraine, RIA Novosti news agency reported. The proposal was initiated by the Russian parliamentarians from the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia …
Interior Ministry Sues TV Station
The Georgian Interior Ministry stated on July 4 that it will sue one of the Georgian TV stations for alleged copyright infringement and demand 1 million Lari (approximately USD 549,000) in compensation. The Interior Ministry said in a statement issued through its web-site that one of the television stations, which the Ministry refused to specify, broadcasted …
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This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)