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Russia Sets up Two Rifle Brigades on Border with Georgia
Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov said on June 6 that two light mountain rifle brigades will be set up on the Russian-Georgian border ?to eradicate the infiltration of terrorists from Georgia into Russia.? ?This decision has already been accepted at all levels,? RIA Novosti quotes Sergey Ivanov as saying. The Minister stressed that …
06/06/2005 - 14:20
Georgian, South Ossetian Sides Hold Talks in Brussels
Delegations from the Georgian and South Ossetian sides will hold talks in Brussels on June 6-12, with the participation of international experts. According to the press office of the Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues, the prospects for the resolution of the South Ossetian conflict, economic cooperation and ensuring security in the conflict zone …
Heavy Rains Hit Eastern Georgia
Heavy rains have caused major damage in the eastern Georgian regions of Kakheti and Mtskheta-Mtianeti. Transport infrastructure has been heavily affected. Many bridges and roads have been washed away, cutting off access to some villages. Due to the damage of power transmission lines, the population of the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region has been left without electricity. Reportedly, the …
Q&A with Nana Karseladze
Public Relations Coordinator of the Center for Strategic Researches and Development Today much is spoken about the relations between the non-governmental organizations and business sector. This issue is rather actual in Georgia, since the first steps are being taken in this direction. In this regard we have interviewed Nana Karseladze, public relations coordinator of the …
“Professional” Election Commission Fails to Receive Opposition’s Confidence
The construction of a new Central Election Commission (CEC) was promptly interpreted by the opposition parties as a signal of anticipated election fraud by the government, while the authorities and the ruling National Movement party describe the new CEC as a meaningful vehicle for holding genuinely free and fair elections.The Parliament approved on June 3 seven …
05/06/2005 - 19:16
Lufthansa Starts Flights to Georgia
Lufthansa will start operating three weekly flights from Munich to Tbilisi starting on June 5, the Georgian Civil Aviation Department reported. Flights from Munich to Tbilisi will be conducted on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 21:10 and the return flights are scheduled for Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 03:55, according to the Lufthansa website. This post …
Opposition Wants Referendum on Direct Elections of Mayors
Leaders of the opposition Republicans and Conservative parties, as well as from the public movement ‘Forum for Welfare and Democracy’, met on June 4 and announced that they will launch a petition to gather signatures from Georgian citizens in an attempt to convince the authorities to hold a referendum to find out whether the voters want direct elections of city …
04/06/2005 - 18:06
Georgian Official: Moscow Sends Military Equipment to S.Ossetia
Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Goga Khaindrava sent a letter on June 3 to the Russian Foreign Ministry and co-chairmen of the quadripartite Joint Control Commission (JCC), which oversees the ceasefire in the South Ossetian conflict zone, expressing protest against the delivery of Russian humanitarian aid worth approximately USD 2 million, which also included military …
Russia Downplays Baku’s Concern over Relocating Arms from Georgia to Armenia
Russia’s permanent representative at the OSCE Alexei Borodavkin said, while addressing the organization’s Permanent Council in Vienna on June 3, that Azerbaijan should not be concerned over Russia’s decision to redeploy part of its military hardware from its bases in Georgia to Armenia. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry’s information note issued on June 3, Ambassador Borodavkin informed the …
Russian, EU Officials Discuss Conflicts in South Caucasus
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Valerie Loshchinin held talks with the European Union?s Special Representative to the South Caucasus Heikki Talvitie in Moscow on June 3. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the sides discussed the current situation in the South Caucasus, as well as the issue of the settlement of the South Ossetian, Abkhazian and Karabakh conflicts. …
PACE Draft Report Criticizes Russia over S.Ossetia, Abkhazia
A draft report by the monitoring committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE) on the honoring of obligations and commitments by Russia, which was published on June 3, calls on Moscow to constructively contribute to the resolution of issues related with the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.?With regards to treating neighbouring …
Bush, Saakashvili Hold Phone Talks
U.S. President George W. Bush held a phone conversation with his Georgian counterpart Mikheil Saakashvili on June 3 and discussed separatist conflicts and the recent deal with Russia over the withdrawal of military bases from Georgia, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. ?The President [Bush] called to congratulate President Saakashvili on reaching an agreement with Moscow on Russia …
Parliament Approves New CEC
The Parliament approved on June 3 seven members of the new Central Election Commission. Gia Kavtaradze was approved with 147 votes to 0 as the Chairman of the CEC. The opposition parliamentarians refused to support nominations citing that most of the nominations were affiliated with ruling National Movement party, allegations strongly denied by the new …
03/06/2005 - 20:31
Saakashvili Wants Putin to Visit Georgia
Georgia President Mikheil Saakashvili said at a joint news briefing after the talks with visiting Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov on June 3 that he is ready to visit Moscow, but wants ?to host Russian President Vladimir Putin first.? ?We will possibly sign the framework agreement, but even if it does not occur [signing of …
S.Ossetian Minister: Armed Clash Hampered Demilitarization
Defense Minister of breakaway South Ossetia Anatoly Barankevich said, the recent skirmish in the South Ossetian conflict zone on May 29, which resulted in death of four Ossetian armed men and one Georgian policeman, has negatively influenced the demilitarization process in the conflict zone, Interfax news agency reported on June 3. Barankevich said that attack …
Georgia Pushes to Reform CIS
CIS summit in Tbilisi, June 3, 2005 The heads of governments from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) noted after a summit in Tbilisi on June 3 that a “new impulse” is needed to enliven their cooperation in frames of this organization.The one-day summit in Tbilisi, which lasted for less than three hours, ended with …
Ukrainian PM: GUAM not an Alternative to CIS
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko said after the summit of the heads of the governments of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) on June 3 that grouping of Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova and Azerbaijan ?should not be regarded as an alternative of the CIS.? Timoshenko was speaking at a joint news conference of the CIS heads …
U.S. Senator Hagel, General Wald Visit Georgia
Senator Chuck Hagel, Nebraska’s senior U.S. Senator and member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and General Charles F. Wald, the Deputy Commander of U.S. European Command, arrived in Tbilisi on June 3 to consult with Georgian government officials. According to the U.S. Embassy to Georgia, Senator Hagel and General Wald will hold talks …
CIS Summit Opens in Tbilisi
Summit of the heads of governments from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was launched in Tbilisi on June 3.Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli, who participates in the summit of this kind for the first time, emphasized in his opening remarks, that the summit is of special importance as it takes place ?against the background …
Georgian PM Comments on Future of CIS
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli told reporters on June 3, that the future of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) will ?largely depends on how its member states will be able to defend their national interests in frames of this organization.? ?In case of Georgia ? our vital interest is territorial integrity,? Nogaideli said. He …
Zourabichvili Calls on Russia to Abandon ‘Ambiguous’ Position over Abkhazia, S.Ossetia
In an interview published by the English-language Russian daily Moscow Times on June 3, Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili expressed hope that Russia will give up its, as she said, “ambiguous” position over Georgia’s breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and play more “neutral” and “constructive role” after signing a deal on withdrawal of Russian …
Tags: Salome Zurabishvili
Tbilisi Hosts CIS Summit
Meeting of the heads of governments and senior governmental officials from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) will open in Tbilisi on June 3 ? the first-ever CIS summit held in Georgia.A total of 34 issues are planned to be discussed during the summit, but Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli will participate in discussions of …
02/06/2005 - 23:29
Russia Prepares Tank Repair Factory for Hand-Over
Officials from the Georgian and Russian Defense Ministries are conducting inventorying of assets of the Russian 142nd Armor Tank Repair Factory in Tbilisi, in an attempt to prepare factory for a hand-over to the Georgian side. The process of hand-over should be completed before June 15, as envisaged by the joint declaration of the Russian …
Tbilisi, Moscow Hold ‘Intensive’ Talks over Agreement on Bases
Representatives of the Russian and Georgian Foreign Ministries held talks over finalizing an Agreement on Timeframe, Mode of Functioning and Withdrawal of the Russian Military Bases from Georgia on May 31-June 1 in Moscow. Signing of this agreement by the two countries is envisaged by the joint declaration signed by the Georgian and Russian Foreign …
Chief of Tbilisi Gas Distribution Company Resigns
Davit Morchiladze, the General Director of Tbilgazi, the gas distribution company in the capital Tbilisi, filed resignation on June 2. Davit Morchiladze, who was appointed on this position last summer, said at a news conference that he has accomplished his goal by ?laying foundation for the company?s further affective functioning. He said that Giorgi Shashiashvili, …
Burjanadze Meets Armenian PM
Visiting Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan met with Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze on June 2 and discussed issues related with the situation in Samtskhe-Javakheti region, which is predominately populated by ethnic Armenians and resumption of railway link between Georgia and Russia via breakaway Abkhazia. Andranik Margaryan is visiting Georgia to participate in the summit …
Canadian, EU, Japanese, Israeli, US Citizens can Travel to Georgia Visa-free
The Georgian Parliament passed with its third and final hearing decision to lift visa requirements for the citizens of the United States, Canada, Japan, Israel and the EU member states, which plan to stay in Georgia for less than three months. Georgian government announced its intention to do so in April, saying that the unilateral decision …
Tycoon-Owned News Agency Closed Down
Georgian news agency Interpress, a part of the media holding owned by influential tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili, has been closed down, the agency?s statement issued on June 2 reads. No reasons behind this decision are reported, but apparently closure was triggered by Patarkatsishvili?s decision to cease financing of the news agency. Interpress news agency was founded …
Bagapsh Demands to Ensure Security of Locals in Gali
Abkhaz leader Sergey Bagapsh, Prime Minister Alexander Ankvab, accompanied by other senior officials of the breakaway region?s government, visited Abkhazia Gali district on June 1, which is predominantly populated by the ethnic Georgians, Abkhaz news agency Apsnipress reported. During the visit the President of breakaway Abkhazia said that ensuring security of the local population, ?which …
Opposition Against CEC Membership Nominations
After meeting with those 13 persons on June 1, which were nominated by President Saakashvili for the Central Election Commission (CEC) membership, parliamentarians from the opposition New Rights, Republican and Conservative parties expressed fear that the proposed nominees will fail to keep impartiality during the elections. President Saakashvili nominated for the CEC Chairmanship Gia Kavtaradze, …
Concept on National Minorities Finalized
Georgian Parliament will launch consideration of draft of Concept on Protection of National Minorities and Integration Policy, which, as the document says, aims at encouraging national minorities’ integration into the Georgian society.The draft concept is basically based on international conventions on national minorities. Georgia has yet to ratify Convention for the Protection of National Minorities …
01/06/2005 - 21:57
Scheffer: NATO has Frank Talks with Russia over Georgia
NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said on May 31, while addressing the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Spring Session in Ljubljana, Slovenia, that the alliance has ?frank discussion? with Russia over ?sensitive topics? including Georgia. ?We continue, at the same time, to intensify our relations with our special partners, Russia and Ukraine. In Vilnius last …
Kokoity Visits Moscow, Speaks of South Ossetia’s Policy
Visiting President of breakaway South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity said at a news conference in Moscow on June 1 that during his current visit in Russia he plans to discuss issues related with “South Ossetia’s integration [into the Russian Federation] and economic cooperation,” with officials there, the Interfax and RIA Novosti news agencies reported. At a news conference in …
Georgian PM: CIS Needs Reforms
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli said at the government?s session on June 1, that the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) needs to be reformed. The summit of heads of governments of the CIS member states will be opened in Tbilisi on June 3 to discuss 34 issues. ?However, Georgia will participate only in discussing of …
Tbilisi Hopes for Foreign Aid to Finance Bases Withdrawal
Georgian Finance Minister Valerie Chechelashvili said on June 1 that the Georgia?s 2005 budget does not envisage allocation of funds to cover part of the expanses for withdrawal of Russian military bases from Georgia. He told reporters that the United States has expressed readiness to provide reasonable financial assistance. ?We will continue to work in …
EU, Turkish Envoys Visit Abkhazia
President of breakaway Abkhazia held separate meetings with visiting Turkish Ambassador to Georgia Ertan Tezgor and Head of European Commission Delegation to Georgia Torben Holtze in Sokhumi on May 31, Abkhaz news agency Apsnipress reported.According to the agency during the meeting with Sergey Bagapsh, the Turkish Ambassador said Turkey could play more active role in …
Zourabichvili: Tbilisi, Moscow Launch New Stage of Relations
Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili said on May 31 that by signing the joint declaration over pullout of Russian military bases from Georgia, the two countries launched ?a new stage of relationship.? Zourabichvili was speaking at a news conference, after she met with foreign diplomats accredited in Georgia to brief them regarding this agreement, in …
Tags: Salome Zurabishvili
U.S. Senate Confirmed Tefft as Ambassador to Georgia
The U.S. Senate confirmed on May 26 John F. Tefft as the United States? new Ambassador to Georgia. John Tefft, a native of Virginia, who previously was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, is a 33-year veteran of the Foreign Service and has served in Jerusalem, Hungary, Italy, Russia and …
OSCE Ready to Monitor Gudauta Base in Abkhazia
OSCE Chairman-in-Office Dimitrij Rupel said on May 31 that the organization is ready to conduct international monitoring of the former Russian military base in Gudauta, which is located in Georgia?s breakaway Abkhazia. According to a joint declaration signed by Russian and Georgian Foreign Ministers in Moscow on May 30, the sides agreed to continue work …
31/05/2005 - 21:27
EU, NATO, OSCE Welcome Russo-Georgian Deal on Bases
The European Union High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and OSCE Chairman-in-Office Dimitrij Rupel welcomed on May 31 a joint declaration by Russian and Georgian Foreign Ministers in which Moscow pledged to complete the withdrawal of military bases from Georgia in the course …
President Nominates CEC Chairman, Members
President Saakashvili nominated on May 30 Gia Kavtaradze, who previously worked in Georgia?s Council of Justice, as the Chairman of Central Election Commission. The President has also submitted list of 12 nominees for CEC membership to the Parliament for consideration.According to the new rule of composition of the CEC, the Parliament will have to select …
North Ossetia President Files Resignation
President of the Russian Federation’s North Ossetia Aleksander Dzasokhov filed his resignation, RIA Novosti reports. This information was confirmed by the representative of President Vladimir Putin in Southern Federal District Dmitriy Kozak. Based on the same source, the agency says Dzasokhov would “continue representing the republic in Federal institutions” although his new role is not …
Soros Speaks of Georgia Visit
George Soros: a new comprehensive anti-corruption program planned in Georgia Billionaire, philanthropist George Soros, who visited Georgian on May 29-31 said before departure, that he is leaving Tbilisi with “a great sense of satisfaction both with the advances made by the government and by the work” of his Foundation – Open Society – Georgia Foundation …
Opposition Wants Group of MPs to Probe into Zhvania’s Death
Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze deemed opposition MPs request, to set up a special parliamentary investigative commission to probe into the death of late Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, unnecessary citing the fact that the official investigation of the case is still underway. A similar request made by the opposition parliamentarians in February was also turned …
Opposition Worried Over Russo-Georgian Anti-Terrorist Center
Parliamentarians from the opposition New Rights and Republican parties expressed concern at the Parliament?s session on May 31 about that part of a joint declaration of Russian and Georgian Foreign Ministers signed in Moscow on Monday, which deals with setting up of anti-terrorist center. Opposition MPs fear that this provision might be used by Russia …
CIS Chief Executive Visits Georgia
Executive Secretary of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Vladimir Rushailo will arrive in Tbilisi on May 31, ahead of planned summit of head of governments of the CIS member countries, which will be opened in Tbilisi on June 3. CIS chief executive will familiarize with the process of preparation of this summit, which is …
Lithuanian Defense Minister Visits Georgia
Defense Minister of Lithuania Gediminas Kirkilas arrived in Tbilisi on May 31 to discuss with the Georgian counterpart bilateral cooperation. He told reporters upon arrival that Lithuania can share its experience of integration into North-Atlantic structures. This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
Saakashvili Speaks of ‘Historic’ Moscow Declaration on Bases
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said at a news conference on May 30 that a political agreement reached between Georgian and Russian Foreign Ministers on Monday in Moscow over withdrawal of Russian bases from Georgia, is “a historic event” which will mark the end of “200 years of presence of Russian troops in Georgia.” According to …
Tags: Salome Zurabishvili
30/05/2005 - 21:39
Tbilisi, Tskhinvali to Jointly Investigate S.Ossetia Shootout
Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Goga Khaindrava said after the session of a quadripartite Joint Control Commission (JCC), which was held in Tskhinvali on May 30, that ?the Georgian and South Ossetian sides are interested? in investigating the clash, which resulted in death of four Ossetian armed men and one Georgian policeman on …
Russo-Georgian Joint Declaration – Details
The Russian and Georgian Foreign Ministries published a joint declaration, which outlines the process of withdrawal of two Russian military bases from Georgia. It also deals with border delimitation and conflict resolution issues. This joint declaration was signed by Foreign Ministers Sergey Lavrov and Salome Zourabichvili, after talks in Moscow on May 30. According to the declaration, Russia has …
Tags: Salome Zurabishvili
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This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)