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Russian Officials Call for Talks to Solve Issue of Military Bases
Chairman of the Russian Parliament?s lower house Committee for Foreign Affairs Konstantin Kosachev expressed hope, during an interview with the Russian Echo Moskvy radio station on February 26, that Georgia?s ?threats? regarding an announcement that the Russian military bases on the Georgian territory are illegal ?will not become Georgia?s real policy.? In an interview with the Rustavi 2 television company, …
27/02/2005 - 15:42
Newspaper Speculates on ‘Split’ in Ruling Party
In its front-page article the Georgian daily Rezonansi (Resonance) comments on a recent split in the ruling National Movement party?s Adjara branch, which resulted in the withdrawal of membership by several leading party activists. The newspaper speculates that disagreements within the ruling party will continue and lead to futher defections. ?A total of 12 parliamentarians have …
26/02/2005 - 16:45
Russia Blames Georgia for ‘Foiled’ BLACKSEAFOR Naval Meeting
In a statement issued on February 25, the Russian Foreign Ministry accused Georgia of failing to issue visas in a timely fashion for Russian officials who were planning to participate in a meeting of the Black Sea Naval Cooperation Task Group, or BLACKSEAFOR, scheduled for February 22-25 in Tbilisi. “The Russian side considers these kinds of actions by the Georgian …
Georgian Lawyers Establish New Bar Association
A founding session of the Georgian Lawyers? Association was convened on February 26 in Tbilisi. The newly set up organization is designed to become a strong lobby group of Georgian lawyers, mainly uniting defense attorneys. Michael Greco, President-elect of the American Bar Association in Georgia, attended the founding session of the Association. ?It will be a powerful organization …
Professional Unions Hand Over Part of its Assets to the State
Professional Unions of Georgia handed over 90% of its assets to the state, Georgian Economy Minister Lexo Alexishvili said at a news briefing on February 26.?We have received a list of 49 facilities formerly owned by the Professional Unions, but we think there are more facilities than these 49,? Alexishvili said.The Professional Unions assets include 55 facilities …
Final Vote Passed to Increase Term of Military Service
With a 124 to 4 vote the Parliament approved amendment, in its third and final hearing, to the Law on Military Service on February 25, envisaging increase of compulsory military service from current 12 to 18 months. The amendment will not apply to those conscripts, who have already been recruited in the army. This increase …
Abkhaz Interior Minister Appointed
President of breakaway Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh appointed on February 26 Otar Khatsia as the unrecognized republic?s Interior Minister, Apsnipress reported. Previously, Khatsia served as a chief of police in Abkhaz capital Sokhumi. Appointment of Otar Khatsia has become one of the reasons of disagreement between President Bagapsh and Vice-President Raul Khajimba. Khajimba told Apsnypress that …
Georgian, Russian Border Guards Meet in Daghestan
The representatives from Russia?s North Caucasian Regional Border Guard Service and the Georgian Border Guard Department will hold talks in Russia?s Republic of Daghestan on February 26. The Georgian Border Guard Department reports that the sides will exchange information and develop a plan of interaction on the Daghestani section of the Russian-Georgian border. This post …
Saakashvili Downplays Concerns over Privatization of Gas Pipes
President Saakashvili announced at a government?s meeting on February 25, that no final decision has been made regarding privatization of country?s pipeline system, however added, that the government ?considers all the possible commercial proposals.? In his earlier statement, which Saakashvili made in an interview with the Italian newspaper La Stampa on February 20, the President …
25/02/2005 - 21:41
Government Launches Program to Overcome Energy Crisis
President Saakashvili convened late on February 25 an emergency meeting of the government to discuss, as he put it, the energy crisis which persists in the country. Currently, only the capital Tbilisi enjoys with round-the-clock electricity supply, while in other regions and cities of Georgia electricity supply is limited. ?We [the current government] have not …
UN Official for Human Rights Visited Georgia
Manfred Nowak, UN Human Rights Commissioner?s Special Rapporteur on Torture, who paid a fact-finding visit to Georgia, said at a news briefing on February 25 that the cases of torture by the law-enforcement agencies still take place, ?however, the authorities have pledged to eradicate such facts.? He also expressed concern that in Georgia a pretrial …
State Minister Reports on Developments in South Ossetia
Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Gogi Khaindrava, who is in charge of talks with the authorities in Georgia’s breakaway South Ossetia, addressed parliamentarians on February 24 and briefed them regarding the recent developments in the conflict zone. He described the situation there as relatively clam, adding that there is currently “a pause” in …
Ruling Party Official in Adjara Quits National Movement
Davit Batsikadze, one of the leading officials of the ruling National Movement party in the Adjara Autonomous Republic, quit his party on February 25 ? just one day after a group of National Movement party activists in Adjara announced that they withdraw thier party membership. Davit Batsikadze, who was the Deputy Chairman of the National Movement?s parliamentary faction …
Officials Deny Anticipated Structural Changes in Cabinet
On February 25, officials denied that a restructuring of the government is anticipated in the near future. The Georgian media recently speculated that an expected government reshuffle would involve plans to abolish the State Ministers? positions. ?I can tell you for sure that this information is not true,? Goga Khaindrava, the State Minister in charge of conflict resolution issues, told …
Official Denies Resignation of Energy Minister
Spokesperson for the Georgian President, Alana Gagloeva, denied media speculations that Energy Minister Nika Gilauri will be dismissed, referring to these rumors as ?groundless.? ?These reports are not true; hence reports that Irakli Chubinishvili [chief of the President?s administration] will be appointed as the new Energy Minister are not true as well,? Alana Gagloeva said. Nika Gilauri …
Khajimba Says Bagapsh Violated Law, Power-Sharing Agreement
Vice President of Abkhazia Raul Khajimba told Apsnypress that appointments to the cabinet of ministers made by de facto President Sergey Bagapsh on February 24-25 violated the law on mandate of the Vice-President and the power-sharing agreement signed which brought the two politicians to power, with Russian mediation, on December 6, 2004. According to the Vice President, …
Saakashvili Calls to Boost ‘Patriotic Spirit’ of Nation
President Mikheil Saakashvili met with various Georgian sportsmen and representatives of the intelligentsia on February 24 in an attempt to support the initiative launched by parliamentarian Gia Tortladze aiming at creating a movement “to assist the Georgian army and increase the patriotic spirit of the nation.” Saakashvili said that now Georgia has “a unique chance for reunification.” “We …
Abkhaz Finance Minister Appointed
On February 24 President of breakaway Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh appointed Beslan Kubrava as the Finance Minister of the unrecognized republic. He will also serve as the Vice-Premier, the Abkhaz news agency Apsnipress reported. Beslan Kubrava was the Abkhaz Vice-Premier in 2001. Abkhaz President Bagapsh has also signed a decree regarding the structure of the government, according to which …
Abkhaz Vice-Premier Appointed
President of breakaway Abkhazia appointed Leonid Lakerbaya as the Vice-Premier of the unrecognized republic, Regnum news agency reported on February 24. Leonid Lakerbaya is one of the co-chairman of the influential political movement Aitaira (the Revival). He was the acting Prime Minister of Abkhazia in 1992-93 and the Deputy Prime Minister following that. In 1995 he …
24/02/2005 - 21:28
State Minister: Demilitarization Halted in South Ossetia
Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Goga Khaindrava said, while addressing the parliamentary session on February 24, that the demilitarization process in the South Ossetian conflict zone, agreed upon during a meeting between the unrecognized republic?s de facto President Eduard Kokoity and late Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania last November, has been halted. ?There is a pause [in …
State Minister Speaks of Necessity of Following Agreements over South Ossetia
Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Goga Khaindrava said, while addressing the parliamentarians on February 24, that in certain cases the Georgian side has violated an agreement which prohibits the deployment of extra troops in the South Ossetian conflict zone. ?For example, the deployment of a training camp for the reserve forces in the village of …
Bagapsh Denies Disagreements with Khajimba
On February 24 President of breakaway Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh denied that the formation of the new cabinet in the de facto republic triggered a disagreement with Vice-President Raul Khajimba.A group of opposition parties organized under the Forum of National Unity claimed that President Bagapsh turned down several candidates proposed by Vice President Khajimba for the positions of …
Chief of Russian Railway Calls for Restoration of Link via Abkhazia
Chief of the state-run Russian Railway Company Genadi Fadeev said on February 24 that restoration of the railway link through Georgia?s breakaway republic of Abkhazia ?will be the key for resolving problems in the Caucasus,? RIA Novosti news agency reported. The railway link via Abkhazia has been defunct for the past eleven years, after the armed conflict …
Official Denies Imereti Governor Resignation
On February 24 the Georgian President?s spokesperson Alana Gagloeva denied that Governor of Imereti region Gia Getsadze filed his resignation ?No resignation has been filed. Mr. Getsadze just does not feel well,? Alana Gagloeva announced. This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
Bush Hails Georgia, Ukraine Revolutions Ahead of Talks with Putin
In his speech on February 24 in the Slovak capital Bratislava, U.S. President George W. Bush praised Georgia?s Rose Revolution and Orange Revolution in Ukraine as ?landmark events in the history of liberty.? Bush made his address to the Slovaks in a Bratislava square ahead of his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, scheduled for February 24. ?In …
IMF Mission Visits Georgia
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) Mission, led by Paulo Neuhaus, arrived in Georgia on February 24 to discuss the current fiscal situation in the country. The implementation of the Poverty Reduction and Economic Growth Program, the current monetary policy and budgetary targets for 2005 will be discussed during the talks with the President of the National Bank of …
Igor Ivanov: Georgia’s Rose Revolution “against Values and Principles” of CoE, OSCE
Secretary of Russia’s Security Council Igor Ivanov said in a statement distributed by the Press Office of the Security Council of Russia that there is no reason to expect that the events like those in Georgia and Ukraine would affect other CIS states. “This is not a trend,” said Ivanov. At the same time, Ivanov argued: “Do …
Reports: Imereti Governor Files Resignation
The Georgian media reported on February 24 that Governor of the western Georgian region of Imereti Gia Getsadze has filed his resignation. No official confirmation has been made yet nor has any reason for this decision been reported. However, the Georgian daily 24 Hours speculated on February 24 that this resignation by Getsadze, who was appointed …
Opposition Alleges Bagapsh is Violating Coalition Agreement with Khajimba
A group of opposition parties organized under the “Forum of National Unity” slammed Abkhaz President Sergey Bagapsh, alleging that the de facto republic’s new President is violating the coalition agreement forged with Vice President Raul Khajimba. The statement, distributed by the Abkhaz news agency Apsnypress, notes that according to the agreement, Vice-President Khajimba has to submit candidates for the position of Ministers …
US Ambassador Promises to Help Abkhaz Side Solve Alasania “Dilemma”
US Ambassador Richard Miles, who visited Abkhazia to meet with the newly elected local leadership there, told Apsnypress on February 23 he would try to help solve the controversy surrounding the appointment of Irakli Alasania as President Mikheil Saakashvili’s special representative in Abkhaz-Georgian talks. The Abkhaz leadership refuses to acknowledge Alasania as a counterpart in negotiations, …
Of Pipes and Men
Plans to Sell Trunk Gas Pipelines Stir Controversy Negotiations between the Georgian leadership and the Russian energy giant Gazprom over the potential sale of Georgia’s main gas pipeline network are currently underway. The United States calls on Georgia to excercise caution when making a final decision.News about the government’s decision to privatize Georgia’s gas pipeline …
Burjanadze to Attend OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Session
A group of Georgian parliamentarians, led by Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze, left for Vienna on February 24 to attend the Winter Meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. Burjanadze said the Georgian delegation will push the issue of the OSCE Border Monitoring Operation on the Russo-Georgian border, which has been suspended because of Russia?s veto, as well …
U.S. Senior Official Comments on Georgia’s Plans to Privatize Gas Lines
In an interview with the Georgian daily 24 Hours published on February 24 the U.S. President’s Advisor for Caspian Energy Issues Stephan Mann said that the Georgian leadership should be cautious over privatizing the country’s gas pipeline system. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said Georgia is negotiating with the Russian energy giant Gazprom over a potential sale …
PM Comments on Privatization of Gas Pipeline
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli did not rule out a possible privatization of Georgia?s gas pipeline system, but added that the government has no plans to consider this issue ?in the near future.? ?We have not discussed this issue [at the government session] and do not intend to discuss it in the near future,? Nogaideli …
23/02/2005 - 20:03
EU Team Studies Results of BMO Suspension
An assessment team from the European Union will visit Georgia from February 23-27 to assess the results of the suspension of the OSCE Border Monitoring Operation (BMO) at the Russo-Georgian border. The team, which is led by Peter Feith, Deputy Director-General of the European Union Council for European Security, Defense Policy and Operations is due to …
U.S. Funds Construction of Facilities for Georgian Troops
Through the employment of U.S. financial assistance, construction and improvement of military facilities, including five barracks that house a total of 650 soldiers at the Krtsanisi training center near Tbilisi, was launched on February 23. This is a part of a large-scale U.S. military assistance program which has been allocated a total of USD 60.5 million …
Ex-Rector Released on Bail
On February 23 the Tbilisi District Court ruled to release Merab Beridze, ex-Rector of Tbilisi State University?s branch in the southern Georgian town of Akhaltsikhe, after a group of parliamentarians appealed the Court with the request to release Beridze into their custody. The charges have not been dropped from Beridze and investigation is in process. The …
Time Short, Options Narrowing, Call Needed for a New Georgia BMO
Re-posted from the Jamestown Foundation web-site Two months after Russia killed the OSCE’s Georgia Border Monitoring Operation (BMO) — and many months after Moscow had served advance notice of that move — Georgia’s Western partners are still bogged down in inconsequential talk about organizing a substitute operation. Only two months remain until the spring thaw …
Term of Military Service Increased
On February 23 the Georgian Parliament approved, with a 131 to 13 vote, a governmental proposal to increase the term of compulsory military service from the current 12 to 18 months, less than four months after the parliamentarians supported a reduction of the term of service. In October, 2004 the Georgian Parliament approved amendments to the law on Compulsory …
Georgian Defense Minister Meets Turkish President, Defense Minister
Visiting Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili held talks with Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi G?n?l in Ankara on February 22, the Turkish Daily News reported. Irakli Okruashvili emphasized that cooperation with Turkey is of vital importance for Georgia and expressed hope that the military assistance, which Turkey provides Georgia, will …
Parliament Eases Requirements for Establishing the Faction
The number of parliamentarians required to set up a parliamentary faction has been downsized from ten to seven as a result of a constitutional amendment unanimously approved by the Parliament on February 23. This new rule will only apply to the next Parliament, which will be convened in 2008, it is linked to Parliament’s previous decision to downsize the number …
New Chairman of the Supreme Court Approved
The Parliament endorsed Kote Kublashvili as the new Chairman of the Supreme Court of Georgia for a 10-year term on February 23. The New Rights opposition faction, which was against this nomination, abstained from voting. Kote Kublashvili said at the Parliament session that he will focus “on perfecting and strengthening the judiciary system’s independence, as …
Final Vote Passed on Reducing the Number of MP Seats
With a 181 to 2 vote today, the Georgian Parliament endorsed a constitutional amendment, in its third and final hearing, regarding the reduction of the total number of MP seats from 235 to 150. According to this amendment, 100 MPs will be elected through a proportional, party-list system, while 50 MPs will be elected in first-past-the-post constituencies. The amendment will apply …
Georgia Reopens U.S. Diplomat Murder Case
The Georgian media reported that the General Prosecutor?s Office has reopened the murder case of Freddy Woodruff, an officer of the political department of the US Embassy in Tbilisi, who was assassinated in Georgia more than ten years ago. Freddy Woodruff, who was reportedly a CIA agent, was shot in August 1993 in his car outside …
Interior Minister Visits U.S.
Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili left for the United States on a two-day working visit late on February 22. Merabishvili will hold talks with officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). ?The issues of the bilateral cooperation will be discussed with the FBI officials,? Vano Merabishvili told reporters before his departure. This post is also …
Putin: No Need to ‘Plant Permanent Revolutions’
In an interview with Slovak journalists ahead of his visit to Slovakia, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on February 22 that Russia has its interests in the Commonwealth of Independent States and there is no need, as he put it, “to plant permanent revolutions” in the post Soviet space.His comments followed a question regarding the creation of …
Saakashvili: Bush’s Statement is a ‘New Political Reality’ for Georgia
In a statement issued on February 22 Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili hailed U.S. President George W. Bush’s address to the European leaders in Brussels wherein the latter called for more assistance to Georgia and Ukraine, the Georgian President’s spokesperson Alana Gagloeva said on Tuesday. “Making special emphasis on Georgia and Ukraine in the context of relations …
22/02/2005 - 20:01
Official from Alenia Marconi Systems Visits Georgia
Paolo Prudente, the Managing Director of Air Traffic Management and Airport Systems, which is one of the divisions of the UK-Italian giant Alenia Marconi Systems (AMS), arrived in Georgian on February 22 for a two day visit. The AMS is currently installing new air traffic control systems for the Georgian Air Navigation Service. The project also …
South Ossetian Leader: We do not Trust Saakashvili
President of breakaway South Ossetia said, in an interview with the Russian news agency Regnum on February 22, that the South Ossetian side does not believe that Tbilisi will implement the proposal unveiled by President Mikheil Saakashvili during his address to the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe in January, concerning Tbilisi”s readiness to grant South Ossetia broad autonomy. …
State Minister: No Threat in Privatizing Gas Pipelines
State Minister for Economic Reform Issues Kakha Bendukidze said on February 22 that privatization of the gas pipeline system poses no threat to Georgia?s energy security. He said that along with Russian energy giant Gazprom, which is eyeing Georgia’s gas pipeline system, the consortium that is heading-up the construction of the U.S.-backed Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline can also …
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This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)