Archive
Search results
Page 593 of 766
Prosecutors Seek 12-Year Jail Sentence for Ex-Energy Minister
Prosecutors sought, on March 7, twelve years of imprisonment for former Georgian Energy Minister Davit Mirtskhulava, who is accused of misuse of power while serving in office from 2000-2003. Mirtskhulava, who denies the accusations, claims that the prosecutors have failed to prove his guilt. His lawyer, Eka Beselia, told reporters on March 7, that Mirtskhulava refused …
08/03/2005 - 10:36
Russian Military Bases Face Being Outlawed
The Georgian Parliament will discuss a draft resolution, on March 9, envisaging an announcement that will declare the Russian military bases stationed in Georgia illegal. The draft resolution sets January 1, 2006 as the deadline for the pullout of 3,000 Russian soldiers and the closure of the Russia bases in Batumi, in the Adjara Autonomous Republic, and Akhalkalaki, in the south-western part of …
07/03/2005 - 21:20
Parliament to Discuss Declaring Russian Bases Illegal
On March 9, the Parliament will discuss a draft declaration calling for outlawing of the Russian military bases; the decision to discuss this issue was made on March 7 during a meeting of the parliamentary bureau that plans the schedule for the upcoming week in the legislature. One of the sponsors of the declaration, MP Giga Bokeria, told the News-Georgia agency that …
U.S. Senate Committee to Discuss Democracy in Black Sea Region
The U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations will hold a hearing on March 8 regarding “the Future of Democracy in the Black Sea Area.” John F. Tefft, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs; Bruce P. Jackson, the President of Project on Transitional Democracies; Vladimir Socor, Senior Fellow Jamestown Foundation and Zeyno Baran, Director …
Chief of Staff Confident Georgia will Pave the Way to NATO MAP
Commander of the General Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces Levan Nikoleishvili said he is ?sure? that after successful accomplishment of two-year reform targets envisaged by the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) with NATO, Georgia will start implementation of its Membership Action Plan (MAP) with NATO. ?We are thoroughly following the action plan, however particular flaws still exist …
NGOs Submit Draft Amendments to Election Legislation
The draft law on the amendments and additions to the Election Code of Georgia prepared by the non-governmental organizations was discussed during the meeting at the Open Society – Georgia Foundation on February 26. The discussions over making amendments to the Election Code of Georgia were launched last November, when the Parliamentary Committee for Legal …
NATO Mission to Assess Georgia’s IPAP Implementation
A team of experts from NATO will arrive in Georgian on March 7 to assess implementation of Georgia’s Individual Partnership Action Plan with NATO.The North Atlantic Council, which is the decision-making body of NATO, approved Georgia’s IPAP, which establishes specific defense and political reform goals for Georgian government, last October. This post is also available …
Georgia, Russian Energy Giant to Sign 5-Year Cooperation Plan
Andrey Rappoport, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Russia’s state-owned energy giant Unified Energy System (UES) met with Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli in Tbilisi on March 5 and discussed potential cooperation between the two countries in the energy sphere. The Russian energy giant, which already owns 75% of the shares in the electricity distribution company …
06/03/2005 - 16:22
Georgia, Ukraine Discussed Military Cooperation
Visiting Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili and Secretary of National Security Council Gela Bezhuashvili met with Ukrainian Defense Minister Anatoly Gretsko on March 5. Bilateral military cooperation, particularly training of Georgian officers in the Ukrainian military collages, as well as use of Ukrainian military factories for repairing of Georgian military hardware, was discussed during the …
Problematic Issue of Minorities living in Azerbaijan
The session of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly will be held in late April. Georgia’s commitments undertaken upon accession to the Council of Europe in 1999 over repatriation of deported Meskhetians to Georgia is expected to top the agenda. However, the Georgian delegation is going to push forward the issue of Georgians living in …
Adjara TV Chief Resigns, Amid Censorship Accusations
Zaza Khalvashi, chief of state-owned Adjara TV in the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, and his deputy Avto Gadakhabadze resigned on March 5, after a group of journalists quitted the television, ?citing strict censorship.? Chairman of the Autonomous Republic?s government Levan Varshalomidze appointed Evgeny Tavdgiridze as a chief of the Adjara TV. Tavdgiridze, a local journalists …
05/03/2005 - 19:01
Saakashvili, Berlusconi Discussed Economic Ties
After talks with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on March 4, visiting Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili called the Italian businessmen to invest in Georgia, adding that Silvio Berlusconi agreed to visit Georgia this May to further boost economic ties between the two countries. ?Italy has a great amount of free capital and we should achieve attracting …
Bagapsh: Privatization will Continue in Abkhazia
President of breakaway Abkhazia said in an interview with the Regnum news agency on March 4 that authorities of unrecognized republic will continue privatization process in Abkhazia, despite Tbilisi warnings that privatized assets will be confiscated after restoration of Georgia?s territorial integrity. ?We will certainly continue privatization process and the new leadership [of Abkhazia] is …
Security Council Chief Visits Ukraine
Secretary of the Georgian National Security Council Gela Bezhuashvili left for Ukraine on a three-day working visit on March 5 to discuss bilateral relationship with the Ukrainian officials. During the visit Bezhuashvili will hold talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Piotr Poroshchenko, as well as with the Ukrainian Defense and Foreign Ministers. This post is also …
Protest against Russian bases in Batumi
On 4 March, 2005 NGO representatives, members of Kmara as well as students held the demonstration near the Russian military base. The protesters were demanding the withdrawal of the Russian bases from Georgia. “If Georgia is an independent country and we want to protect our territories, Georgian soldiers should stand where the Russians are at present,” protesters said …
Baku, Tbilisi Agree to Unblock Train Traffic for Georgian Freight
Azerbaijan will unblock train traffic for Georgian freight, Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli said after talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev Hundreds of train cars loaded with fuel and grain en route to Georgia have been stuck in Azerbaijan since last November. Azerbaijan feared that some of the freight could have been imported to Armenia …
Governmental Groups to Coordinate IPAP Implementation
Four working groups have been set up in the Georgian government in order to coordinate implementation of those four major directions of reforms, which are outlined by Georgia?s Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) with NATO. These groups are as follow: 1. Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili will be in charge of political and security issues.2. Defense Minister Irakli …
04/03/2005 - 20:53
Russia Accuses Georgia of Hampering Talks over Military Bases
In an information note issued on March 4 the Russian Foreign Ministry accused Georgia side of ?complicating process of negotiations? over the pull out of Russian military bases from Georgia. The information note reads that recent statements made by the Georgian officials over possible blockade of Russian military bases triggers ?concerns.? In an interview with …
Independent Commission Set up in Pankisi Gorge
During the latest refugee registration up to one thousand persons were deprived of a refugee status. This became apparent after the Georgian Ombudsman’s visit to Pankisi on February 26, 2005. In the opinion of the refugees, it is a result of prevailed biasness and lawlessness. On initiative of Public Defender Sozar Subari, an independent commission …
Russian Defense Minister Comments on Pre-Emptive Strike
Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov said Russia has never named Georgia as ?a concrete? target of pre-emptive strikes, RIA Novosti news agency reported on March 4. The Russian Defense Minister commented regarding the statements by the Georgian official calling for international border monitoring operation, citing threat of pre-emptive strikes by Russia. ?This issue is constantly …
Government Briefs MPs over IPAP Implementation
Representatives from the Interior, Defense Foreign Ministries, as well as from the National Security Council are briefing parliamentarians over the implementation of Georgia?s Individual Partnership Action Plan with NATO at the hearing of the Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Security on March 4. Hearing is held beyond the closed doors. ?IPAP is classified, hence the …
More Journalists Quit Adjara TV
Ten more journalist announced on March 4 that they quit state-owned Adjara Autonomous Republic?s local television station Adjara TV, citing pressure and censorship from the authorities. Protest rally by a group of journalists was held in Batumi, shortly after chief of the news program Nata Imedaishvili and three other journalists of the state-owned television Ajdara …
Russian Military Official Visit Abkhazia
Valery Yevnevich, Deputy Commander of the Russian Land Forces, in charge of Russian peacekeeping operations, arrived in breakaway Abkhazia on March 3, Abkhaz news agency Apsnypress reported. He has already inspected Russian peacekeeping forces, deployed in the conflict zone under auspices of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) …
Moscow Claims Tbilisi Triggers EU, Russia ‘Confrontation’
In an information note issued on March 3 the Russian Foreign Ministry accused Tbilisi of an attempts aiming at “confronting the European Union with Russia” over the Russian-Georgian border monitoring issue. Particularly, the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed concern regarding Georgia’s recent request to the European Union over sending international monitors to the Russian-Georgian border and Georgian …
Zourabichvili Comments on International Border Monitoring
In an interview with the Tbilisi-based Rustavi 2 television on March 3, Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili said that ?active discussions are underway in European Union? over the issue of international monitoring of the Russo-Georgian border. OSCE Border Operation Mission (BMO) was suspended at the 280 km Daghestani, Chechen and Ingush sections of the Russian-Georgian …
Tags: Salome Zurabishvili
Georgian PM Visits Azerbaijan
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli will leave for Azerbaijani capital Baku on March 4 for a two day official visit. Nogaideli will meet with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Deputy Prime Minister Abbas Abbasov. This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
Adjara Leadership Accused of Media Censorship, ‘Clan-Based’ Governance
The local authorities in the Adjara Autonomous Republic are facing their first major crisis since taking power almost one year ago. A group of journalists rallied in Adjara’s main town of Batumi on March 3 to protest against, as they put it, “strict censorship” and pressure from on the local television station from the authorities. Meanwhile, on the same day, a …
03/03/2005 - 23:58
Saakashvili Calls on Italian Businessmen to Invest in Georgia
After talks with his Italian counterpart Carlo Azeglio on March 3, visiting Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili called on Italian businessmen to invest in Georgia. ?Our visit?s goal is to make Georgia more popular. We hope that many Italian businessmen will arrive in Georgia and invest in small, medium and large business,? Saakashvili said at a joint …
Ruling Party Official Accuses Adjarian Leader of Nepotism
Member of the legislative body of the Adjara Autonomous Republic ? the Supreme Council, Eka Kherkheulidze, who is also the member of the ruling National Movement Party, accused Chairman of the Autonomous Republic?s government Levan Varshalomidze of appointing his relatives on the official positions. Adjarian parliamentarian Eka Kherkheulidze said at a news conference on March …
Chisinau Declaration of the Presidents of Georgia and the Republic of Moldova: Against the “Black Holes” in Europe
2.03.2005 The Georgia and Republic of Moldova reaffirm the need for full respect of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all States and the inviolability of international borders, requiring continued international efforts in accordance with the United Nations Charter, the commitments of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the fundamental principles of international …
Chisinau Declaration of the Presidents of Georgia and the Republic of Moldova on the Supremacy of Democratic Values and Principles
2.03.2005 The people of Georgia and the Republic of Moldova affirm their strong support for the principles and values of democracy, recognizing representative democracy to be the most sound model of fair and effective governance. We hereby affirm democracy to be the only form of government that can guarantee the establishment of strong states, who …
Journalists Quit Adjara TV, Citing Pressure
Chief of the news program Nata Imedaishvili and three other journalists of the state-owned television in Ajdara Autonomous Republic quitted the company, citing pressure from the television?s leadership. ?For past three months Zaza Khalvashi [the chief of Adjara TV] has been personally putting pressure on the news program and strict censorship,? Nata Imedaishvili told Rustavi 2 …
STOP NOW – New Anti-Trafficking Initiative
On March 1, 2005 the Georgian NGO Human Rights Information and Documentation Center held a presentation of the new STOP NOW anti-trafficking project. The project was launched this February and is being implemented in partnership with the Center of Research and Action on Peace (KEDE) (Greece). The project is financed by the International Economic Relations …
Georgia, NATO Sign Transit Agreement
Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili and NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer signed an agreement on March 2 in Brussels, envisaging use of Georgia?s air space, road and rail infrastructure for transit purposes by NATO to send supplies necessary for the sustainment of NATO forces in Afghanistan. ?Georgia’s decision to reach this agreement is …
Tbilisi, Sokhumi Discuss Enguri Power Plant Rehabilitation
Georgian Energy Minister Nika Gilauri will hold talks with the officials from breakaway Abkhazia on March 3, to discuss rehabilitation of the Enguri hydro power plant, which is located at the administrative border between Abkhazia and rest of Georgia. The meeting, which is taking place in Gali district of Abkhazia, will focus on security of …
Reports: Patarkatsishvili May Leave Georgia
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Georgian service reported on March 2 that Tbilisi-based influential financial and media tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili who has invested tens of millions of U.S. dollars in the Georgian economy over last few years, may emigrate from Georgia into Ukraine. Patarkatsishvili, who is wanted by Russia for fraud allegations, arrived in Georgia …
Saakashvili Visits Italy
Following a visit to Moldova, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili left for Italy on an official visit on March 3. The Georgian President?s press office reports, that Saakashvili will hold talks with his Italian counterpart Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, President of the Italian Senate Marcello Pera and other officials. The Georgian President will …
Tbilisi, Chisinau Condemn Separatist Conflicts, Agree on Promoting Democracy, Reforming GUUAM
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and his Moldovan counterpart Vladimir Voronin signed two joint declarations – one about the supremacy of democratic values and another regarding the secessionist conflicts- in Moldova’s capital Chisinau on March 2. The two Presidents also discussed reforming GUUAM and agreed to hold a summit of the coalition in Chisinau in April.Saakashvili’s first-ever …
Saakashvili, Voronin Sign Joint Declarations on Democracy, Secessionist Conflicts
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and his Moldovan counterpart Vladimir Voronin signed on March 2 in Moldova?s capital Chisinau two joint declarations ? one about the supremacy of democratic values and another regarding the secessionist conflicts. The joint Declaration over the Supremacy of Democratic Values and Principles is similar to that one signed by Saakashvili and …
02/03/2005 - 22:37
Georgian Foreign Minister Meets EU Foreign Policy Chief
Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili met with Javier Solana, the European Union High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy in Brussels on March 2. Bilateral EU-Georgia, as well as Georgian-Russian relations and situation on the Georgian-Russian border after the termination of the OSCE Border Monitoring Operation (BMO) there was discussed. The EU foreign …
European Commission Outlines Reform Goals for Georgia
The European Commission (EC) recommended to significantly intensify relations with Georgia through the development of an Action Plan under the EU?s Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), the European Commission?s Delegation to Georgia and Armenia reported on March 2. This recommendation is based on the Commission?s Country Report published on March 2, which provides a comprehensive overview of …
Government Unveils Plan over Privatization of Energy Facilities
At the cabinet session on March 2 Georgian State Minister for Economic Reform Issues Kakha Bendukidze announced that the government plans to unite most of the state-owned energy facilities into one company in an attempt to privatize it. He said income totaling to around 200 million Lari (approximately USD 108,6 million) is expected from this …
Opposition Discusses Cooperation
Leader of the radical opposition Labor Party Shalva Natelashvili met with the leadership of opposition public-political movement Go Forward Georgia on March 2 to discuss cooperation.One of the leaders of the movement, former parliamentarians Irakli Batiashvili told reporters after that there is need of cooperation between the opposition parties and movements, especially against the background …
Regional Governors Reshuffled
MP from the ruling National Movement party Vasil Maglaperidze has was appointed on March 2 as the Governor of Mtskheta-Mtianeti region in central Georgia, replacing Goga Khachidze. The latter was appointed as the Governor of Samtskhe-Javakheti, a region in south-western part of Georgia, which is pre-dominantly populated by ethnic Armenians. Official gave no reasons behind …
Georgia Among Top Recipients of U.S. Military Financing
U.S. General James Jones, the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR) and the Commander of the United States European Command said while speaking at the hearing of the U.S. Senate?s Committee on Armed Services on March 1 that Georgia is among top recipients of the U.S. military assistance. ?Poland, Georgia, Romania and Bulgaria are among our …
U.S. Top Military Official Speaks of Caucasus Importance
U.S. General James Jones, the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR) and the Commander of the United States European Command, said that the Caucasus ?is increasing importance? to the United States? interests. Gen. Jones was speaking at the hearing of the U.S. Senate?s Committee on Armed Services on March 1. ?The Caucasus is increasing important to our …
Georgian, Moldovan Presidents to Sign Joint Document
During his visit to Moldova on March 2 Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and his Moldovan counterpart Vladimir Voronin will sign a joint document, Medea Akhalkatsi, head of the Georgian President?s Press Office told Civil Georgia. She did not elaborated about the details of this document; however some reports indicate that this will be similar to …
Saakashvili Visits Moldova
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili will meet his Moldovan counterpart Vladimir Voronin in Chisinau on March 2, one day after the latter paid a surprise visit to Kiev, where he met with Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko. This series of talks comes just four days before parliamentary elections in Moldova, scheduled for March 6.Saakashvili’s visit to Moldova was also …
South Ossetian Side Wants to Expel OSCE Tskhinvali Office Head
Special Affairs Minister of breakaway South Ossetian Boris Chochiev told Rustavi 2 television that the South Ossetian side demands expulsion of Bulgarian diplomat Gancho Ganchev, who heads the OSCE office in the capital of unrecognized republic Tskhinvali. ?The South Ossetian side considers assessments made by him [Gancho Ganchev] as biased,? Boris Chochiev said. The Georgian …
Russian Paper: Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine Form ‘Anti-Russian Alliance’
In an article published on March 2 the Russian daily Nezavisimaya Gazeta says that three countries of Commonwealth of Independent States – Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine “are forming anti-Russian triple alliance.”The newspaper notes that surprise visit of Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin to Ukraine on March 1, ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled in Moldova on March 6, …
Page 593 of 766
This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)