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JCC Held Talks with Zhvania
The collective co-Chairmen of the Joint Control Commission (JCC) over the South Ossetian conflict resolution issues held a meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania on December 23. The JCC is hldin sessions in Tbilisi to discuss the ongoing situation in the South Ossetian conflict zone from December 22-23. The co-chairmen of the commission, which includes representatives …
23/12/2004 - 16:48
Government Restructuring Plan Submitted to Parliament
The government submitted a draft law over structural reforms of the government, envisaging the merger of the Security and Interior Ministries, to the Parliament on December 23 . ?According to the draft law, the State Security Ministry will be abolished. Most of the functions of the Security Ministry will be transferred to the Interior Ministry,? Justice …
Monitoring Groups Set up to Inspect Penitentiary System
Georgian Ombudsman Sozar Subeliani and incoming Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili signed, on December 23, a memorandum envisaging the setting up of special monitoring groups to observe human rights in the penitentiary system. “Monitoring groups are set up in different parts of Georgia and their activity in monitoring detention cells will cover almost the entire country. We have …
Putin for Finalizing Framework Agreement with Georgia
Russian President Vladimir Putin said, during a press conference that followed the finalization of a framework agreement, that the Georgian and Russian Presidents may exchange state visits. “I fully agree with Mikheil Nikolaevitch [Saakashvili] that we should now prioritize the preparation of a framework agreement between Russia and Georgia. Depending on how this work proceeds, we will decide the …
Putin Comments on Georgia, Situation in Breakaway Abkhazia
Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a news briefing at the Kremlin on December 23 that Russia has contributed to the settlement of the recent political crisis in Abkhazia, which erupted after the disputed October 3 presidential elections. ?By uniting the conflicting sides Russian mediators managed to [help Abkhazia] avoid a possible armed confrontation in the region. What …
USD 72 Thousand Stolen from Fire Department
Three armed men robbed one of the offices of the Fire Department in the center of the capital Tbilisi on December 22, the Georgian Interior Ministry reported. Police said the robbers may have escaped with as much as 131 thousand Lari (USD 72.700) ? money which was supposed for the firemen’s salaries. This post is also available in: ქართული …
Shooting Reported in South Ossetian Conflict Zone
Sporadic shootouts were reported overnight on December 23 near the Georgian village of Eredvi in the South Ossetian conflict zone. No casualties were reported. Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Goga Khaindrava told reporters on December 23 that the Georgian side will push the issue at a meeting of the Joint Control Commission (JCC), which …
Russian Reports: Militant Killed while Crossing Georgian Border
Russia?s Counter-Terrorism Operations Center in the North Caucasus reported on December 22 that an alleged Chechen militant was killed by the Russian border guards while trying to cross the Russian-Georgian border. No exact location was reported. Itar-Tass news agency reported that the person who was killed was carrying a video tape showing footage of terrorist acts carried out in …
Blast Reported in Sokhumi
An unknown explosive device went off overnight on December 23 near a chemical factory in Sokhumi, the capital of breakaway Abkhazia, reported the Russian news agency Interfax. No casualties were reported as a result of the explosion. This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
IMF Approves USD 21.5 Million for Georgia
The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has completed its first review of Georgia’s performance under the three-year Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) arrangement and approved the disbursement of USD 21.5 million for the country, according to a press release issued by the IMF on December 21. The IMF’s Executive Board approved a three-year arrangement …
22/12/2004 - 20:27
Former Military Ombudsman Speaks of Army Problems
Q&A with Irakli Sesiashvili The protest of scores of servicemen from the Georgian Internal Troops, demanding better social conditions in the Army, was a blow for President Mikheil Saakashvili’s administration, which pegs the army as one of its top priorities. Officials described the move as “a provocation” hinting that it could have been triggered by a “certain third force” and refused …
2005 Draft Budget Unveiled
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania presented the 2005 draft budget at a parliamentary session on December 22. According to the draft budget the expenditures for next year are set at 2.2 billion Lari (approximately USD 1.2 billion) and revenues at 1.9 billion Lari (approximately USD 1 billion). Next year, the GDP growth rate is set at 6%, while …
Saakashvili Expects USD 200 Million from Privatization
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said, on December 22, that the state budget will receive about 200 million dollars from privatization in 2005. ?Out of this sum, USD 70 million will be directed to the Georgian Army, USD 70 million to the energy sector and the remained funds will be spent on construction of roads and …
New Tax Code Approved
The Georgian Parliament approved the new tax code during its third and final hearing on December 21, with a 107 to 11 vote. ?The draft tax code underwent radical changes after being discussed in the Parliament and the MPs have greatly contributed to it,? Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze said at the Parliament?s session on December …
Saakashvili: ‘Deserting Soldiers’ Must be Punished
President Mikheil Saakashvili said on December 22, that all those soldiers who deserted their military unit and protested against the bad social conditions in the army “should go to jail.” Saakashvili met with Commander of the Internal Troops Givi Tatukhashvili and incoming Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili on December 22 to discuss the recent incident in …
Georgian Election Watchdog to Observe Ukrainian Revote
A group of 30 short-term observers from the Georgian election watchdog organization International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) will monitor repeat presidential elections in Ukraine, scheduled for December 26. According to a press release issued by the ISFED on December 21, the ISFED observers will monitor the Ukrainian elections under the aegis of the European …
JCC Meets in Tbilisi
A meeting of the quadripartite Joint Control Commission (JCC), which oversees South Ossetian conflict resolution issues, is scheduled to start in the Georgian capital Tbilisi on December 22. The co-chairmen of the Joint Control Commission, which involves representatives from the Georgian, South Ossetian, Russian and Russia?s North Ossetian republics, are expected to discuss demilitarization of …
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Visits Georgia
Mohsen Aminzade, Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran, paid an official visit to Georgia on December 20-21, the Georgian Foreign Ministry reported. The Deputy Minister held meetings with Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze, Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili and Energy Minister Nika Gilauri. This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
Russian MP: Tensions Anticipated in Abkhazia, South Ossetia
Russian MP Andrey Kokoshin, the Chairman of the Committee on CIS Affairs in the Russian Duma Council, which is the Parliament?s lower house, said on December 21 that the situation in Georgia?s breakaway Abkhaz and South Ossetian regions will be aggravated following the appointment of Irakli Okruashvili as Georgia?s Defense Minister. ?The Russian Duma met Okruashvili?s appointment …
21/12/2004 - 21:57
Public Council will be established in order to monitor the police
The Ministry of Interior will hold a presentation of Public Council for Monitoring Police on December 23, 2004.Sozar Subaru, the Public Defender officially will hand over his representation authority to the persons who will be able to enter police pre-detention isolators and all the penitentiary facilities at any time in order to conduct monitoring. The …
Military Ombudsman Resigns, Protests Social Problems in Army
Military Ombudsman of Georgia Irakli Sesiashvili announced his resignation on December 21, following the protest of 60 servicemen from the Georgian Internal Troops, who were demanding better social conditions in the army. “While human rights are violated so roughly in the country and innocent people are punished, including soldiers, I find no sense in staying at …
Parliamentary Committee Probes Deal over Shipping Company
Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze instructed the Parliamentary Committee on the Sector Economy to inform the parliamentarians regarding the details of the Georgian government?s recent deal with the Greenoak Group, which envisages the government selling 100% of its shares of the Georgian Ocean Shipping Company.On December 21 opposition MPs from the Republican Party and Rightist Opposition coalition …
Georgia’s Ambassador to China Appointed
The Parliament approved Mikheil Ukleba on December 21 as Georgia’s Ambassador to China. Mikheil Ukleba, who previously served as Deputy Foreign Minister, will be Georgia’s first-ever Ambassador to China. On October 1 Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili announced Georgia’s plans to open an embassy in China in 2005. This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский …
Parliament Approves Education Law
On December 21 the Georgian Parliament approved a law on higher education in its third and final hearing, with a 134 to 16 vote. ?Discussion of this draft was a good example of constructive cooperation between the Government and the Parliament,? Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze said at the Parliament?s session on December 21. Education Minister Alexander …
Opposition Protests ‘Covert’ Deal to Sell Georgian Shipping Co.
At a parliamentary session on December 21 leaders of the opposition Republican Party and the Rightist Opposition coalition condemned the Georgian government’s “covert deal” with the Greenoak Group over selling 100% of the shares of the Georgian Ocean Shipping Company. The Georgian government signed its largest-ever privatization deal with the Greenoak Group, a major investor …
Parliamentary Committee Insists on Increased Defense Spending
At the session of the Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Security part of the MPs demanded the government increase the planned budget for the Defense Ministry up to 2% of the GDP. Despite the authorities? earlier pledge to double defense spending, according to the draft 2005 budget the government intends to allocate only 126.3 million Lari (more …
Abkhazia Holds Training for Military Commanders
A planned training for Abkhaz military commanders will be underway in breakaway Abkhazia from December 20 to December 24. Abkhaz news agencies report quoting Deputy Defense Minister of the unrecognized republic Anatoli Zaitsev as saying that this is ?a regular, annual training? of the military commanders. He said that the training will focus on strategic planning of military operations. …
Russian Embassy Stops Issuing Visas
Reports say that the Russian Embassy to Georgia has unexpectedly ceased issuing visas, citing Christmas and New Year holidays. The issuing of Russian visas will be ceased from December 20 until January 10, 2005. Georgian news agencies report quoting the Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili as saying that the Russian Embassy?s decision was a surprise for her. This post …
Soldiers Protest Against “Social Hardship”
Officials Say “Other Reasons” are Behind the IncidentOfficials say that the “incident” involving dozens of servicemen who deserted a military base and held a protest rally is “over”; adding, however, that an investigation is in process.About 60 unarmed servicemen of the Internal Troops deserted their military unit in Mukhrovani, outside Tbilisi, and gathered in front of the …
20/12/2004 - 23:12
Defense Minister: Incident with Protesting Servicemen Over
Incoming Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili said that the ?incident? involving dozens of servicemen from the Internal Troops is ?over,? adding, however, that an investigation is in process. About 60 servicemen of the Internal Troops deserted their military unit in Mukhrovani, outside Tbilisi, and held a protest rally in front of the Ombudsman?s office in Tbilisi on December 20, …
Zhvania, Burjanadze Condemn Servicemen Protest
Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze and Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania condemned the decision made by 60 servicemen from the Internal Troops to abandon their military unit and hold a protest rally outside the Ombudsman?s office in Tbilisi. ?In this case each soldier should be punished in accordance with the Georgian Constitution,? Nino Burjanadze told reporters on December …
Defense Minister: Protesting Soldiers will be Punished
Incoming Defense Minister of Georgia Irakli Okruashvili made a short comment regarding the protest of around 60 servicemen from the Internal Troops, who deserted their military unit in Mukhrovani and held a protest rally outside the Georgian Public Defender?s Office in Tbilisi, demanding better social conditions. ?All of them will be punished,? Irakli Okruashvili told reporters. …
Georgian Military Instructors Graduate U.S. Training Program
On December 20, 40 Georgian soldiers graduated from an eight-week training program conducted by the U.S. Marine Mobile Training Team at the Krtsanisi training center, outside of the Georgian capital Tbilisi. Four Georgian officers and thirty-six non-commissioned officers, who graduated Basic Combat Training Instructors? (BCTI) Course, will become Georgia?s first boot camp instructors for the Georgian …
Servicemen of Internal Troops Go AWOL
Over 60 servicemen of the Georgian Internal Troops deserted the military unit in Mukhrovani on December 20 and gathered outside the Public Defender?s Office in Tbilisi. Officials have yet to comment on this. Reportedly, the soldiers deserted in order to protest against the bad social conditions in the military unit. This post is also available in: ქართული …
Greenoak Buys Georgian Shipping Co. for $107 mln
The Georgian Ocean Shipping Co. has a total debt of USD 72 million. The Georgian government signed its largest-ever privatization deal with the Greenoak Group, a major investor company in Georgia, to sell the Georgian Ocean Shipping Company for USD 107 million. The agreement, signed on December 17 by Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and Jan Bonde …
South Ossetia Holds Training for Military Commanders
Breakaway South Ossetia launched two-week long command post exercises on December 20, the Russian news agency Interfax reported. ?During the exercises we will thoroughly analyse those armed clashes which took place [between the Georgian troops and South Ossetian militias] this August,? Ibragim Gasiyev, the Deputy Defense Minister of breakaway South Ossetia told Interfax. This post …
MPs Discuss Defense Budget
On December 20 the Parliamentary Committee for Defense and Security launched discussions over the defense budget for 2005. Despite the authorities? earlier pledge to double defense spending, according to the draft 2005 budget the government intends to allocate only 126.3 million Lari (more than USD 70 million) for the Defense Ministry next year, which is roughly a 35% …
New Movement Set up to ‘Lobby’ Orthodox Church
Reports say Giorgi Andriadze, who resigned from his post of the Georgian Orthodox Church’s parliamentary secretary last week, announced plans to set up a public movement National Lobby. The movement aims, as Andriadze put it, at protection of the “Orthodox Church and Georgian national values.” He said some non-governmental organizations, including the human rights advocacy Liberty Institute, …
Georgia Signs USD 107 mln Deal to Sell Shipping Company
Georgia has reached an agreement with the Greenoak Group, which is one of the major investor in Adjara Autonomous Republic, to sell 100% shares of the Georgian Ocean Shipping Co. Ltd. A total cost of the deal is USD 107 million, according to a press release issued by the Greenoak Group. This is a preliminary agreement; …
19/12/2004 - 21:08
Abkhaz Chief Prosecutor Sacked
Outgoing President of breakaway Abkhazia Vladislav Ardzinba dismissed General Prosecutor of the unrecognized republic Rauf Korua, the Abkhaz news agency Apsnipress reported on December 17. Korua has been sacked by Ardzinba for the second time in the past two months. In October, the Abkhaz President fired Korua for siding with opposition leader Sergey Bagapsh. However, the Abkhaz …
Mayor of Poti Arrested
Police arrested Vakhtang Alania, the Mayor of Poti, a town and port on the Georgian Black Sea coast, on December 18. Vakhtang Alania is accused of misuse of power and state funds. Alania denies these accusations. This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
Saakashvili Encourages Appointment of Ethnic Minorities on High Positions
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said on December 17 that more representatives of the ethnic minority groups living in Georgia should be appointed to official positions. Saakashvili said, while addressing the Georgian National Security Council, that ?integration of the ethnic minorities will be the government?s priority.? As a result of the recent reshuffle in the government Zinaida Bestaeva, …
18/12/2004 - 16:42
Tbilisi Works towards Abkhazia, South Ossetia Peace Plans
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili instructed the government to prepare a peace plan for the Abkhazia and South Ossetian conflicts resolution by February, 2005.Addressing the Georgian National Security Council late on December 17 Mikheil Saakashvili said that the plan should envisage a “federal arrangement” of the country with “the widest form of status” for these breakaway regions in …
JCC to Meet in Tbilisi
Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Goga Khaindrava said, on December 18, that a meeting of the quadripartite Joint Control Commission (JCC), which oversees South Ossetian conflict resolution issues, will be held in Tbilisi on December 22-23. ?The issue of implementation of the Sochi agreement [on demilitarization on the South Ossetian conflict zone] will be …
New Economy Minister Speaks of Priorities
New Economy Minister Lexo Alexishvili, who replaced on this position Kakha Bendukidze, said in the interview with the Georgian daily 24 Hours, published on December 18, that he will continue his predecessor?s liberal economic policy aiming ?to minimize state interference in the economy.? ?The [Economy] Ministry?s priority is to accomplish the privatization process. But at …
Tbilisi Offers Abkhazia, South Ossetia Federal Arrangement
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili instructed the government on December 17 to develop an Abkhazian and South Ossetian conflict resolution plan which will envisage, as Saakashvili put it, the ?widest form of status? for these breakaway regions in the ?common state? of Georgia. The government should prepare this peace plan by February, 2005. President Saakashvili was addressing a session of the …
Georgia, Russia Re-Route Trains via Ferry
A ferry service between the Georgian port of Poti and Russian port of Kavkaz will begin operating in January, 2005 in order to transport cargo trains, said chief of the state-run Georgian Railway company Davit Onoprishvili at a news briefing on December 17. The agreement was reached with the Russian side during Onoprishvili?s visit to Russia this …
17/12/2004 - 18:25
Lavrov: Our Neighbors Should Respect Russia’s Interests
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, on December 17, that Russia has no “monopoly” over the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS); but added that Russia’s neighbors should respect Russia’s interests. “President of the Russian Federation [Vladimir Putin] made it clear, while addressing the Foreign Ministry staff in July, that Russia does not consider CIS a space …
Patarkatsishvili Becomes President of Olympic Committee
Influential media and financial tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili was elected President of the Georgian Olympic Committee on December 17. He replaced Jano Bagrationi. Badri Patarkatsishvili, who owns Imedi media holding, also leads the Olympic Foundation of Georgia and was recently elected as the President of the Georgian Federation of Businessmen, which is a strong business lobby group. …
Aliyev Comments on Georgia
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on December 17 that the problems of blocked freight movement on the Georgian border will be settled only after the Azerbaijani side is convinced that these goods are not designated for Armenia. ?Azerbaijan will never permit the import of freight to Armenia via its own territory,? RIA Novosti quotes the Azerbaijani President as saying …
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This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)