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Powell Sees ‘Rose Revolution’ as an Example of U.S.-Russian Cooperation


In an interview with the USA Today editorial board on October 18, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said that U.S. policy towards Russia “is to work with them in areas where we cooperate and have mutual interest.” “And we demonstrated that, I think, very vividly in Georgia last November when [ex-President Eduard] Shevardnadze became …

20/10/2004 - 11:06


Zhvania Sets Demilitarization as Precondition for Talks with Kokoev


Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania told reporters on October 19 that he will meet with de facto South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoev only after the complete demilitarization of the conflict zone.   ?I am ready to meet with Eduard Kokoev if illegal Ossetian armed groups are withdrawn from the region,? Zhvania said.  He also insists on discussing South …

19/10/2004 - 20:02


Georgian Population in South Ossetia Protest Shootouts


The ethnic Georgian population of the Didi Liakhvi gorge in breakaway South Ossetia held a protest rally on October 19 and blocked the road connecting the capital of the unrecognized republic, Tskhinvali, and Java, town in northern South Ossetia. The Georgian population protested against, as they say, the ?everyday shelling of Georgian villages.?  Georgian television reported quoting …


Abkhaz CEC Members Admit Election Results are Illegal


Eight members of the Abkhaz Central Election Commission (CEC) apealed to the Supreme Court of the unrecognized republic on October 19, claiming that the CEC protocol from October 11, which declared opposition candidate Sergey Bagapsh as the president-elect, is illegal. The appeal reads that the decision was ?mainly politically-motivated, rather than legal? and was adopted …


Georgia Concerned over Russia’s Border Policy


Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili met with Interior Security and Defense Ministers on October 19 to discuss the situation at the Georgian-Russian border, which still remains closed, Secretary of the Georgian National Security Council Gela Bezhuashvili told reporters. “We discussed different issues, but focused on the situation at the Larsi checkpoint [at the Russo-Georgian border] which remains closed and …


MPs Criticize 2005 Draft Budget


On October 19 a session of the Parliamentary Committee for Finance and Budgetary Issues denounced a draft of the 2005 state budget as ?incomplete.? Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze also criticized the document on October 19 and said that without amendments the draft is doomed to be rejected by the Parliament.  The parliamentarians say that the document is …


Turkey Donates Military Equipment to Georgian MoD


Turkey will donate military equipment to the Georgian Ministry of Defense (MoD) worth USD 2 million, according to an agreement signed by the Turkish and Georgian defense officials in Tbilisi on October 19. Turkish assistance includes 7 Land Rover off-road vehicles, military portable radios and other equipment for Kojori special purpose troops and the 11th Mechanized Brigade, as …


Parliamentary Chairperson Visits Romania


Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze, accompanied by a parliamentary delegation, left on October 19 for Romania.  During the visit Nino Burjanadze will meet with Romanian President Ion Iliescu, the Chairmen of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, as well as the Foreign and Defense Ministers.  The issues of bilateral relations and Georgia?s aspirations towards the …


New President of GIOC Appointed


Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania said on October 19 that Nikoloz Vashakidze has been appointed as the new President of the Georgian International Oil Corporation (GIOC).  Before the new appointment Nikoloz Vashakidze served at the National Security Council of Georgia.  Nikoloz Vashakidze replaced Gia Chanturia, who was dismissed by President Saakashvili in September. This post …


JCC to Gather in Tskhinvali


A meeting of the quadripartite Joint Control Commission (JCC), involving Georgian, South Ossetian, Russian and North Ossetian representatives, will be held in Tskhinvali, the capital of breakaway South Ossetia, on October 19.  The Russian Foreign Ministry?s special ambassador Valery Kenyaikin, who represents Russia at the JCC, has already arrived in Tbilisi. Georgian State Minister for …


U.S. Ambassadors Meet with Saakashvili


President Mikheil Saakshvili met with visitng US Ambassadors to the South Caucasus states on October 19 and discussed the ongoing political sitaution in the region. U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John M. Evans, Ambassador to Azerbaijan Reno L. Harnish, Ambassador to Georgia Richard Miles, as well as U.S. Department of State?s special representative for Eurasian conflicts Steven …


Civil Watchdogs Blow the Whistle


Fourteen civil society leaders and representatives from the Georgian expert community openly addressed President Mikheil Saakashvili, blowing the whistle against perceived limitation of the freedom of expression and political opposition. With the one-year anniversary of the 2003 Rose Revolution fast approaching, some of the staunchest ideological critics of Eduard Shevardnadze’s presidency warn Saakashvili that his …

18/10/2004 - 21:03


Saakashvili Warns ‘Bribe-takers’


Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said on October 18 that “severe measures” will be carried out against those employees in the law-enforcement agencies who still continue taking bribes.  “Bribe-taking still persists in the law-enforcement agencies, however, now we have those people who will arrest bribe-takers. We will not step back; we will continue to struggle against these …


South Ossetian, Georgian Sides Accuse Each Other of Opening Fire


The South Ossetian side reported that an armed clash occurred between the Georgian and South Ossetian forces near the Georgian village of Avnevi in the early hours of October 18 after the Georgian side opened fire on Ossetian villages. However, the Georgian side denies these reports, claiming that that the South Ossetian forces were the first …


Editors: Independent Newspapers Not Going to Print in Abkhazia


Editors of “Ekho Abkhazii”, “Chegemskaya Pravda”, “Nuzhnaya Gazeta” and “Delovaya Abkhazia” newspapers appealed to the Abkhaz government officials saying that their publications are not being allowed to go into print, Regnum reports. According to the editors, the printshops have quoted “technical difficulties” and are refusing to print the newspapers, which are known for their opposition …


Civil Society Leaders Criticize Authorities over ?Intolerance? towards Opposition Opinion


A group of Georgian civil society leaders appealed the Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili with an open letter in which they expressed concerns over the Georgian authorities “intolerance” towards the opposition’s opinion. “Unfortunately, alarming developments in Georgian politics made us to send this appeal to you,the President of the country and unilateral leader of the ruling …


Interior Minister, Chief Prosecutor Vow to Focus on Human Rights


At a joint news briefing on October 18 Georgian Interior Minister Irakli Okruashvili and Prosecutor General Zurab Adeishvili said that more attention will be paid to eradicating human rights abuses within the law agencies.  ?During the first stage, law enforcement agencies aimed at tackling corruption and confiscating illegally acquired possessions [by officials]. Now, we should pay more attention to …


Chairperson of Abkhaz Supreme Court Resigns


Chairperson of the Supreme Court of unrecognized Abkhaz Republic Alla Avidzba filed his resignation on October 18, citing the ?difficult political situation? in Abkhazia, report the Itar-Tass and RIA Novosti news agencies. The Supreme Court have scheduled their discussion of the appeal by pro-governmental presidential candidate Raul Khajimba on October 19. Khajimba demands the cancellation of the …


An Open Letter of Civil Society Representatives to President Saakashvili


To His Excellency, the President of Georgia, Mr. Mikheil Saakashvili Mr. President   Almost one year has passed since the famous developments of October-November 2003. The anniversary of ‘the rose revolution’ gives us a handle to analyze the ongoing processes, as well as to judge on the achievements or mistakes of the authorities.   Since …


Civil Society Leaders Criticize Authorities over ?Intolerance? towards Opposition Opinion


A group of Georgian civil society leaders appealed the Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili with an open letter in which they expressed concerns over the Georgian authorities “intolerance” towards the opposition’s opinion. “Unfortunately, alarming developments in Georgian politics made us to send this appeal to you,the President of the country and unilateral leader of the ruling party [National Movement]. Intolerance …


Civil Watchdogs Blow the Whistle


Fourteen civil society leaders and representatives from the Georgian expert community openly addressed President Mikheil Saakashvili, blowing the whistle against perceived limitation of the freedom of expression and political opposition. With the one-year anniversary of the 2003 Rose Revolution fast approaching, some of the staunchest ideological critics of Eduard Shevardnadze’s presidency warn Saakashvili that his …


Russian Soldiers Arrested in Adjara


Three servicemen from a Russian military based in Batumi, in the Adjara Autonomous Republic, are being accused of robbery and were detained overnight on October 17. Giorgi Papuashvili, chief of Adjara?s Interior Ministry Department, told reporters that all the necessary investigative procedures, including searching the detainees, were carried out in the presence of representatives from the command of the Russian …

17/10/2004 - 16:24


Russia Denies Sending Troops to Abkhazia


On October 17 the Russian Foreign Ministry denounced Georgia?s accusations that Russia sent ?hundreds of special purpose troops? to breakaway Abkhazia after the October 3 presidential elections there, calling these claims ?false.? In an information note issued on October 16, spokesman of the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Yakovenko said that there was no need to send …


Georgian, U.S. Officials Discussed Abkhazia


Visiting U.S. Department of State?s special representative for Eurasian conflicts Steven R. Mann, who is also a Senior Advisor for Caspian Basin Energy Diplomacy, met with newly appointed Chairman of the Abkhaz government-in-exile Irakli Alasania in Tbilisi on October 17. After the talks Alasania told reporters that he informed the U.S. official about the current situation …


Ex-Peacekeeper Chief Released


Former Commander of the Georgian peacekeeping battalion stationed in the South Ossetian conflict zone Mikheil Kebadze, who was arrested on October 13 for illegal possession of arms, was released on October 17. The Security Ministry also accused him of ?divulging secret information.? Deputy Security Minister Baku Kutelia said on October 17 that the investigation could not …


BTC Pipe Linked at Azeri-Georgia Border


Two sections of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline were connected during an official ceremony which took place at the Georgian-Azerbaijani border on October 16. The ceremony was attended by both the Azerbaijani and Georgian Presidents, Ilham Aliyev and Mikheil Saakashvili. Construction of the BP-led and U.S.-backed BTC pipeline is expected to be finished by March, 2005. …


Abkhazia Seeks ‘Associated Relations’ with Russia


Parliament of the unrecognized Abkhaz Republic appealed Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 16, urging to support the creation of so called “associated relations” between Abkhazia and Russia, the Abkhaz news agency Apsnipress reported. “We consider Russia as the only guarantor of security and economic welfare for Abkhazia… establishment of associated relations will be the legalization of …

16/10/2004 - 18:28


Sokhumi, Moscow Deny Presence of Russian Troops in Abkhazia


The Russian Defense Ministry denied the Georgian side?s accusations that Russia has sent extra troops to breakaway Abkhazia following the October 3 presidential elections in the unrecognized republic. Authorities in the breakaway region also refuted these reports. ?The Abkhaz authorities have never used and will never use armed forces, especially those from neighboring countries, to settle internal problems,? reads …


Russia Says it will Respond to Attacks on Peacekeepers


In a statement issued on October 15, the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed concern over the recent ?provocative attacks? against the servicemen of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces, deployed in the South Ossetian conflict area.  ?In the recent incident, on October 12, the Georgian security forces illegally detained wounded Ossetian peacekeepers and a civilian accompanying them, who …


European Parliament Passed Resolution on Georgia


The European Parliament passed resolution on October 14 calling for EU?s increased support for ?the efforts to help resolve the conflicts in Georgia and the South Caucasus region, in cooperation with the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and other actors.? The European Parliament has also called on the EU Council and Commission ?to …


European Parliament’s Resolution on Georgia


Thursday, October 14 2004The European Parliament, – having regard to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and Georgia, which entered into force in 1999, – having regard to its previous reports and resolutions on relations with the countries of the region, notably its report of 26 February 2004 on EU policy towards …


Georgian MFA: Russia Sent Troops to Abkhazia


In a statement issued on October 15, the Georgian Foreign Ministry says that Russia has dispatched several hundred troops to Abkhazia, after the crisis erupted following the disputed October 3 presidential elections in the breakaway region. ?Georgia has confirmed information that Russia has illegally sent several hundred servicemen of its special purpose units to Abkhazia, …


New Challenges for the CRINGO Network


3rd Annual General Assembly of the CRINGO – Caucasian Refugee and IDP NGO Network was held in Kiev, Ukraine, on October 4-8, 2004. GA was attended by the representatives of the 50 organizations working throughout the Caucasus.  CRINGO network represents the joint initiative of the Caucasian NGOs working in the field of forced displacement. Sixty-six …


Georgia Released Three Ossetians


The Georgian Security Ministry released on October 15 three South Ossetians ? one civilians and two others servicemen of the Ossetian battalion of the joint peacekeeping troops, who were detained by the Georgian law enforcers on October 12, chief of the Security Ministry?s investigative department Kakha Tsereteli told Civil Georgia. A vehicle of Ossetian peacekeepers …

15/10/2004 - 20:17


Saakashvili: Situation Strained in Abkhazia


President Saakashvili reiterated on October 15 that ?Georgia?s enemies? failed to deliver their scenario of developments in breakaway Abkhazia following the disputed October 3 presidential elections. He said, while speaking with the Georgian reporters in Lithuania, that despite ?the Georgian enemies failure, there is no time for euphoria.? ?We have been very actively working over …


Official: Armed Groups Infiltrate Abkhazia from Russia


Irakli Alasania, the newly appointed Chairman of the Tbilisi-based Abkhazian Council of Ministers-in-exile, said on October 15 that armed groups from Russia have penetrated into the unrecognized republic of Abkhazia following the crisis, which erupted in the breakaway region after the disputed October 3 presidential elections. ?The Georgian intelligence services have confirmed the reports regarding …


Ex-Chief of Peacekeepers Sentenced to Pretrial Detention


Court sentenced Mikheil Kebadze, former commander of the Georgian peacekeeping battalion stationed in the breakaway South Ossetian conflict zone, to three-month pretrial detention on October 15.  ?The court ruling is groundless and absurd,? Mikheil Kebadze told reporters after the trial.   Mikheil Kebadze, who was arrested on October 13, is accused of illegal possession of arms. …


Tax Code Draft Debated


Experts and businesspeople say that a draft of the new tax code is not as business-friendly as the authorities described it. The draft is still undergoing adjustments and is pending final approval by the Parliament, which is expected to come in December. If passed, the law will be enforced starting in January, 2005.According to the …


Georgia to Ratify European Charter of Local Self-Government Partially


The Georgian Parliament discussed on October 15 those 23 provisions of European Charter of Local Self-Government, which the Georgian parliamentarians intend to ratify in the near future. Hence, Georgia will meet one of its commitments undertaken when joining the Council of Europe (CoE) in 1999.      The Georgian authorities signed the mentioned Charter in May 2002, …


NATO Hails Georgia’s IPAP


On October 14 the leading Political and Political-Military Committees (PC/PMSC) of NATO considered a draft of the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) of Georgia, the Georgian Foreign Ministry reported on October 15. “The discussion involved NATO member states and the representatives of Georgia. Absolutely all participants welcomed the joint efforts of Georgia and NATO in elaborating the IPAP, …


Russian Minister Urges Armenia to Trade with Russia via Iran


Russian Minister of Transport and Communication Igor Levitin advised the Armenian government to trade with Russia via the Astrakhan-Enzeli (Iran) sea route. Levitin was responding to the dissatisfaction expressed by the Armenian government over the closure of the Larsi checkpoint on Russo-Georgian border, which hampers trade between Russia and Armenia. According to the Russian Minister it will …


Bagapsh Claims Pro-Russian Course


Bagapsh addressing supporters in Sokhumi An all-Abkhaz National gathering (Convent) in support of Sergey Bagapsh, who was declared president-elect by the Central Election Commission (CEC) of the unrecognized republic, addressed the Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 14, claiming that Sergey Bagapsh is keen to strengthen ties with Moscow. Recently Sergey Bagapsh has intensified his …


CRINGO Network General Assembly


3rd Annual General Assembly of the CRINGO – Caucasian Refugee and IDP NGO Network was held in Kiev, Ukraine, on October 4-8, 2004. GA was attended by the representatives of the 50 organizations working throughout the Caucasus.  CRINGO network represents the joint initiative of the Caucasian NGOs working in the field of forced displacement. Sixty-six …


Shootout Reported in South Ossetia


Georgian media reported that the Georgian village of Tamarasheni came under fire, initiated from the positions occupied by the South Ossetian side. No casualties have been reported. The South Ossetian side has made no comment regarding the report so far. The Georgian Inter-Press news agency and Tbilisi-based Imedi television also reported that a shootout occurred between South Ossetian special forces …


Javier Solana’s Address on Georgia


Summary of the intervention by High Representative of the European Unionfor the Common Foreign and Security Policy,before the plenary session of the European Parliament Brussels, 13 October 2004Chairman, Honourable Members, Ladies and Gentlemen,Thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to address you on behalf of the Council of the European Union.  We welcome …


Bagapsh Supporters Rally in Sokhumi


An all-Abkhaz National gathering (Convent) in support of Sergey Bagapsh, who was declared president-elect by the Central Election Commission (CEC) of the unrecognized republic, was held in the breakaway region?s capital Sokhumi on October 14. The participants of the rally demanded to let Bagapsh take the president?s office, reported the Russian NTV television. Reports over the …

14/10/2004 - 21:16


EU Hails Georgia’s Reforms


In an address to the European Parliament’s plenary session on October 13, both the EU’s High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana and the EU’s external relations commissioner Chris Patten hailed reforms being carryied out by Georgian authorities. “A good start has been made in addressing the structural problems facing Georgia, tackling, for example, …


Tskhinvali Accuses Tbilisi of Military Buildup


On October 14 the self-styled South Ossetian Republic accused on the Georgian side of mobilizing extra troops in the vicinity of the regional conflict zone. ?The Georgian troops deployed in the surrounding areas of the conflict zone are actively carrying-out military engineering activities and intelligence in the territory. In the village of Agara, the 21st motor-rifle brigade carries …


Ex-Chief of Georgian Peacekeepers Accused of Treason


Mikheil Kebadze, former commander of the Georgian peacekeeping battalion stationed in the breakaway South Ossetian conflict zone, is facing treason charges. ?He [Kebadze] is suspected of divulging secrete information, which is equal to treason. I can not say anything more regarding this case,? Deputy Security Minister Batu Kutelia told Civil Georgia on October 14.  Mikheil …


Official: Attacks on Peacekeepers Aim at Destabilization


Georgian Deputy Security Minister Baku Kutelia said that certain forces are trying to fuel tensions in breakaway South Ossetia by masterminding attacks against the joint peacekeeping troops stationed in the conflict zone.?Many questionable facts taking place in the South Ossetian conflict area recently. The attacks on peacekeepers are also rather questionable. It seems that we have to deal with deliberate provocations aimed towrads destabilization …


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