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Russian Railway Chief Proposes Alternative Transportation Routes for Armenia
Chief of the state-run Russian Railway Company Gennady Fadeev said while visiting Armenia?s capital, Yerevan on October 3, that the railway route linking Russia with Armenia via Georgia can be put into operation within a year. ?In terms of financial and technical possibilities, the transport corridor Sochi-Sokhumi-Tbilisi-Yerevan may be resumed within a year,? RIA Novosti news …
04/11/2004 - 11:52
NATO Secretary General Visits Georgia
NATO Secretary General and the Georgian President will hold a joint news briefing later today. Photo by NATO Secretary General of the NATO Jaap de Hoop Scheffer arrived to Georgia for a one-day official visit on November 4, in the wake the approval of Georgia’s Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) by the alliance in late October.Jaap de Hoop …
No Breakthrough in Abkhaz Crisis
Opposition presidential candidate Sergey Bagapsh said after his arrival from Moscow on November 3 that his inauguration as president of the unrecognized Abkhazian Republic will be held on December 7. His main rival, pro-governmental presidential candidate Raul Khajimba, who has also visited the Russian capital, however, said upon his return from Moscow on November 3, …
03/11/2004 - 19:18
Cabinet Approves Privatization of Aircraft Factory
Cabinet members approved a proposal on November 3 to privatize the Tbilisi Aircraft Factory – TbilAviaMsheni (TAM) and hand it over to the factory’s current managing company without announcing an open competition. “The sate budget is expected to receive a total of USD 67 million,” Natia Turnava, Deputy Economy Minister, told reporters on November 3. The government’s decision …
Pro-Moscow Chechen Leader Offers “to Bring Order” in Pankisi
Vice-Premier of Chechnya Ramzan Kadirov has offered the Georgian authorities, as he put it, help in restoring order in the Pankisi gorge, which is in the north-eastern part of Georgia, near the Russian border. Ramzan Kadirov is son of Akhmad Kadirov, former chief of Chechnya?s Moscow-backed administration, who was assassinated in a bomb attack in May. ?”We …
Abkhaz Presidential Contenders Seek Crisis Solution in Moscow
After two days of consultations with unnamed Russian officials, the two main contenders for breakaway Abkhazia’s presidency Raul Khajimba and Sergey Bagapsh returned back to Abkhazia on November 3, but it remains unclear yet whether the trip to Moscow will help them find a breakthrough in the political crisis, which erupted in the unrecognized republic after the disputed …
Ex-Energy Minister on Trial
Former Energy Minister of Georgia Davit Mirtskhulava goes on trial on November 3 over suspected corruption charges and misuse of power during his service as Energy Minister in 2000-2003. This is the first trial of a former high-ranking official who is accused of corruption since last year?s Rose Revolution, which has resulted in the arrest of dozens of high-profile ex-officials but …
Burjanadze Visits France
After visiting Moscow, Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze left for France on November 3 to participate in a summit of South Caucasian Parliamentary Chairpersons, being held in Versailles. Nino Burjanadze will discuss regional security issues, as well as ways of settlement existing conflicts and the prospects of tourism development in the South Caucasus region with her Azerbaijani and Armenian counterparts. …
NATO Secretary General to Visit Georgia
Secretary General of NATO Jaap de Hoop Scheffer will pay an official visit to Tbilisi on November 4, reports the Georgian Foreign Ministry. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer has scheduled meetings with President Mikhail Saakashvili, Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili, Defense Minister Giorgi Baramidze, Ambassadors of the NATO member states accredited in Georgia and …
Bagapsh Rejects Re-Vote
Opposition Abkhaz presidential candidate Sergey Bagapsh reiterated that he is strongly against holding repeat presidential elections. ?Elections have been held and the president has already been elected,? he told RIA Novosti news agency on November 3. Sergey Bagapsh, together with pro-governmental presidential candidate Raul Khajimba visited Moscow in an attempt to overcome the current crisis …
Bagapsh, Khajimba Meet in Moscow
The two main Abkhaz presidential candidates Raul Khajimba and Sergey Bagapsh met in Moscow on November 2 in an attempt to make a breakthrough in the regional crisis, which erupted in the unrecognized Abkhazian Republic after disputed October 3 presidential elections, reports Itar-Tass news agency. ?Together with Sergey Bagapsh, we have discussed possible ways out of the current crisis …
02/11/2004 - 21:53
Georgia Condemns Russia’s Interference in Abkhazia
Visiting Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze said at a news briefing in Moscow on November 2 that Georgia is “upset” by Russia’s active involvement in the developments in Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia. “Of course we were upset when Russian President Vladimir Putin met with [then] Abkhaz Prime Minister [and pro-governmental presidential candidate] Raul Khajimba [in Sochi on …
Defense Minister: U.S. to Continue Military Assistance for Georgia
Georgian Defense Minister Giorgi Baramidze said at a news briefing on November 2 that the United States will continue its military assistance programs for the Georgian army. ?These assistance programs will be directed towards the creation of a Georgian peacekeeping contingent, which will operate both inside of the country as well as in the international arena, to …
Official: U.S. Polls Outcome will Have no Influence on U.S.-Georgian Ties
Georgian Defense Minister Giorgi Baramidze said at a news briefing on November 2 that the outcome of the U.S. presidential elections will not have an influence on U.S.-Georgian relations. ?The U.S. presidential elections will not influence further relations between Georgia and the United States. We have common interests in combating terrorism,? Giorgi Baramidze said. He …
Reports: Abkhaz Coast-Guard Received “Shmel” Class Boats from Russia
A journalistic investigation by the military observer of the Kviris Palitra weekly established that the Abkhaz coast guard received four “Shmel” class (type 1204) small river patrol monitors from Russia. The vessels took part in August 2004 military excercises, which were held by the Abkhazian forces. “Shmel” class are 77.4 ton, 28 meter boats that are armed …
Civilian Injured in South Ossetia Blast
Giorgi Kakhniashvili, 23, a resident of the Georgian village of Kurta, in the South Ossetian conflict zone, was severely wounded as a result of the explosion of an unknown explosive device on November 2, reports the Georgian media. There are conflicting reports about the reasons of explosion. Some reports say that Giorgi Kakhniashvili was injured as a …
Black Sea Coast Guard Chiefs Gather in Sochi
The 5th meeting of the Commanders of the Black Sea Coast Guard Services will be opened in the Russian town of Sochi on November 2 to discuss regional cooperation issues. According to the Georgian State Border Guard Department, bilateral talks will be held between the representatives of the Georgian and Russian coast guard services during the …
Russian Minister Discussed Railway Link via Abkhazia
RIA Novosti news agency reported quoting an unnamed source in the Georgian President?s administration that Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin, who visited Tbilisi on November 1, agreed with Georgian officials over setting up joint governmental groups to work in regards to ?technical aspects? of restoring the railway link between Russia and Armenia via Georgia, which lies through breakaway Abkhazia. On September 10 the …
U.S. Hails Georgia’s Contribution to Coalition Forces
Spokesman of the U.S. Department of State Adam Ereli said that the Georgian authorities are considering sending extra troops to Iraq, adding that the United States “welcomes Georgia’s important and valued contribution” to the coalition forces in Iraq. “I know that the Georgian Government is looking at, I think, additional deployments in Iraq. I’m not aware …
Reports: Khajimba, Bagapsh Visit Moscow
Russian NTV television and Regnum news agency reported on November 1 that both pro-governmental Abkhaz presidential candidate Raul Khajimba and opposition candidate Sergey Bagapsh left for Moscow.One of the leaders of the Abkhaz opposition Stanislav Lakoba, who is set to become the unrecognized republic?s Vice-President in the event that opposition candidate Sergey Bagapsh takes over as …
01/11/2004 - 22:01
Ombudsman, Regional Governor at Odds over Trapped Passengers
Sozar Subeliani, Georgia?s Ombudsman, and Mikheil Kareli, the Governor of Shida Kartli, the region which also includes the South Ossetian conflict zone, exchanged strong-worded criticism, which was triggered after the Ombudsman slammed the authorities for the detention of five buses containing around two hundred Georgian citizens.On October 31 the Governor of Shida Kartli accused the Ombudsman of ?having …
Burjanadze Holds Talks with Top Russian Officials
On November 1 Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze held separate meetings in Moscow with Secretary of the Russian Security Council Igor Ivanov and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Along with bilateral ties, South Ossetian and Abkhazian conflict resolution issues were discussed during the talks between Nino Burjanadze and Sergey Lavrov, according to an information note issued by the Russian …
Abkhaz Opposition Against Repeat Elections
One of the leaders of the Abkhaz opposition Aleksander Ankvab, who is set to become the unrecognized republic?s Prime Minister in the event that opposition candidate Sergey Bagapsh takes over as President, said that the opposition will categorically oppose outgoing President Vladislav Ardzinba?s order to hold repeat presidential elections. ?There is no reason for holding repeat elections. …
Q&A with Legal Expert Davit Usupashvili
With November 23 fast approaching, the authorities are planning, as they say, splendid celebrations to mark the one-year anniversary of the 2003 Rose Revolution. But as time goes by, more and more critical voices are heard speaking out against the new authorities’ failure to deliver on their political promises. Civil Georgia offers the series of interviews …
Passengers Stranded in South Ossetian Conflict Zone
Five buses with around two hundred of Georgian citizens coming from Russia via breakaway South Ossetia, remain stranded at the Kekhvi checkpoint of the Georgian police in the conflict zone. The Georgian police motivates its decision to block the entry of the passengers by saying they have entered Georgia through the Roki Tunnel, which links …
Blast Reported in Sokhumi
Russian news agencies report that a blast occured near a power substation in Sokhumi, capital of the breakaway republic of Abkhazia. The Russian news agency Interfax reports that the blast “partially ruined” the substation but power was restored by 9:30 a.m. Moscow time. An investigation is underway regarding the incident, according to the Russian news agency Itar-tass. This post is …
Russian Transport Minister Visits Georgia
Russian Minister of Transport Igor Levitin will pay a one-day visit to Georgia on November 1. It is most likely that the Georgian leadership will push the issue of the railway connection between Russia and Georgia?s breakaway Abkhazia during the talks with the Russian Transport Minister. On September 10 the railway link between Moscow and …
State Minister Visits Moscow
Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Goga Khaindrava is visiting Moscow on November 1 and will meet with Russian authorities in order to discuss the agenda of the upcoming high-level talks between Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoev, scheduled for November 5 in Russian town of Sochi. Goga Khaindrava told reporters that …
Internal Troops Merge with Defense Ministry
The Georgian Interior Ministry’s combat units – Internal Troops -officially became part of the Defense Ministry’s forces starting from November 1, as a part of reforms within the country’s armed forces. Outgoing Commander of the Internal Troops Gogi Tatukhashvili will reportedly take over the position of the Commander of the Georgian Land Forces. This post is also available …
1 Civilian Dead, Peacekeeper’s Chief Injured in Car Crash
Commander of the Georgian peacekeeping battalion in the South Ossetian conflict zone Aleksander Kiknadze was injured in a car crash on October 31, which also led to death of one civilian, who was driving another car.The incident occurred near the village of Karaleti in the conflict zone. This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) …
31/10/2004 - 17:29
Sokhumi Warns of Possible ?Incursion? by the Georgian Side
Abkhaz de facto Defense Minister Viacheslav Eshba told Interfax news agency that the Georgian side is preparing for an ?incursion into Abkhazia,? amid the crisis which erupted in the breakaway region after the disputed October 3 presidential elections. Interfax reported on October 31 quoting Eshba, that Abkhazian forces are on high alert amid reports over a ?concentration of the …
British Airways Resumes Flights in Georgia
British Mediterranean Airways, which is a franchise partner of British Airways, will resume London-Tbilisi flights on November 1. The Georgian authorities cancelled British Mediterranean Airway’s flights last February under the pretext of non-payment of taxes and problems with the Georgian flagship company, Airzena. Flights from Tbilisi will be conducted every Monday and Saturday. Flights from London to …
Internal Troops Hold Maneuvers
The Georgian Internal Troops launched five-day military exercises at the Vaziani military base, near Tbilisi, on October 31. About 2,000 servicemen from the Internal Troops’ the tank and artillery battalions will be engaged in large-scale maneuvers, which is being dubbed codename Rose-2004. This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
Georgian Speaker Visits Moscow
Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze left for Moscow on October 30, where she intends to talk with her Russian counterpart Boris Grizlov, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Secretary of the Russian National Security Council Igor Ivanov. Nino Burjanadze will meet the Russian Foreign Minister on November 1. ?Current bilateral relations will top the agenda …
30/10/2004 - 17:55
Russia Concerned over Visa Delays for its Troops in Georgia
The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed concern on October 30 regarding, as Moscow put it, Georgia?s ?delay? to grant entry visas to the Russian servicemen, who are expected to be deployed in the Russian military base in southern Georgian town of Akhalkalaki. ?We think that the delay in granting of visas to Russian servicemen and their …
International Conference Focuses on EU-South Caucasus Relations
International conference, organized by Friedrich Ebert Foundation and South Caucasus Institute of Regional Security, is held in Tbilisi on October 30-31 to focus on the South Caucasus countries? foreign policy priorities and relationship with the European Union.One of the topics of discussion at the conference, which gathered officials and representatives from the think-tank organizations from …
NATO Approves Georgia’s IPAP
The North Atlantic Council, which is the decision-making body of the NATO, approved on October 29 the Individual Partnership Action Plan of Georgia (IPAP), the Georgian Foreign Ministry reported on October 29. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia is confident that upon the successful implementation of the Individual Partnership Action Plan, Georgia will accede …
Abkhaz Speaker Challenges Ardzinba’s Order over Re-Vote
Chairman of the Abkhaz Parliament Nugzar Ashuba told the Georgian news agency Inter-Press that the legislative body, “does not intend to consider the presidential order [over repeat elections] on the background of the current political situation.” “Most of the parliamentarians believe that discussions over fixing the date of re-vote is untimely against the background of …
29/10/2004 - 18:06
Court Fails to Deliver Breakthrough in Abkhaz Crisis
In the wake of the Abkhazian Supreme Court’s controversial ruling, outgoing Abkhaz President Vladislav Ardzinba issued an order on October 29 instructing the Central Election Commission to hold repeat presidential elections in the breakaway region within two months. Opposition presidential candidate Sergey Bagapsh has already condemned Ardzinba’s order as “illegitimate.” Developments in the breakaway region …
Critics Say Draft on Financial Amnesty Hinders Anti-Corruption Drive
Leading civil rights watchdog NGO Liberty Institute expressed its concern, on October 28, that the government-proposed draft on tax and financial amnesty might hinder the anti-corruption drive by the authorities. The government has already submitted the draft to the Parliament, which envisages amnesty for those businessmen who evaded paying taxes before January 1, 2004, as well …
Russia Calls for Immediate Settlement of Crisis in Abkhazia
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called on the Abkhaz authorities to solve the current crisis in the breakaway region as soon as possible, in order to continue the peace process aiming at resolving the decade-old conflict. “The sooner the disputable issues are solved in Abkhazia, the sooner Sokhumi and Tbilisi will get back to negotiations through …
Ardzinba Signs Order on Re-Vote
Outgoing President of breakaway Abkhazia issued an order on October 29 over holding repeat presidential elections, the Russian news agencies reported. Ailing Vladislav Ardzinba ordered a re-vote following the controversial ruling of the Abkhaz Supreme Court early on October 29, which canceled the October 3 presidential election results as demanded by the pro-governmental presidential candidate Raul Khajimba. …
Georgian Official Concerned over Abkhazia Developments
Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Giorgi Khaindrava condemned the recent developments in breakaway Abkhazia regarding the disputed October 3 presidential elections and said that there is “a vivid attempt to appoint” pro-governmental candidate Raul Khajimba as the president of the unrecognized republic. The Supreme Court revised its earlier decision and annulled on October 29 …
Judge Admits He was “Forced” to Revise Ruling over Abkhaz Polls
Judge of Abkhaz Supreme Court Giorgi Akaba said on October 29 that he was “forced” to revise his decision and annul October 3 presidential elections, which declared opposition candidate Sergey Bagapsh president-elect.Several hours before this ruling, late on October 28, the Supreme Court confirmed the results of the elections, which declared Bagapsh President-elect. The decision …
Critics Say Draft on Financial Amnesty Hinders Anti-Corruption Drive
Leading civil rights watchdog NGO Liberty Institute expressed its concern, on October 28, that the government-proposed draft on tax and financial amnesty might hinder the anti-corruption drive by the authorities. The government has already submitted the draft to the Parliament, which envisages amnesty for those businessmen who evaded paying taxes before January 1, 2004, as well …
Parliament Approves New Tax Code in First Hearing
On October 28 the Parliament of Georgia approved 28 the new tax code in the first hearing with a 124 to 19 vote. “Adoption of the new tax code means a real economic revolution in the country,” Georgian Finance Minister Zurab Nogaideli said while presenting the draft to the parliamentary session on October 28. According to the …
Turkey Wants to Double Its Trade with Georgia
Visiting Turkish State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener said in Tbilisi on October 28 that Turkey seeks to boost foreign trade with Georgia from the current USD 420 million to USD 1 billion per year, Anadolu news agency reported. Sener was visiting the Turkish-Georgian Businessmen Association and he will participate in the October …
BSEC Foreign Ministers’ Summit in Tbilisi
Foreign Ministers from the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC) will gather to meet in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi on October 29 to discuss the cooperation in the region. 11 countries – Albania, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bulgaria, Romania, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Russian Federation, Ukraine and Turkey are the members of the BSEC, which was set up in 1992 …
Abkhaz Court Revises Earlier Decision, Orders Repeat Elections
Judge Giorgi Akaba (in the middle) said he was “forced” by Khajimba’s supporters to revise his earlier decision. Russian 1 TV Channel footage. In the early hours of October 29 the Abkhaz Supreme Court reversed its earlier decision and canceled the disputed October 3 presidential election results, which declared opposition candidate Sergey Bagapsh president-elect, Itar-Tass news …
Abkhaz Supreme Court Confirms Bagapsh President-Elect
Sergey Bagapsh, 55, becomes breakaway Abkhazia’s new leader. The Supreme Court of breakaway Abkhazia confirmed opposition candidate Sergey Bagapsh winner of the disputed October 3 presidential elections, the Russian news agencies reported on OCtober 28.Presidential candidate Raul Khajimba, who along with the local government’s support also enjoys backing from Moscow, appealed the Supreme Court, demanding the cancellation of …
28/10/2004 - 23:16
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This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)