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Saakashvili Urges BP to Observe Environmental Safety Measures
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili urged the British Petroleum (BP) company, which heads the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil export pipeline, to observe stricter environmental safety measures. ?The project is important for Georgia, but the health of my population is more important. I urge the BP company to observe special safety measures to avoid the …
06/08/2004 - 12:27
Burjanadze Concerned over Russian Duma Statement
Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze raised concerns over the recent anti-Georgian statement adopted by the Russian State Duma on August 5. The document pointed out that there exist conditions of unending threats on the part of the Georgian leadership in regards to Russian citizens permanently residing in the territory of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and …
Saakashvili, Powell Discuss South Ossetia
The recent developments in Georgia?s breakaway South Ossetia were discussed during talks between Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on August 5. ?Our policy is clear. We want to demilitarize. We want to democratize the whole region and keep dialogue going, including dialogue with the Russians. Some very crazy …
Mayor of Moscow Visits Breakaway Abkhazia
Mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov arrived in the capital of breakaway Abkhazia, Sukhumi, on an official two-day visit on August 5. He has already held talks with de facto Vice-President Valerie Arshba and Prime Minister Raul Khajimba. ?I am an honorary citizen of Georgia, I am an honorary citizen of Tbilisi. So why can’t I arrive …
05/08/2004 - 18:34
Georgia Adequately Responds to Russia’s Harsh Statements
The Georgian Foreign Ministry raised concerns regarding recent statements in which “along with unacceptable terminology, the facts are distorted” by the Russian Foreign Ministry. Among these concerns was the harsh criticism by the Russian Foreign Ministry following the Georgian authorities’ warning against the unauthorized operation of foreign vessels in its territorial waters. The Russian Foreign Ministry warned on August 4 …
Russian State Duma Adopts Anti-Georgian Statement
On August 5 the Russian State Duma unanimously adopted a special statement regarding ?the deterioration of the situation in the Caucasus.? The document reads, in particular, that there exist conditions of unending threats on the part of the Georgian leadership in regard to Russian citizens permanently residing in the territory of South Ossetia and Abkhazia …
NGOs Protest against Arrest of Newspaper Editor
Representatives from the non-governmental sector of Georgia are protesting the arrest of Revaz Okruashvili, editor of the newspaper People’s Newspaper, who has been sentenced by the court to three months of pretrial detention. “When the Interior Minister publicly declares that Revaz Okruashvili was arrested by his direct order, it becomes quite clear why the court …
NGOs Protest against Arrest of Newspaper Editor
Representatives from the non-governmental sector of Georgia are protesting the arrest of Revaz Okruashvili, editor of the newspaper People?s Newspaper, who has been sentenced by the court to three months of pretrial detention. ?When the Interior Minister publicly declares that Revaz Okruashvili was arrested by his direct order, it becomes quite clear why the court …
The post-revolution authorities in Georgia – are they really new?
Q&A with Tina Khidasheli Founder of the Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) At present the authorities tend to cooperate with the non-governmental sector more actively and definitely try to deploy the sector’s resources. The President of Georgia has last met with the representatives of the non-governmental organizations on July 24. The participants agreed to …
BTC Construction Resumes in Western Georgia
The Georgian Ministry of the Environment authorized the British Petroleum (BP) company, which heads the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil export pipeline, to resume construction works in the Borjomi valley, in western Georgia. ?We have submitted new conditions to the British Petroleum company, under which the pipes will be laid deeper and additional safety …
Shooting Incident Blocks Possible Breakthrough in South Ossetia
The talks scheduled between Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and South Ossetian de facto President Eduard Kokoev later this week have been cancelled. The reports of “postponing the talks for an indefinite period” were spread late on August 4 when news broke that shots were fired in South Ossetia at a convoy carrying a Russian …
Abkhaz CEC Registers Two Presidential Candidates
The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Georgia?s breakaway Abkhazia has registered two presidential candidates for the upcoming October elections – ex-Premier Anri Jergenia and Alexander Ankvab,leader of political movement Aitaira, reports Apsnypress. Registration of candidates for the upcoming presidential elections in breakaway Abkhazia was launched on August 3 and will last for 20 days. The Abkhaz …
Russia Urges Investigation of Incident in South Ossetia
The Russian Foreign Ministry raised concerns over the recent shots fired at the Russian delegation led by Andrei Kokoshin, chairman of the State Duma Committee for the affairs of the CIS, in the South Ossetian conflict area. ?The Georgian side continues not only to violate the achieved agreements, but also infringes upon the security of …
Saakashvili Meets with U.S. Secretary of Defense
Visiting Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on August 4 behind closed doors. Reportedly, the issues of boosting further military cooperation, as well as the recent developments in Georgia?s breakaway South Ossetia were discussed during the talks. Later today Mikheil Saakashvili is planning to hold unofficial talks with U.S. …
Roy Reeve: Permanent Council to Decide on an Increased Role for OSCE in South Ossetia
The head of the OSCE Mission in Georgia, Ambassador Roy Reeve, said on August 5 upon his return from breakaway South Ossetia that the OSCE Permanent Council would accept a final decision over OSCE’s expansion in Georgia at a session on August 6. ?We have discussed in [breakaway] South Ossetia the issue of OSCE?s increased …
U.S. Boosts Successful Military Cooperation with Georgia
Ongoing U.S. Military Assistance for Georgia In 2005 the U.S. military assistance will be oriented towards training Georgian officersunder international standardsThe United States continues to cooperate militarily with Georgia. The Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC), Georgia, a part of the U.S. Embassy in Georgia that plans and coordinates U.S. Military Assistance and Cooperation programs, has already elaborated …
Georgia Refutes Opening Fire at Russian MP in Tskhinvali Region
Georgian Deputy Security Minister Gigi Ugulava refuted reports on August 4 over Georgia’s involvement in shots that were fired at Andrei Kokoshin, chairman of the State Duma Committee for the affairs of the CIS, in the South Ossetian conflict area. “The Ossetian side opened fire in the direction of the Georgian peacekeepers, and the Georgian side responded to it. This …
04/08/2004 - 18:54
Georgian Foreign Ministry Sends Protest Note to Russia
The Georgia Foreign Ministry sent on August 4 a note of protest to the Russian side concerning works being conducted towards the restoration of sections of the Vesioloe-Sukhumi railway communications and commercial tourist sea voyages in Abkhazia, Georgia. The note of the Foreign Ministry reads that by resorting to such unilateral acts the Russian side grossly violates earlier …
Russian Foreign Ministry Warns Georgia Against Firing at Vessels
The Russian foreign ministry issued an official statement warning Georgia against opening fire at vessels violating its territorial waters, Interfax reported on August 4. “Russian Foreign Ministry warns that any attempts to harm, or moreover, threaten lives of Russian citizens would be duly repelled”, the statement reads. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said at a news briefing on …
Georgian Authorities Distribute Pensions to Ossetian Population
Director General of the Pension Fund of Georgia Zaza Sopromadze left for the Tskhinvali region on August 4 in order to distribute pensions to the Georgian and Ossetian pensioners living in the South Ossetian conflict area. ?Despite the pressure from the South Ossetian de facto authorities, the number of pensioners who demand pensions from the …
Interior Ministry Under Fire
Human Rights Activists Allege Glaring Fabrication of Evidence On August 2 criminal police in the Shida Kartli region of Georgia detained Revaz Okruashvili, editor of the newspaper “People’s Newspaper” alleging the illegal possession and sale of narcotics. He was later sentenced by the court to three months of preliminary detention. The detention may trigger the …
Zhvania Offers “Direct Dialogue” to the Ossetian Authorities
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania said at a government session on August 4 that the Georgian authorities are ready for direct dialogue with the Ossetian side. ?We will offer the South Ossetian separatists to hold a direct dialogue in order to settle the conflict. Our final goal is to restore Georgia?s territorial integrity, and we …
Saakashvili to Discuss South Ossetia in the US
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili left early on August 4 for the United States with an unofficial visit. He is planning to hold unofficial talks with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. At a news briefing on August 3 President Saakashvili ruled out a possible …
Saakashvili Vows to Open Fire for Violating Georgian Territorial Waters
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said at a news briefing on August 4 that the Georgian authorities will open fire at any ships which violate the territorial waters of Georgia. On July 30 the Georgian coast guard opened fire on a Turkish vessel en route to Abkhazia. Following this incident, the Abkhaz de facto authorities suspended …
Security Council Discusses PM’s Visit to Tskhinvali Region
The National Security Council of Georgia discussed, late on August 3, the possible visit of Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania to the Tskhinvali region on August 6. “We hope, Zhvania will arrive in Tskhinvali [capital of breakaway South Ossetia] late this week and hold talks with de facto President Eduard Kokoev,” President Saakashvili said at a …
Ossetian to Carry Georgian Flag at Olympics
Leri Khabelov, a Georgian wrestler of Ossetian origin, will be the flag-carrier for the Georgian Olympic team in Athens. This was announced at the farewell meeting of the Georgian team with the President on August 3. This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
Saakashvili Appoints New Cabinet Member of Ossetian Ethnicity
On August 3 Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili appointed Zinaida Bestaeva, an ethnic Ossetian, as a Deputy State Minister of Georgia. Zinaida Bestaeva, who earlier served in Russia?s North Ossetia as the Deputy Head of the Immigration Service, will perform her duties as the First Deputy State Minister for Regional Policy, Local Self-Governance and Governance Issues. …
Russia Slams Georgia for Opening Fire on Turkish Vessel
The Russian Foreign Ministry reacted with a statement to opening of fire by the Georgian coast guard on a Turkish vessel en route to Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia. “This is not the first case when the Georgian coast guard has opened fire at foreign ships en-route to Abkhazia. Of course such facts cause concerns. We hope the …
03/08/2004 - 18:40
U.S. Boosts Military Cooperation with Georgia
The head of the Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC), Georgia, Major Doug Peterson, told reporters on August 3 that the United States continues its military cooperation with Georgia. ?The end of the Train and Equip Program [GTEP] does not mean the end of the U.S. military assistance to the country. Now, the most important is …
Sporadic Shootouts Escalate Tensions in Tskhinvali Region
According to official reports by the Georgian authorities, at least six South Ossetians were killed and two Georgian policemen wounded in an overnight shootout in the Ossetian conflict zone on August 1. “Two Georgians were slightly wounded. According to our information at least six South Ossetians were killed. We opened fire after our positions were …
Roy Reeve to Discuss Expansion of OSCE Mandate in Tskhinvali
The head of the OSCE Mission in Georgia, Ambassador Roy Reeve, intends to visit the capital of breakaway South Ossetia, Tskhinvali, on August 4 to hold talks with the de facto authorities of the region. “The current situation in the conflict area and the expansion of the OSCE mandate will be discussed in [breakaway] South Ossetia. …
Registration of Presidential Candidates Launched in Abkhazia
Registration of candidates for the upcoming presidential elections in breakaway Abkhazia was launched on August 3. According to the Law of Abkhazia on Presidential Elections, the registration will last for 20 days. The Abkhaz opposition movements Amtsakhara and United Abkhazia have already nominated Sergei Bagapsh to run for President of the unrecognized republic. Sergei Bagapsh …
Saakashvili Leaves for United States
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili will leave late on August 3 for the United States for an unofficial visit, the press office of the President of Georgia reports. The details of the forthcoming visit are unknown so far. It is known, however, that Mikheil Saakashvili will be back on August 8. This post is also …
Parliament Launches Discussion over Increased Budgetary Expenditures
On August 2 the Parliament of Georgia agreed over a scheme for discussing the amendments to the law regarding the state budget for 2004. The amendments, which envisage increasing budgetary expenditures by GEL 228 million (approximately USD 114 million), will be discussed by parliamentary committees sometime this week. According to Roman Gotsiridze, chairman of the Parliamentary Committee …
02/08/2004 - 18:44
Saakashvili Meets with Adjarian Cabinet Members
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili met with the members of the cabinet of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, in Batumi on August 2. Further the activities of the newly-elected cabinet and problems persisting in the region were the issues discussed during the meeting. On July 30 the Adjarian Parliament approved the four-member cabinet of the Autonomous …
Tskhinvali Denies Casualties in Overnight Shootout
The de facto authorities of South Ossetia refuted reports claiming that six South Ossetians had been killed in an overnight shootout in the Ossetian conflict zone on August 1. ?Not a single person has died from the South Ossetian side,? the Interior Ministry of the breakaway region said on August 1. The Georgian Interior Minister …
Russian agencies: Zhvania to Visit Tskhinvali
Russian news agency Interfax reported based on sources in South Ossetia, that Georgian prime-minister Zurab Zhvania intends to visit the capital Tskhinvali on August 4. Georgian authorities did not confirm the information as of yet. This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
Ivanov: Time is Ripe for Meeting between Tbilisi and Tskhinvali Leaderships
Speaking to the Russian Izvestiya daily, Secretary of the Russian Security Council Igor Ivanov stated that the time is ripe for a meeting between the leadership of Tbilisi and Tskhinvali. Ivanov ruled out the possibility of a “major war” in South Ossetia, but said that politicians from both sides must “engage in a dialogue on various issues” to avoid dire …
Georgian PM Hails Ukrainian Visit as ‘Fruitful’
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, while commenting on his recent official visit to the Ukraine, said his talks with top Ukrainian officials were rather fruitful. The issues of bilateral cooperation within the frames of GUUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Moldova), as well as further cooperation in the energy sector, were discussed during the visit. Ukraine …
UN Security Council Extends UNOMIG’s Mandate in Georgia
The UN Security Council has extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG), which was schedule to expire on July 31, for another six months, until January, 31 2005. “The Council, while reaffirming the independence and territorial integrity of Georgia and the necessity to define the status of Abkhazia within the Georgian …
Abkhaz De Facto President Appoints New Foreign Minister, Security Chief
Akhbaz de facto President Vladislav Ardzinba appointed Igor Akhba the new Foreign Minister of the breakaway region. According to a seperate presidential decree, Iuri Ashuba was appointed as Secretary of the State Security Council of breakaway Abkhazia. Several key officials in the de facto Abkhaz government filed for resignation on June 15. Among them the …
Casualties Reported in Overnight Shootout in South Ossetia
At least six South Ossetians were killed and two Georgian policemen wounded in an overnight shootout in the Ossetian conflict zone on August 1.?Two Georgians were slightly wounded. According to our information at least six South Ossetians were killed. We opened fire after our positions were attacked from the South Ossetian side. We will open …
01/08/2004 - 15:34
Russia Cautious over Sharing Leading Role with OSCE in South Ossetia
Last month Russia also pushed the issue of suspension of the OSCE border monitoring mission in Georgia. Up to 150 unarmed OSCE observers have been monitoring Ingush, Chechen and Daghestani sections of the Georgian-Russian border since 1999. Russia, which has been accusing the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) of biased reporting over …
JCC Session Held in Tskhinvali
A session of the quadripartite Joint Control Commission (JCC), involving the Georgian, South Ossetian, Russian and North Ossetian sides, was held in the capital of the self-styled South Ossetian Republic Tskhinvali on July 31, in a bid to defuse recent tensions in the region.Georgian Interior Minister Irakli Okruashvili, who together with State Minister for Conflict …
31/07/2004 - 19:40
Russia Against Expansion of OSCE Mandate in South Ossetia
In a statement issued on July 31, the Russian Foreign Ministry denounced Georgia?s proposal to expand the OSCE?s mandate in breakaway South Ossetia. The statement reads that Georgia?s proposal to increase the number of OSCE observers in South Ossetia and deploy them on the Russian border ?is unrealistic.? ?This kind of proposals aims at switching the …
OSCE Chief Calls for Fresh Talks over South Ossetia
In a statement issued on July 30, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, expressed his deep concern over the further deterioration of the situation in the South Ossetian conflict zone and called on the conflicting parties to follow pervious agreements to help defuse tensions. Several people from the both sides were wounded as a …
National Security Council Discusses South Ossetia
President Saakashvili convened an emergency session of the National Security Council late on July 30 to discuss South Ossetia, amid reports of overnight clashes between the South Ossetian militias and Georgian forces near Tskhinvali, the capital of the self-styled republic on July 30. Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Goga Khaindrava, who arrived from Russia?s North …
U.S. Calls for Peaceful Solution of South Ossetian Conflict
Elizabeth Jones, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs said on July 30 that the United States is interested in the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Georgia?s breakaway South Ossetia. She said after talks with Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze that Georgia is a strategic partner of the U.S. in combating …
30/07/2004 - 18:44
Adjara Approves New Cabinet
The Adjarian Parliament approved on July 30 the proposed four-member cabinet of the Autonomous Republic with 23 votes to 2. The opposition Republican Party voted against the new cabinet. Minister of Agriculture Eduard Putkaradze, Education Minister Alexandre Gegenava and Economy Minister Alexandre Bezhanidze all retained their posts in the cabinet. Koba Khabazi was appointed the Minister of …
Tbilisi, Tskhinvali Blame One Another for Opening Fire
Moscow accused Tbilisi of escalating tensions in breakaway South Ossetia on July 30, amid conflicting reports over an exchange of fire near Tskhinvali, the capital of the self-styled republic.Authorities in breakaway South Ossetia accused the Georgian forces of opening fire on the capital Tskhinvali overnight on July 30. At least two civilians were wounded, Irina …
Page 622 of 762
This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)