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Zhvania, Solana Met in Brussels
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, who participates in the Donors? Conference to support Georgia in Brussels, met with Javier Solana, the EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, on June 16. The EU foreign affairs chief?s press office reported that Javier Solana and Zurab Zhvania welcomed the recent inclusion of the South …
17/06/2004 - 11:15
Georgia, UK to Hold Joint Military Exercises
Georgian Deputy Defense Minister Paata Gaprindashvili and military attach? of the UK to Georgia Chris Nunn signed the memorandum over holding joint military exercises Georgian Express ? 2004. The exercises, which include bilateral infantry training, will be held at the Vaziani military base near Tbilisi on July 1-20 and will involve 170 British officers and …
Donors Pledge $1 bln for Georgia
International donors from 31 countries and 12 organizations, gathered in Brussels at the Donors? Conference on June 16-17 in support to Georgia, pledged to provide around $ 1 billion to Georgia to meet urgent needs of Georgia for the period 2004-2006. The amount pledged by the donors is aimed for budget support, investments in energy, …
Adjara’s Ex-Railway Chief Held
Former chief of the railway of Adjara’s Autonomous Republic Nugzar Varshanidze was arrested on June 16. Varshanidze is accused of misuse of power and misappropriation of USD 230 thousand. Varshanidze is third former official of the ex-Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze’s government arrested in recent days. On June 13 former Chairman of the District Election Commission …
16/06/2004 - 18:37
KLM Dutch Airlines Start Flights in Georgia
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines launched operation in Georgia and made its first regular Amsterdam-Tbilisi flight on June 16. The KLM will operate three weekly flights to Tbilisi with Boeing 737-900’s. This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
EU Doubles Aid for Georgia
The European Union said on June 15 that it will announce a pledge of some USD 150 million of EU support to Georgia for the period 2004-2006 at the Donors? Conference in Brussels on June 16. ?The assistance is designed to support the Georgian government?s urgent needs in order to carry through its substantial reform …
Brussels Donors’ Conference to Outline Georgia Assistance Priorities
Georgia expects the donor countries to provide major new aid funds for Georgia to address the governance, budgetary and energy problems in 2004-2006.At the Donors’ Conference in Brussels on June 16-17, which is co-chaired by the European Commission and the World Bank, Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania will submit a request for urgent financial priorities …
Infrastructure Ministry Canceled
Georgian Parliament approved on June 15 government?s proposal, envisaging the merger of the Infrastructure Ministry with that of the Economy Ministry. The Ministry of Infrastructure was set up in February after the Ministry of Transport and Communications merged with the Ministry of Construction and Urbanization. Tamar Sulukhia, former Infrastructure Minister, will become Deputy Minister of …
Moscow Calls Tbilisi for Restraint in South Ossetia
Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on June 15 claiming that the Russian peacekeepers deployed in the South Ossetian conflict zone thwarted Tbilisi?s plans to deploy additional troops in the conflict zone. ?Extra troops of the Georgian Interior Ministry were deployed in the conflict zone overnight on June 14-15. The troops were pulled out only …
Georgia Urges for USD 480 million at Donors’ Conference
A Donors’ Conference, co-chaired by the European Commission and the World Bank, in support of Georgia is held in Brussels on June 16-17.Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania will present at the conference Georgian government?s reforms and development agenda and submit a request for urgent financial priorities in the amount of USD 480 million for the …
Georgia Demands from Russia to Pull out Peacekeepers from South Ossetia
Georgian State Minister for conflict resolutions Goga Khaindrava urged Russia to withdraw its peacekeeping forces from the South Ossetian conflict zone. ?We [the Georgian side] can freely control the situation in breakaway South Ossetia. The Russian peacekeepers were deployed in the conflict zone 12 years ago, but now they are no more necessary there, since …
15/06/2004 - 18:13
U.S. Hails Georgia’s Progress in Dealing with Trafficking
On June 14, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell welcomed the significant progress made by several countries, including Georgia, “in dealing with their trafficking problems to avoid being designated a Tier 3 country.” “We’re pleased that some countries have moved up and out of the Tier 3 status: Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Dominican Republic, …
Foreign Minister: EU Includes Georgia in ‘Wider Europe’
The European Union included Georgia, along with Armenia and Azerbaijan, in its Wider Europe Neighborhood Initiative, Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili told Civil Georgia on June 15. “This is one more step towards the European Union,” Salome Zourabichvili added. The European Commission recommended last month inclusion of Georgia, along with Armenia and Azerbaijan, within the …
Guard Killed in Mass Jailbreak
41 inmates escaped last night from the Geguti prison, near the western Georgian city of Kutaisi, after killing one prison guard. The police recaptured 6 of the jailbreakers later on June 15. Georgian Interior Minister Irakli Okruashvili gave the jailbreakers two days to return voluntarily. ?All those jailbreakers who return voluntarily within two days will …
Georgia Open to Privatization
Economy Minister Kakha Bendukidze has vigorously pushed for privatization policies since the very first day of appointment. The Georgian government announced it will push its privatization drive forward and even sell state-run enterprises, including ports and other enterprises once labeled as ‘strategic.’ “Implementation of this new economic policy is connected with the attraction of investments. …
Key Ministers in de facto Abkhaz Government Resign
Several key officials in de facto Abkhaz government filed for resignation on June 15. Among them the First Vice-Premier, Astamur Tarba, Foreign Minister, Sergei Shamba and Security Service Chief, Givi Agrba. However, de facto Prime Minister Raul Khajimba has not accepted resignations yet, the Abkhaz news agency Apsnypress reports. Apsnypress also reported that the Abkhaz de …
Georgian Delegation Leaves for Brussels
A Georgian governmental delegation, led by Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, left today for Brussels in order to participate in an international conference on reforms and development plans. The Georgian delegation will acquaint donor countries with the Georgia’s plans of action for the years 2004-2006. During the three-day visit, the Georgian Prime Minister will hold meetings …
Saakashvili Holds Phone Talks with Putin
President Saakashvili told reporters that he held phone talks with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on June 14. He said that a wide range of bilateral issues, including the situation in Georgia?s breakaway South Ossetia was discussed during these talks. This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
14/06/2004 - 19:45
Georgia’s Ambassador in Russia May Chair Supreme Court
President Saakashvili said on June 14 that he wants the Georgian Ambassador to Russia, Kote Kemularia, to become the Chairman of the Georgian Supreme Court. ?But the problem is that we can not yet find a person who will replace Mr. Kemularia as Georgia?s Ambassador to Russia. We have very dynamic relations at the moment with Russia,? Mikheil …
Georgia, Azerbaijan Vow to Boost Cooperation
Ilham Aliyev and Mikheil Saakashvili met in Tbilisi on June 14. After their talks in Tbilisi on June 14, the Georgian and Azerbaijani Presidents reiterated that the two countries are strategic partners and vowed to further boost their ties. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said at a joint news briefing with his Azeri counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, who …
Draft of Tax Code Presented
The government presented, on June 13, a draft of the new tax code, which will be, as Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania put it, ?the most liberal tax code in the region.?A special governmental commission, consisting of representatives from the executive and legislative authorities as well as Georgian and foreign experts, have been working on the …
Are watchdog NGOs still necessary?
Monitoring of the government’s policy was one of the most widespread and effective forms of civil activity before the November revolution. However, after the new authorities took over the power in the country some cast doubts over the efficacy of the watchdog organizations. During the previous authorities, “the only thing the non-governmental organizations and journalists …
Adjara’s Ex-chiefs of Election Commission, Customs Arrested
Former Chairman of the District Election Commission of the Adjarian capital Batumi, Ednar Shamilashvili, and ex-chief of the Adjara’s customs service, Tengiz Bladadze, were arrested on June 13. Shamilashvili is accused of misuse of power, while Bladadze faces charges for the alleged formation of illegal armed groups. Both held official positions during the rule of …
Azeri President Visits Georgia
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev will pay his first official visit to Georgia on June 14-15. The Azeri President will hold talks with his Georgian counterpart Mikheil Saakashvili, Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze and with other officials. According to the Georgian Foreign Ministry, a number of bilateral agreements over economic and political cooperation between the two nations, …
Controversial Reports over Deployment of Extra Arms Flare Tensions in Ossetia
Controversy persists over the Tkviavi checkpoint, which lies less than 10 km away from Tskhinvalil. After the allegations by Georgian authorities that a convoy of trucks carrying weapons entered the breakaway South Ossetia, the OSCE Mission to Georgia monitored the situation in the South Ossetian conflict zone on June 12 and “found no evidence” of …
13/06/2004 - 14:22
OSCE: No Evidence of Extra Arms in Tskhinvali
After allegations made by the Georgian side that a convoy of trucks carrying weapons entered the breakaway republic of South Ossetia, the OSCE Mission in Georgia monitored the situation in the South Ossetian conflict zone on June 12 and ?found no evidence? of any military vehicles in the Tskhinvali area. Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, State Minister for conflict …
Tskhinvali Cuts Links with Tbilisi, Demands Compensation
President of self-styled South Ossetia Eduard Kokoev said in Moscow on June 12, that Tskhinvali ?suspends all kind of relations? with Tbilisi. He added that breakaway South Ossetia will keep contact with Georgia only within the frames of the Joint Control Commission, involving Georgian, South Ossetian, Russian and North Ossetian sides. He accused the Georgian authorities …
12/06/2004 - 17:55
Rustavi 2 TV Goes Bankrupt
On June 11, the Tbilisi courts opened bankruptcy proceedings against the independent Rustavi 2 broadcasting company. Co-founder and one of the owners of the television station, Erosi Kitsmarishvili, who is director of Rustavi 2 TV and also chairs the Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, appealed the court on June 8 with a request to open bankruptcy proceedings. …
Georgia Claims Arms Delivered to South Ossetia
Georgian State Minister Goga Khaindrava, who is in charge of conflict resolution issues in Georgia, said on June 11 that weapons were delivered to breakaway South Ossetia via Russia?s North Ossetian Republic. ?Around 160-170 trucks loaded with weapons, including anti-aircraft missiles, entered breakaway South Ossetia,? Goga Khaindrava told Rustavi 2 television late on June 11. This post is …
Russia Wants Georgian Troops out of Ossetian Conflict Zone
The Russian Foreign Ministry demanded Georgia, on June 11, to follow agreements reached on June 2 and pull extra forces out of the South Ossetian conflict zone. ?Georgia has not cancelled its checkpoints in the conflict zone. Moreover, these checkpoints have been strengthened thorugh the addition of units of Georgian armed forces,? the statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry on …
Ruling Party Meets in Adjara
Members from the National Movement-Democrats, the parliamentary majority party, will hold session in the Adjara Autonomous Republic between June 11-13. The session of the ruling party, which will be attended by President Saakashvili, is part of a pre-election campaign for the June 20 local elections in Adjara. Mikheil Saakashvili said on June 11, while addressing the members of the parliamentary …
11/06/2004 - 18:53
Police Chief, Intelligence Chief Appointed
Today, the new Internal Minister Irakli Okruashvili appointed Irakli Kldiashvili as Chief of the Tbilisi Police Department. Before this appointment Irakli Kldiashvili held the post of Deputy Interior Minister. Newly appointed Security Minister Vano Merabishvili appointed Batu Kutelia, 30, as the chief of the Intelligence Department on June 11. Kutelia replaced Valerie Chkheidze. This post is also …
Supreme Court Chairman Resigns
Chairman of the Supreme Court of Georgia Lado Chanturia filed his resignation on June 11. ?I think that I have exhausted my capacities for this post. Everything must end sometime,? Lado Chanturia said on June 11. President Saakashvili accepted his resignation and thanked him for his contributions to the judicial system, adding that Lado Chanturia would continue to work …
EC Calls for Restoration of Rail Link in South Ossetia
The Delegation of the European Commission to Georgia is deeply concerned that the South Ossetian side deters the completion of the last few hundred meters of the railway link between breakaway South Ossetia?s capital, Tskhinvali and the rest of Georgia. As the news release issued by the EC on June 9 reads, the European Union …
Estonian Foreign Minister Visits Georgia
Estonian Foreign Minister Kristiina Ojuland arrived in Tbilisi on June 11, for an official visit. She has already held a meeting with her Georgian counterpart, Salome Zourabichvili. Later today, the Estonian Minister plans to meet with Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze and President Saakashvili. The meetings will cover a wide spectrum of issues concerning bilateral …
G8 Leaders Pledge Assistance in Georgia’s Fight Against Corruption
Georgia officials, in collaboration with the members of G8, an informal group of eight countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States), announced Thursday their intention to cooperate in efforts to promote transparency and help combat corruption within the Republic of Georgia, reports the White House press office. Georgia and G8 share …
MP Slammed for Demands to Reveal Cabinet Members’ Ethnic Background
Non-partisan MP Gocha Pipia’s demand that all cabinet members be required to reveal their ethnic background and religious faith, caused an uproar during the parliamentary session on June 10, before the approval of the new cabinet by the lawmakers. Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, who was delivering a speech over the new cabinet’s plans, said he “is …
Abkhaz Opposition Activist Murdered
Gari Aiba, one of the leaders of the Abkhaz opposition movement, Amtsakhara, was shot dead on June 9, the Abkhaz news agency Apsnypress reported. Aiba died of injuries received on 9 June, when a gunman opened fire at his car in the the breakaway republic’s capital, Sukhumi. This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
10/06/2004 - 21:03
New General Prosecutor Approved
The Parliament approved Zurab Adeishvili, the former Security Minister, as General Prosecutor on June 10. Zurab Adeishvili told lawmakers at the parliamentary session that the fight against corruption would be his top priority. This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
Ex-Adjarian Finance Minister Arrested
Former Finance Minister of the Adjarian Autonomy, Davit Abashidze, was arrested for the alleged misuse of power and misappropriation funds in excess of 140,000 Lari (USD 70,000). Abashidze was the Finance Minister for two years under former president Aslan Abashidze?s government, but resigned from his post early in 2003. Former Adjarian official dismissed the allegation as ?politically motivated.? This …
Cabinet Wins Confidence Vote
The Prime Minister vows to increase budgetary expenditures by up to USD 100 million in July. The proposed new Georgian cabinet won the confidence vote during the parliamentary session on June 10, with a 150-6 victory in parliament. This is the second cabinet to be voted on, and approved, during the last four months. A …
Parliament Approves New Cabinet
The Parliament approved the reshuffled, 20-member cabinet, on June 10, with a vote of 150-6.The New Rights-Industrialists opposition faction represented 4 of the disenting voices against the approval of the government, while two MPs, both former allies of President Saakashvili ? Koba Davitashvili and Zviad Dzidziguri, also voted against the measure.The Parliament will discuss the government?s structural changes …
Georgia, Russia to Resume Talks over Military Bases
A spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Alexander Yakovenko, said on June 10, that the talks over the withdrawal of Russia?s two military bases in Georgia ?will be resumed in the near future.? ?The Georgian and Russian sides agreed to resume talks over dates regarding the withdrawal of the Russian military bases from Georgia,? Alexander Yakovenko said. Russian official also reiterated that …
Cabinet Faces Confidence Vote
It is widely expected that the reshuffled Georgian cabinet will win a confidence vote during the parliamentary session on June 10. However, a small opposition faction, composed of members from New Rights-Industrialists, intends to vote against the cabinet. Along with the consideration of the reshuffled cabinet, the lawmakers will also discuss the candidacy for the General …
Economy Minister Outlines Privatization Policy
Georgian Economy Minister Kakha Bendukidze, who advocates radical deregulation of the economy, said on June 9 that almost all the state-run facilities and enterprises including ports of Poti and Batumi should be privatized. Georgian-born Russian tycoon Kakha Bendukidze, who has been appointed as Georgian Economy Minister in early June, told the members of the parliamentary …
Police Break up Anti-BTC Rally
Riot police,on June 9, broke up a rally of some 60 residence from the village of Krtsanisi, near Tbilisi, who were protesting against the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline through their village. Three protesters were detained by the police. Villagers from Krtsanisi demand compensation for the land on which the pipeline is being constructed. However, the BTC Pipeline …
09/06/2004 - 20:21
Russian Senators Call for Restraint in South Ossetia
The Council of Federation of Russia, the upper house of the Russian Parliament, passed a statement on June 9 expressing concerns over the recent developments in Georgia?s breakaway South Ossetia. The Russian senators claim that the tension in South Ossetia poses a threat to peace and stability throughout the entire Caucasus region. The state reads: ?there …
Georgia Pushes For Russian Military Bases Pullout
Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili said, on June 9, that Russia?s two military bases in Georgia ?have no strategic importance? for Moscow any more and they should be pulled out. ?We will still push the issue of pulling out of Russian military bases from Georgia. Russia should understand that their bases have no strategic importance any …
New Acting CEC Chairman Elected
Former Secretary of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Zurab Nonikashvili, a member of the National Movement-Democrats party, was elected as an Acting Chairman of CEC on June 9. Earlier on June 9, former acting chief of the CEC Dimitri Kitoshvili, filed his resignation. He will reportedly take over the position of the Chairman of the National Regulatory Commission …
Communications Commission Chief Resigns
Chairman of the National Regulatory Commission for Communications Vakhtang Abashidze, gave his resignation on June 8.However, Vakhtang Abashidze refrained from commenting on the reasons behind this resignation. This is the second time that Vakhtang Abashidze has filed a resignation. His first resignation, motivated by mounting political pressure on the commission which he headed, was rejected by ex-President Eduard …
Page 632 of 764
This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)