Weekly Review of the Parliament’s Plenary Sessions. September 25-28, 2001
SEPTEMBER 25, TUESDAY
Opposition was back to plenary sessions. Their conditions were such: Parliament to discuss the issue of four MPs Constitutional Court acknowledged illegal and optimal changes to Election Code.
Opposition worried about the resolution project on “creation of Georgian Control Chamber studying temporary parliamentary commission”. The leader of “New Rightists” Davit Gamkrelidze declared that above mentioned issue became actual when Control Chamber while checking Finance Ministry discovered violations and prohibited its special funds.
1. Draft project on “total census of population”
The head of state department of statistics Teimuraz Beridze represented draft project.
The sector of national requisite in census blank was debated between Koba Davitashvili and Guram Sharadze. Davitashvili demanded to write “ethnic origin” instead of “nationality”
.
It was discussed by II hearing.
For – 116
Against – 0
2. Resolution decree on “election Madona Gogelia as the Judge of Supreme Court”.
Parliamentary secretary of President Valeri Khaburzania represented the candidate.
For – 133
Against – 1
SEPTEMBER 26, WEDNESDAY
Statements made in the beginning of the sitting referred to the alarm situation in Pankisi and Kodori Gorges. Opposition MPs demanded from executive authority abolishment of any doubt of international society whether there are Chechen terrorists in Georgia. The leader of “united Georgia” faction Giorgi Targamadze even demanded president to visit parliament and explain the real situation.
1. Draft project on “changes and amendments to Georgian Organic Law “Georgian Election Code”
Parliamentary secretary of President Valeri Khaburzania represented President initiated draft project.
Changes referred to using Soviet passports and other identity document during the elections; suspension of staff changes in the law enforcing structures from the end of party registration until the end of the elections (including second tour); also these changes give MP right to participate in local elections and in case of success cancel MP authority.
It was discussed by rushed rule, three hearing.
For – 134
Against – 0 / I hearing/
For – 132
Against – 0 / II hearing/
Before third hearing president was asked to postpone the election date in order to avoid violation of terms.
For – 128
Against – 0 / III hearing/
2. Draft project on “change to Georgian Criminal Procedure Code”
The head of committee on Legal Issues, the Legitimacy and Administrative Reforms Zurab Adeishvili represented the draft project.
By the bill appellation date increases from 1 to 2 months.
Voting was postponed.
3. Draft project on “protection of under age persons from the harmful influence”
The chairman of State Department of Youth Issues Zurab Gaiparashvili represented draft project.
It was discussed by III hearing.
For – 120
Against – 1
4. Draft project on “amendments to the Georgian law on “state custom”/connected to draft project on “amendments to the Georgian law on “state custom”/
It was voted by simplified rule.
For – 106
Against – 1
5. Ratification of “Development credit agreement” (electro-energy market supporting project) between Georgia and International Development Association.
The deputy of Finance minister Zurab Soselia represented agreement project.
Rating voting was held.
For – 96
Against – 10
It was clear that ratification would fail once again and the issue was postponed.
SEPTEMBER 27, THURSDAY
On September 27 plenary session was totally dedicated to Abkhazia problem.
MPs insisted the law enforcement ministers, the minister of Foreign Affairs and minister of Extraordinary Affairs to appear in Parliament. MPs noted with indignation, that ministers remind on Parliament only at time of their approval.
Irakli Batiashvili noted that after September 11 situation has changed in world and in this conditions Georgia have to use the moment. Russia demands from Georgia to cooperate against terrorism. Instead of this cooperation Georgia must demand Russia to punish Abkhazian separatist band-formings. As Batiashvili noted Chechnya is the same problem for Russia as for Georgia is Abkhazia.
MP also raised the issue of fulfillment of Constitutional vacuum with definition of Abkhazia status.
The chairman of parliamentary permanent commission on Abkhazia issues Vakhtang Kolbaia informed that thick document on Abkhazia issue including all documents during 5 years Parliament would discuss in the last session week of October.
Parliament discussed several statement projects:
Geno Kalandia represented statement on November 24 elections in Abkhazia. The statement informs that international society many times expressed its negative vision on elections held by 2/3 reduced population. Parliament is sure that Sokhumi separatist authority elections on November 24 will cause the adequate reaction from international society.
Gubaz Sanikidsze represented Traditionalists’ statement project where 5 main principles were underlined:
1. Georgia supports USA;
2. Georgia is ready to give military bases and airports to USA;
3. Parliament will disturb the violation of strategic balance of Caucasus;
4. NATO to inspect Georgia to cancel doubts whether Georgia supports terrorists;
5. Parliament declares that internal problems of Georgia will be arranged with democratic remedies.
Dimitri Jaiani, Gocha Jojua and Davit Gvadzabia also represented their statements. On the bases of all represented announcements Parliament appealed international society with the statement.
After the law enforcement ministers visited Parliament the closed sitting lased during 5 hours.
SEPTEMBER 28, FRIDAY
1. Resolution decree on “approving Roland Giligashvili as the Justice minister of Georgia”
The candidature of Roland Giligashvili according to Parliamentary tradition was approved without the discussion.
For – 118
Against – 1
2. Draft project on “changes and amendments to Georgian Organic Law “Georgian Election Code”
The head of committee on Legal Issues, the Legitimacy and Administrative Reforms and author of the bill together with Vakhtang Khmaladze, Zurab Adeishvili represented the draft project.
The bill defines the procedures of CEC (Central Election Commission) member authority cancellation; the rule of forming DEC (District Election Commission) and PEC (Precinct Election Commission) in case of not composing CEC with NGO candidates; the rule of creation of main and additional list of electorate; division of election districts into one-mandate sectors, etc.
Socialist Irakli Mindeli declared that these changes increase CEC budget by 2 million Lari and that will make obscure election future.
It was voted by first hearing, but on first attempt it failed and only on the second could pass.
For – 106
Against – 8 /I attempt/
For – 127
Against – 1 /II attempt/
3.The election of Georgia’s Central Election commission.
NGO coalition represented 14 candidates to Parliament but absence of 2/3 of quorum made to postpone the issue.
4. Draft project on “employment”.
The minister of Health And Social Protection Avtandil Jorbenadze represented draft project.
It was discussed by III hearing.
For – 119
Against – 3
5. Draft project on “changes and amendments to Georgia’s law on “Budget systems and Budget authorities”/connected to draft project on “employment”/
It was discussed by simplified rule.
For – 101
Against – 2
7. Draft project on “changes and amendments to Georgia’s Tax Code” /connected to draft project on “employment”/
It was discussed by simplified rule.
For – 97
Against – 2
8.Draft project on “changes to Organic Law on “National Bank”.
The head of Finance-Budget committee Zaza Sioridze represented draft project.
It was discussed by I hearing.
For – 133
Against – 1
9. Draft project on “changes to Organic Law on “Commercial banks”.
The head of Finance-Budget committee Zaza Sioridze represented draft project.
It was discussed by I hearing.
For – 119
Against – 7
10. Ratification of “Development credit agreement” (education system transition and strengthening credit) between Georgia and International development Association.
Vasil Maglaperidze fought against credit ratification. Opposition supported him.
The results of rating voting made issues to be postponed.
For – 113
Against – 3
