Georgia News Digest 12-20-06
A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies
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1. report: “A Difficult Encounter–The Informal Georgian-Abkhazian Dialogue Process”
Berghof Research Center for Constructive Conflict Managementreport at www.berghof-peacesupport.org/publications/br12e.pdf
This report aims to provide an overview of the form, content and dynamics of the Georgian-Abkhazian Dialogue Process organized by the Berghof Research Center and Conciliation Resources (CR) and also considers its impact on the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict framework.The report explains the aims and structures of the informal dialogue project and presents both the opportunities and limitations of the facilitation approach. It analyses the conditions under which the dialogue process was initiated and the way in which the conflict parties evaluate its political dimension. In particular, it discusses the strategies that succeeded in establishing the process in political terms and making it an accepted form of dialogue for the parties.Care has been taken to give the reader an overview of the process as a whole and to illustrate the development of the project structure and facilitation methods throughout the project. To give an example, obstacles within the process are analysed together with the successful methods used to overcome them.
2. report: “Georgia’s Draft Construction Code”
Michael Brodsky.USAID Business Climate Reformreport at pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADH538.pdf
GoG has developed a streamlined administrative process for construction permitting and final inspection of construction projects. The substantive functions that construction permitting should fulfill are: 1) to assure that new buildings meet basic life-safety standards, including structural integrity, fire safety, and seismic safety; and 2) to assure that construction projects respect height and bulk limits, preserve public spaces including parks, sidewalks, and streets, and enhance the quality of urban life with respect to the built environment.This memo discusses considerations that should be addressed in developing legislation/regulations in the following areas related to life-safety issues: I) technical standards for building design that meet international best practices; II) workplace safety rules; III) civil liability and mandatory insurance provisions; IV) certification/licensing of architects and engineers; and V) certification of private engineering firms intended to take over safety review of building design, thus privatizing this current government function
3. report: “Assessing Change Of Youth In Imereti Regarding Healthy Lifestyles And Reproductive Health”
3. report: “Assessing Change Of Youth In Imereti Regarding Healthy Lifestyles And Reproductive Health”
Larry DershemSave the Childrenreport at pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADH080.pdf
Improving adolescent reproductive health is generally recognized as a key development priority, especiallywith increasingly larger numbers of adolescents today than ever before. The vast majority of youth livesin developing countries and is at risk of adverse health outcomes that are preventable. Adolescence isalso an important formative period during which many life style behaviors are learned and established.Thus, acquiring beneficial knowledge, developing positive attitudes, and establishing healthy practices andbehaviors at an early age sets the stage for longer-term health.Georgia, as many former Soviet states, came from a health care system that favored curative rather thanpreventative approaches to family planning; relied on abortion as birth control due to isolation from thedevelopment of modern, safe, and effective contraception elsewhere in the world; a lack of publicinformation and discussion on reproductive health; and little attention given to providing accessible oraffordable reproductive health services through various public and private providers. It is this contextthat adolescents in Georgia confront and that one component of the Healthy Women in Georgia (HWG)project, the behavioral change and communication (BCC) component, attempts to change by enhancingthe knowledge, attitudes and practices of young adults regarding healthy lifestyles and reproductive healthwith in the Imereti region.
4. report summary: “Georgia Immunization MIS and Disease Surveillance Reforms “
5. Political Elites and a Broken Melting Pot [excerpt]
6. Russian minister says Georgia leaves hand of friendship “hanging in mid-air”
7. Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova View NATO As ‘Protection’ Against Russia
8. Georgian Foreign Minister Rules Out NATO Membership Without Separatist Regions
9. German FM to Visit Russia: Target Georgia-Iran
10. Bezhuashvili: Georgia will not make “an emotional and hasty decision on leaving CIS”
11. Russia trying to make Georgia take the blame for tense relations
12. The Euro-Yen Crossfire [excerpt]
13. Transferring Responsibility: CIS Countries Rely on Remittances From Migrant Workers in Russia [excerpt]
14. GMU Prof on Russia-Georgia Tension [excerpt]
15. Ankara to counsel restraint to Georgian leader in ties with Russia
16. Georgian Minister of Energy urges Georgian journalists not to get provoked by Russian media
17. Georgian President Upbeat On Winter Energy Supplies
18. Azerbaijan will receive gas from Shah Deniz gas field at a price of $58
19. Azeri Energy Minister: “Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey failed to reach a compromise”
20. Saakashvili Visits Turkey amid Gas Talks
21. Public Chamber To Help Russians In Self-proclaimed Republics
22. Duma deputy speaker proposes treaty to legalize Russian role in Abkhazia
23. Abkhazs beat up a Georgian
24. Abkhazian side block roads leading to western Georgia
25. Former guerrilla leader detained on drug charges
26. Abkhazia-Georgia Dialogue Held in Cyprus
27. Raul Khajimba declares war to Armenians
28. Controversial Georgian Peacekeeper Chief Removed
29. Georgia set to attend session of S. Ossetian conflict commission
30. Tbilisi Ready for Informal Meeting of JCC on S. Ossetia
31. Tbilisi Condemns Shooting in South Ossetia
32. Sanakoyev prepares economic rehabilitation project for South Ossetia
33. Nursery School Fired In Georgian-Ossetian Conflict Zone
34. Ten Inmates Escaped From Prison Situated In Tskhinvali
35. 70% economic integration with Russia will mean legalizing South Ossetia’s independence
36. Estonian Formin Opens Estonian Embassy In Georgia, Meets With Georgian Leaders
37. Estonia and Georgia deepen relationship with Estonian Foreign Minister’s visit
38. Armenia’s Participation in CSTO Does Not Contradict Armenia-NATO Cooperation
39. Gela Bezhuashvili And Peter Semneby Talked About Role Of EU In Conflict Resolution Issues
40. Adoption of Broadcasters’ Code of Ethics Postponed
41. Gurjaani Prosecutor’s Office called off the initial investigation of journalist harassment case
42. Local victory of broadcasters- discussion of “Broadcasting Code of Conduct” project is postponed till spring
43. “03” accuses media of disseminating false information
44. Financial Police entered Uplistsikhe Museum?
45. The local administration cancels all kinds of allowances
46. ECMI hosts the conference Promoting Integration of the Minority Populated Regions
47. State revenues 20 percent higher than expected
48. Opposition accuses govt. of business racketeering
49. Dedoplistskaro District Inspection Chief Accused Of Money Extortion
50. Experts Relate Rise in Profits from Tobacco Production to Administrative Changes and Decreased Tariffs
51. Georgian TV reviews Defence Ministry personnel changes
52. Georgian Government Faces New Charges Of Extortion
53. Georgian Firms Forced To Give Property To Government For Free
54. Castel Sakartvelo to bottle more beer
55. Salford Georgia Set to Pay USD 331 m for Assets of Metromedia International Telecommunications Inc.
56. NBG’s Currency Reserves up 70 %, Exceeding USD 809 m
57. “Democratic Front” Talks About Pressure Conducted By Prosecutor’s Office On LandownersLittle-known company gets Georgian GSM 1800 licens
Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814
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