NEWS: Georgia News Digest 03-25-08

A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies

Attached PDF file easily navigable with Bookmarks pane
Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)

1. Opposition launches picketing president’s office
2. Key ruling party MP rules out compromise
3. Parliament to send an appeal to international organizations
4. Okruashvili rejects services of appointed trial lawyer
5. Condition of many Georgian opposition protesters critical
6. Opposition tries to mount pressure, as ruling party refuses to compromise
7. Opposition opt for protests over campaigns, fearful of stacked election
8. Reps of Georgian "intelligentsia" in urgent talks with Speaker
9. Candidates require live transmission of vote
10. Candidates for GPB top position demand utmost transparency of election process
11. Georgia, Ukraine part of NATO’s future
12. Russia’s threats to Ukraine, Georgia are challenges to U.S., NATO
13. Georgians put NATO hopes into the hands of Washington and Moscow
14. Where Europe draws the line
15. Georgia will be invited to NATO at last moment of Bucharest summit
16. Tbilisi, Moscow continue WTO negotiations
17. Almost all tickets to first flight from Georgia to Russia after long break sold
18. Russian, Georgian airlines gear up for return of direct flights
19. Russia-Georgia air links to resume, but storm clouds grow
20. video: Thomas Pickering on Kosovo
21. Georgia blasts Russian MPs' call to recognize rebels
22. Georgia warns Russia against beefing up forces in breakaway regions
23. Georgia to refrain from tough response to Russian Duma recommendation
24. Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
25. Abkhazia's and South Ossetia's sovereignty more legitimate than Kosovo's
26. Nugzar Ashuba: Georgian and Abkhaz peoples cannot live in one country
27. Russia has lost neutrality on Abkhazia, S. Ossetia issues
28. Abkhazia holds military exercises
29. Military exercises underway in Abkhazia
30. Abkhazia's speaker links Georgia NATO bid to recognition
31. Abkhazian administration of Gali enforces population to take Abkhazian passports
32. Abkhazia no longer wants to be part of Georgia
33. South Ossetian FM: Russian citizens killed while State Duma contemplates issue
34. Tbilisi denies any involvement in bomb blast in South Ossetia
35. Georgian forces "abduct, torture" Ossetian man
36. South Ossetian interior ministry criticizes OSCE as "biased"
37. Villager loses legs in South Ossetia bombing
38. March 23 explosion in South Ossetia caused by wine bomb from Georgia
39. Give “Imedi” (hope) back to people
40. video: Georgians rally for free media
41. Opposition rallies to ‘protect Imedi TV’
42. Political and nongovernmental organizations urge society to support fight for Imedi TV’s independence
43. Opposition coalition boycotts Rustavi 2, Mze TVs
44. Patarkatsishvili family: ‘Do not politicize Imedi TV dispute’
45. Investment firm severs ties with late tycoon's media holding
46. Opposition coalition boycotts country's two leading TV stations
47. Georgian government controls six tv stations
48. Donor organizations urge GNCC to hasten issue of broadcasting licenses for community radio stations
49. Georgia’s museum-city Sighnaghi gets one more bank
50. Post-revolution reforms: Why they matter
51. Energy and transport sectors key polluters
52. Inflation still not making that one-digit figure
53. Speculation over Poti tender
54. Delegation of Turkish Armed Forces visited Georgia
55. Kakheti residents demand MP be punished
56. Metekhi “Brovka” is wrecking, City Hall officials state – what’s unusual
57. “Homeland of potato” harvestless for 2008
58. Increased in dead street children
59. What is the connection between tents set up in Zugdidi, hunger-strikers and “Misha Is Great” (the song)”?!
60. “Energy-Pro” should open-up & “solve problems”
61. Old people over eighty are also on hunger-strike
62. Week of anti-racism in Georgia
63. video: Georgian ballet still in great demand

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