NEWS: Georgia News Digest 04-08-08

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. 83.1% of voters in to participate in parliamentary elections
2. Labor Party nominates three majoritarian MP candidates
3. “Labourists” name other majoritarian MP candidates
4. Republican Party refuses to unite with rest of opposition
5. Radicals, moderates to contest parlt seats on one ticket
6. Two leading Georgian opposition parties pool efforts for parliamentary elections
7. Accused of betrayal
8. Aspiration for unity and confusion
9. Shevardnadze denies rumors he may stage comeback
10. Sidewalks and side-deals: Characteristic feature for pre-election campaign
11. Lawyers on strike
12. Lawyers go on strike, demanding court reforms
13. Court official denounces lawyers’ strike as ‘boycott’
14. Estonia-Georgia scandal over Kosovo
15. MP Bokeria becomes Deputy Foreign Minister
16. Georgia begins preparation for meeting of foreign ministers of NATO countries
17. Special groups in close relations with NATO established in Georgia
18. Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs [excerpt]
19. Press Briefing by the National Security Advisor
20. Questions following a meeting of the Russia-NATO Council [excerpt]
21. Moscow should work on improving relations with NATO [excerpt]
22. Majority of Russians believe NATO is threat - TV studio audience poll [excerpt]
23. Russia to take adequate measures in case of NATO expansion
24. NATO takes Moscow into account, Rogozin said
25. Russia should be friendlier to neighbors
26. Putin tries surprise NATO offensive [excerpt]
27. The anti-Atlantic alliance
28. Several newspapers taunt Tbilisi, Kiev
29. Cooperating rivals [excerpt]
30. Bush, war and the desperate struggle for a slice of life [excerpt]
31. NATO summit shows growing difficulties in reaching solidarity in western alliance [excerpt]
32. Putin threatens unity of Ukraine, Georgia
33. NATO deal built on ambiguity
34. Saakashvili administration claims victory in Bucharest summit
35. NATO makes political commitment to Ukrainian, Georgian membership
36. Ukraine and Georgia’s membership in NATO is closed issue
37. Lame duck Bush with lame duck Putin on the Black Sea [excerpt]
38. We provoke Russian paranoia at our peril [excerpt]
39. Object of exchange
40. Even if Armenia recognizes independence of Nagorno Karabakh, none of the countries will support it [excerpt]
41. Listen to Russia's comments on NATO
42. Spinning the MAP
43. The NATO summit united Europe
44. It's time for a more nuanced approach to the Kremlin [excerpt]
45. Are NATO promises backed by anything?
46. Winging it: European summit, Russia trip take unexpected turns [excerpt]
47. Freudian slip on NATO
48. Strategic autism threatens NATO
49. video: ‘Rotting NATO’ given fish burial by activists
50. Georgia at the NATO summit - winning or losing?
51. Another round of Russian-Georgian talks on WTO to be held in Geneva end of April
52. Moscow to take account of Kosovo in dealing with Abkhazia, South Ossetia
53. Proposals put for boosting Moscow’s ties with Sokhumi
54. Abkhaz leader, Russian official discuss conflict settlement, Georgia's NATO bid
55. Bakradze, Vollebaek discuss Georgia-Abkhazia settlement
56. Kazakhstan will not lift sanctions against Abkhazia
57. Reconciliation for Georgian-Abkhazian families
58. OSCE ready to become involved in Georgian commission on South Ossetia – agency
59. Traffic resumes in Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone
60. Swedish analyst criticizes Georgia’s social programs
61. Donors concerned about humanitarian needs in Georgia
62. Georgian Public Broadcaster gets new director general
63. OSCE representative on freedom of the media regular report to the Permanent Council [excerpt]
64. Maestro denied right to air public-political programming
65. Pardon Commission recommend president to pardon journalists
66. The world on the move [excerpt]
67. Speaker visits orphanage
68. A good day with no hope
photos at digitaljournalist.org

69. Road blocked for deaf and dumb children wanting to attend school
70. Studio “Monitor” investigative report on failed justice
71. Public Defender supports hog farmers
72. Whose membership is more important in parliament: “businessmen or drivers?”
73. IDPs living Akhaltsikhe wait for registration of their flats
74. Stones thrown in the flooded Liakhvi River, yellow-red facades, Japanese quince trees against poverty
75. Waterless and harvestless farmer in Kakheti
76. Increasing pension does not “helping people”
77. Fitch rates Georgia's Eurobond 'BB-'
78. Ex-PM to head football star’s business: Kala Capital emerges with three ambitious projects
79. Kala Capital launches to invest in Eastern Europe’s fastest growing economy
80. Cheap Credit scheme gets underway
81. The government of Georgia approved funding of four extra projects under the program of cheap credits
82. Two electric stations operating on coal to be constructed in Georgia
83. VTEL Georgia to introduce wireless internet service
84. Bricsnet ProjectCenter to help renovate the historic hotel Iveria [excerpt]
www.bricsnet.com - Bricsnet, a leading provider of real estate, facilities and project management solutions, announced today that Development Solutions LLC (www.ds.com.ge) now uses ProjectCenter in conjunction with a truly international team to completely renovate the existing Iveria Hotel into the new Radisson SAS Iveria Hotel. The Hotel Iveria is a major landmark in the center of Tbilisi,Georgia.

85. What a pitcher: Georgian winemakers keep a tradition alive
86. DLA Piper finds success in Georgia
87. Youth organizations to hold anti-drug action in Kakheti Region
88. Adjara’s Head of Government complains over Finance Ministry
89. Doctors protest in front of the Ministry of Economic Development
90. Giorgi and Mariam becoming most popular first names in Georgia
91. Presentation in Tourism Department
92. Regional leader criticizes central government's staffing policies
93. Georgian soldier disappeared without a trace

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