NEWS: Georgia News Digest 04-17-08

A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies

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Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)

1. Parliamentary elections to be held on 3 552 electoral districts
2. Voter list available for political parties, NGOs, voters
3. Honouring of obligations and commitments by Georgia
4. GPB and political parties running in parliamentary elections signed the memorandum
5. GPB and OSCE-ODIHR representatives to meet weekly during pre-electoral period
6. CEC and Georgian Parliament: No to transparent elections
7. Saakashvili invites Shevardnadze’s supporters back to the parliament
8. Political party “Future Georgia” protests in front of CEC
9. Ramaz Klimiashvili is not happy with opposition's candidates in single-mandate constituencies
10. Labor Party objects to free economic zone in Poti
11. Environment minister to run for MP
12. Labor Party accuses the opposition coalition of agreeing with the government
13. Day of parliamentary elections may be announced day off in Georgia
14. “Christian-Democrats” opened regional office in Ozurgeti
15. Russian TV show debates NATO entry for Ukraine, Georgia
16. Admitting Ukraine, Georgia into NATO would be gross mistake
17. Our aim is to increase power of GUAM across the globe
18. GUAM will prove its effectiveness in the near future
19. Security Council extends UN mission by six months
20. Security Council extends mandate of Georgia observer mission until 15 October, unanimously adopting resolution
21. Press conference by Georgia 15 Apr 2008
22. video: Peacekeepers from Russia to carry on in Abkhazia
23. Georgia would like to see Russia as partner in peacekeeping – diplomat
24. Zalmay Khalilzad called on Russia not to threat sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia
25. Russian, American UN envoys spar over Georgian-Abkhaz conflict
26. Russia urges Tbilisi-Sukhumi stabilisation, talks – Churkin
27. Russian ambassador says "no confrontation at all" between Russia, Georgia
28. Russia demands withdrawal of Georgian "armed forces" from Abkhazia's Kodori
29. The Russian President's instructions to the RF Government with regard to Abkhazia and South Ossetia
30. Russian MP foresees war in South Caucasus
31. Russia not planning confrontation with Georgia
32. RF MP notes Duma's hand in Putin's decision on Georgia's breakaway regions
33. Russian cooperation with breakaway regions not against Georgia – spokesman
34. Debate on Georgian breakaway regions goes to Russian upper house
35. Russia expands support for breakaway regions in Georgia
36. Putin orders closer cooperation with Georgia’s breakaway republics
37. video: Moscow to protect citizens in Georgia’s breakaway regions
38. Putin warms to separatist provinces
39. Russia to consider address of separatist MPs on 25 April
40. Foreign minister says Georgia will do its utmost to halt Russian "annexation"
41. Moscow tries to legalize Abkhaz, S. Ossetia annexation
42. Ambassador urges Georgia not to dramatise situation over Abkhazia, S Ossetia
43. Moscow moves to de facto annexation of Georgian breakaway regions
44. Could more dialogue, fewer demands, be ticket on Abkhazia?
45. How a tiny breakaway province could become the new cold war frontline
46. Moscow does not exclude resumption of air communication with Sokhumi
47. Diplomat says resumption of flights btw Moscow, Abkhazia possible
48. Separatists are planning to open airport
49. Abkhazia attempting to open airport for international flights
50. Georgia in emergency security meeting after Russia statement
51. Georgian Security Council meets over Putin’s remarks on Abkhazia, S Ossetia
52. Official denies security council session called
53. Analysts assess president's initiative on breakaway Abkhazia
54. Georgia accuses Russia of trying to 'annex' separatist areas
55. Georgia to "outlaw" peacekeepers if Russia recognizes separatist regions
56. Minister vows "serious reaction" to Russia's move on breakaway regions
57. International measures of pressure may be applied to Russia
58. Note on Georgian media coverage of Russia's statement on breakaway regions
59. Kovalenko does not see anything dramatic in order of Russian president
60. NATO concerned over Russia’s ties with Abkhazia, S.Ossetia
61. EU concerned over Russia’s Georgia move
62. US calls Russian action on Georgia 'political mischief'
63. Efforts to thaw frozen conflicts growing more complicated
64. Minister condemns Russia for support to Abkhazia, S Ossetia
65. Abkhazia welcomes decision of Russian president
66. Abkhazia hails recognition of its passports by Russia
67. Bagapsh welcomes Putin's statement on aid to Abkhazia and S Ossetia
68. Abkhaz leader says security key as Russia moves towards recognition
69. ‘One step left before recognition’ – Sokhumi
70. Shamba hopes for "breakthrough" in ties with Russia
71. Abkhazia press summary 15-21 Apr 08
72. Maia Miminoshvili visits Upper Abkhazia
73. Appeal for South Ossetia's independence on Upper House agenda
74. South Ossetian official criticizes Georgia for thwarting UN project
75. President’s annual speech to parliament is overdue
76. video: France stalls on Georgian rebel minister’s fate
77. Paris court postponed hearing of Irakli Okruashvili’s case till June
78. Ex-GPB Head becomes president's aide on ethnic minorities
79. Saakashvili and Merabishvili plotted assassination of Badri Patarkatsishvili
80. report: Unleashing prosperity: Productivity growth in Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union
81. Oil pumping by oil pipeline Baku-Supsa to be restored in May
82. Law on foreign investment in strategic sectors approved in RF
83. Central Bank reports 12.3% inflation
84. New enterprise to be constructed in Ozurgeti, Guria Region
85. USA-Georgia armed forces joint trainings to start in summer
86. Delegation of Latvian Border Guards visits Georgia
87. The learning process ground to a halt in Tbilisi Public School #149
88. Jewish program helps put Georgia refugees to work
89. Sozar Subari protests opened letters of the prisoners
90. Gori agriculture market removed from centre, where street traders will now go?
91. Regime of pink terror: Member of the Egalitarian Institute arrested in Batumi
92. Khobi residents demand Tsotne Dadiani., Georgian saint to be unwrapped
93. Heating up of conflict between Gori district village school principals and teachers
94. Investigation opens: High ranking official from Special Operative Department
95. Kutaisi looks like a big hole
96. Disabled vs. directors of medical institutions
97. Leninovla-forgotten Roma village
Roma people from Leninovka cannot enjoy medical service very often either because the nearest policlinic is located in Dedoplistskaro, which is ten kilometers away from their village. There is no public transport running to the town. If somebody gets ill, they should take the ill person to the policlinic by car. However, now they have lost this opportunity too because the only car that belonged to Mikhail Denisenko and before he assisted his neighbors in case of emergency, was badly damaged in a car accident.
(See http://www.humanrights.ge/index.php?a=article&id=2500〈=en).

98. The rights of taxpayers violated in Georgia
99. Hospital life for IDPs
100. Rights of Roma people are not protected at all
101. Lawyers suppressed everywhere in Georgia, regions too!

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