NEWS: Georgia News Digest 05-01-08

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)

Conflicts—international views
1. Russian moves inflame tensions with Georgia
2. Russia says it is building up troop contingents in separatist Georgian regions
3. Moscow's move to bolster peacekeepers angers Tbilisi, worries EU
4. Georgian envoy says Russian troop buildup could be seen as act of aggression
5. ZOG+2
6. Who shot down the drone?
7. Situation in the conflict zones in Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transnistria
8. Russia and Georgia rattle sabers
9. Unwelcome crisis ahead of Georgia’s elections
10. Georgia's separatism woes
Conflicts—Georgian views
11. Russia "deliberately" aggravating relations with Georgia – Speaker
12. Russia following path of "Soviet diplomacy”
13. Georgia says Russia increasing peacekeepers in Abkhazia
14. Bakradze responds to Lavrov
15. Burjanadze slams Russia for ‘confrontation’
16. Georgia urges Russia not to enlarge peacekeeping force in conflict zones
17. Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
18. The President of Georgia delivered a speech for the newly accredited diplomats in Georgia
19. Statement by the Georgian Association In USA, Inc to Russian Decision of April 16th
Conflicts—Russian views
20. Thawing out
21. Georgia accuses Russia of aggression
22. video: Russia not planning war with Georgia: FM
23. video: Aleksey Kuzmin
24. Cossacks ready to assist separatists
25. Georgia Russia tensions rise, stability falls: Pulling a ‘wag the dog’ move or serious threat?
26. The west should unite in support of Georgia
27. Russia's moves add to strains with Georgia
28. Russian-Georgian military buildup raises fears of war
29. Russian foreign policy: Between 'unfreezing' and recognition
30. No armed conflict
31. video: Moscow dismisses talk of war with Georgia
32. Russia submits materials on real situation in Georgia to EU Troika
33. Russian radio commentator despairs over latest Russia-Georgian spat on Gazprom
Conflicts—NATO
34. NATO chief would 'eat tie' over Russia drone claim
35. Georgia heads for NATO, leaving Abkhazia and South Ossetia behind
36. Speech to NATO by Special Envoy David Bakradze
37. NATO allies put pressure on Russia
38. MAP likely if elections are fair
39. NATO says Russian move in Abkhazia stokes tension
40. NATO says Russia undermining Georgian territorial integrity
41. NATO statement on Abkhazia contradicts its logic – Rogozin
42. Georgian leadership pushing nation to war - Russia's NATO envoy
43. Georgia tries to suck NATO into war
44. Mending fences [excerpt]
Conflicts—foreign responses
45. CoE head calls on Georgia, Russia to settle disagreements
46. Georgia-EU committee advises EU to help resolve conflicts in region
47. EU warns Russia against boosting troops in Georgian breakaway regions
48. Solana says Russia troops increase in Abkhazia not wise
49. A new Euro-opponent of Russia: Lithuania blocked the EU-Russia negotiations [excerpt]
50. Ukraine, Georgia urge Russia to drop plans for closer ties with rebel regions
51. Ukraine, Georgia say Russia calls into question Georgia's territorial integrity
52. Both Azerbaijan and Georgia suffer from conflicts of the same origin
53. US diplomat urges Russia not to boost peacekeepers in Georgia's Abkhazia
54. US lawmakers debate resolution criticizing Russia
55. Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Sean Mccormack [excerpt]
WTO
56. Georgia's refusal: Can Georgia keep Russia out of the WTO?
57. Russia ready to discuss WTO issues with Georgia – official
58. Russia rejects Georgia's reasons for blocking WTO bid
Abkhazia and S. Ossetia
59. book: A heavy burden: Internally Displaced in Georgia: Stories of People from Abkhazia and South Ossetia
Anne-Sophie Lois and Tamar Tavartkiladze IDMC and NRC, April 2008
book at tinyurl.com/3gmslm

60. Abkhazian MPs call for suspension of talks with Georgia
61. Abkhaz leader rules out being part of Georgia
62. Abkhazia welcomes more Russian peacekeepers in conflict zone
63. Russian ex-peacekeeper appointed Abkhaz deputy defence minister
64. Abkhazia urges Georgia to follow Russia's suit and lift economic sanctions
65. Abkhaz minister slams Georgia's proposal, hails presence of Russian peacekeepers
66. Russian colonel appointed de facto defense minister
67. Abkhaz MPs tells Bagapsh to pull out from UN-led talks
68. Three unknown persons fire on Danish Refugees Council building in Gali region
69. Kodor Ravine does not shelter servicemen – Malkhaz Akishbaya
70. There can be no trust towards Georgia for time being – Sukhumi
71. No chance of existence in one state with Georgia-S Ossetia, Abkhazia
Domestic
72. The nervous month to come
73. Parliamentary elections in Georgia: who will be the winner?
74. Georgian Azerbaijanis National Assembly not to participate in parliamentary elections
75. Our priority is liberation of Georgia from Mikheil Saakashvili’s bloody regime
76. Is Patarkatsishvili still alive?! Close friends, family tightlipped as rumors spread
77. Firebrand Irakli is adopted by France
78. Irina Sarishvili-Chanturia criticized Kavkazia TV
79. Khatuna Kveselava left Georgian Public Broadcaster
80. Democracy setbacks, energy gains, take toll on press freedom [excerpt]
81. Georgia: Freedom of the Press 2008
82. Members of the Equality Institute NGO not to pay fines
83. The half of the money gained from floatation of eurobonds transferred to two new off-budget funds
84. Gori Fruit Export Company plans to build concentrate factory under cheap loan program
85. Georgia commences electric power export to Turkey
86. Main trends of commercial banks’ activities
87. Kazakhstan is interested in Georgia’s agricultural products
88. Romanians, WFP provide food and hope for rural Georgians in need
89. Ethnic groups in Georgia #12 – Poles
90. Soviet Georgia- Film studio brought official award to Moscow film


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