NEWS: Georgia News Digest 05-02-08

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—news and analysis
1. Military steps could escape control
2. Russia's moves add to strains with Georgia
3. Kremlin hawks pushing Georgia conflict
4. A shooting war between Russia and Georgia over Abkhazia?
5. Renegade Abkhazia welcomes new Russian troops
6. Russia deploys additional troops in Abkhazia
7. Annexation and militarization of Abkhazia continue apace
8. Divide, rule or waffle: The European Union and Russia [excerpt]
9. Russia sends extra troops to Georgian rebel region
10. Russia is acting like a colonial bully
Conflicts—international
11. NATO ‘watching carefully’ as Russian FM defends peacekeeper reinforcement
12. Russia steps up effort to keep Georgia out of NATO
13. UN says Russia notified it of building up contingent in Abkhazia
14. UN expresses concern at Georgia-Russia relations over military buildup
15. Burjanadze hopes all EU members will support EU’s participation in peacekeeping process in conflict regions
16. OSCE Chairman urges de-escalation of situation in Georgia
17. Condoleezza Rice press availability
18. Press briefing by Dana Perino [excerpt]
19. House resolution condemns Russia for dangerous policies that undermine Georgian sovereignty
20. House Resolution in support of Georgia
21. Nomination of William Burns to be Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs [excerpt]
Conflicts—Georgia
22. Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
23. Russian peacekeeper buildup in Abkhazia "illegitimate" – official
24. Georgians hope Russian, Georgian presidents to meet in June
25. Official rules out war with Russia
26. Russian military hardware arrives in Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia
27. Speaker urges Russia to stop "aggressive actions"
28. Official says statements alone not enough to halt Russia's "aggression"
29. Georgia, Ukraine presidents say Russia instigates
30. Russian Ambassador receives one more protest note from Georgian Foreign Ministry
Conflicts—Russia
31. Separatist to quit negotiations
32. Separatists refuse Ukraine's proposal
33. Russians releases official statement
34. Russian envoy says Moscow remains mediator
35. Peacekeepers or hostages? The west is demonstrating increasing persistence
36. video: Georgia accuses Russia of `military aggression`
37. Georgia may outlaw Russian peacekeepers in breakaway Abkhazia
38. Russia will protect its citizens in breakaway republics - upper house speaker
Politics
39. OSCE observers issue interim pre-election report
40. Republicans respond to OSCE pre-election report
41. video: Georgian opposition clash with police
42. Opposition, police scuffle outside electoral commission building
43. Georgia shaken by speaker’s departure
44. Fair elections, crucial and promised, are in the government’s hands
45. Opposition MP links tensions with Russia to upcoming polls
46. Industrialists say its MP candidates intimidated
47. Opposition want crackdown on alleged political pressure
48. Labor Party leader defends labourers
49. Ex-foreign minister joins ruling party’s campaign trail
50. Imedi TV company will air on May 5
51. The apparatus of ombudsman –some TV companies can’t allocate their airtimes to electoral stakeholders
Misc.
52. Cofer helps the Republic of Georgia
53. MP to assign the office of ambassador to Italy
54. TSU rector Giorgi Khubua participates in higher education summit in Washington
55. Oil extraction at Supsa oil field to reach 500 barrels a day by end of the year
56. EU Information and Documentation Center opens at parliament
57. GUAM secretary general calls for new cooperation projects
58. Jewish cemetery vandalized in Batumi
59. Locals speculate arson to blame for wildfire
60. audio: Golden graves of ancient Vani
Leonard Lopate Show, WNYC, April 14 audio.wnyc.org/lopate/lopate041408cpod.mp3
slideshow at wnyc.org/slideshows/vani
Ancient Colchis is the land where Jason and the Argonauts went in search of the Golden Fleece, according to ancient Greek mythology. Beautiful gold and silver objects from graves in Vani (in the present-day Republic of Georgia) are now on display in a new exhibit, "Wine, Worship, and Sacrifice," at NYU’s Institute for the Study of the Ancient World. Jennifer Chi is curator. Roger Bagnall is ISAW Director and former professor of classics and history at Columbia.

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