NEWS: Georgia News Digest 06-03-08

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)

Politics
1. Ruling party, opposition dig deeper into crisis
2. Saakashvili's remarks at meeting with newly elected ruling party MPs
3. NSC chief warns against blocking parliament
4. We do not plan to burst into parliament
5. Opposition firm on vow to blockade new parliament
6. Opposition activist attacked in Tbilisi
7. Opposition leaders pass drug tests
8. Labor Party leader met with foreign ambassadors
9. U.S. calls to accept election results
10. The President’s gift to Nino Burjanadze: Next to nothing to keep her quiet
Foreign relations
11. Georgian president discusses relations with Russia, Abkhazia on Ukrainian TV
12. Putin enjoys his moveable feast with no worry about Georgia
13. Putin speaks on Georgia in newspaper interview
14. Moscow prepares for Medvedev-Saakashvili meeting
15. Russian, Georgian presidents to hold phone talks
16. The Caucasus geometry
17. France supports Georgia’s and Ukraine’s membership in NATO
18. Europe signals willingness of closer partnership
19. Burjanadze to visit Brussels
Conflicts
20. Tbilisi demands Moscow withdraw troops from Abkhazia – FM
21. Railroad landing: Georgia dismayed by the deployment of Russia’s railroad construction troops in Abkhazia
22. Georgia to have "sharp response" to Russia's actions in Abkhazia
23. Russian announcement of intention to send more military forces into Abkhazia
24. Russian envoy: Repair of Abkhaz railway a "humanitarian act"
25. video: Georgia bombards Russia – with protest notes
26. Russian MPs hail Defense Ministry decision
27. UN: Russia downed Georgian aircraft!
You can read the UN report at www.unomig.org/data/other/080526_unomig_report.pdf, but here let us take a brief look at its circumstances and findings.

28. On the art of choosing ones enemies
29. Ethnic cleansing in Abkhazia
30. video: Ghosts from Soviet summers linger in Abkhazia
31. EU ambassadors favour renewal of Georgia-Abkhazia dialogue
32. Legal Abkhazian authorities vs Russia
33. NTV airs story on Abkhazia
34. Tbilisi sceptical over Baghapsh proposal
35. Director’s statement: “The Lost Colony”
more info at www.lostcolony.nl

36. Rotation of peacekeepers in Georgia-S Ossetia conflict zone ends
Misc.
37. Human rights report
38. Why democratic forces in Georgia like Senator Obama
39. Nino Kalandadze to be deputy foreign minister
40. The army that likes to go to Iraq
41. Nona Kandiashvili may sue Joseph Kay in court
42. USD 1.5 billion trade deficit for January–April
43. On thin ice: Government and businesses struggle for a better taxation system
44. Georgia will chair the Coordination Council of the Associations of GUAM Banks
45. Imedi Holding new owner sacks top management
46. Nona Kandiashvili may sue Joseph Kay in court
47. Marneuli radio to restart in two weeks
48. IDPs shivering under polyethylene in Zugdidi District
49. Orthodoxy versus Islam: Russian imperial policy towards Georgia’s Muslims during the 19th Century
50. Natural disaster damaged Lagodekhi
51. Rustavi has a new council head
52. Zugdidi Regional Court postponed reviewing governor’s lawsuit for an indefinite period

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