NEWS: Georgia News Digest 06-13-08

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)

Foreign relations and conflicts
1. Beyond Georgia: Russia’s strategic interests in Eurasia
2. Russia and the Georgian crisis: What does Moscow want?
3. Georgia not to exclude Russia from conflict settlement
4. Russian, Georgian diplomats discuss relations
5. Bush does Europe incognito [excerpt]
6. Bush, Merkel discuss Russia-Georgia relations
7. Medvedev qualifies optimism over US relations [excerpt]
8. Obama and McCain both wary of Russia [excerpt]
9. European Parliament calls for replacement of Russian; EU-US summit calls on Russia to respect Georgia
10. NATO notes progress in Georgian Army reformation
11. Abkhazia waits for new war: "If the Russians leave, tomorrow NATO will be just outside Sochi." Part Two
12. Abkhazia press summary 10-16 Jun 08
13. Party suggests referendum on merging Russian republic, Georgian breakaway region
14. ICAO's regional official comments about Abkhazia
15. Chechnya not seeking disbandment of controversial Russian battalion
16. Ministers see no threat in Russia army’s trainings in North Caucasus
17. Georgia denies involvement in South Ossetia blast
18. Russia says South Ossetia blast "provocative act"
19. Blasts occur in conflict zone
20. Separatists increase security measures
Politics
21. Ruling party, opposition seek new modus vivendi
22. Georgian parliament convenes
23. Cabinet structural changes proposed
24. Parliament posts filled in second session
25. Giorgi Gamsakhurdia had a car accident
26. Konstantine Gamsakhurdia is not going to leave United National Council
27. Opposition coalition member confirms boycott of parliament
28. New Rights rule out Burjanadze joining opposition
29. Exiled opposition leader’s uncle beaten in Tbilisi
30. Christian Democrats offer an excuse to move on
31. Christian Democrats smooth the way for government talks
32. Repeat polls feasible in two districts of capital
Misc.
33. GPB to build a new TV centre
34. Employee downsizing at Public TV
35. GPB Board of Trustees demands expansion of rights
36. Public TV Board members deny pressure
37. Journalists’ group to advocate for free press
38. Iranian Embassy protests against statement cited in Mze TV documentary
39. Experts concerned over military expenditures increase in South Caucasus
40. Two prisoners died with tuberculosis, a third one with cancer
41. Block of 5-storey building blew off owing to gas explosion in Tbilisi
42. Transport and communication leads foreign investments in 2007
43. Azeri gas supplies to Georgia to remain "guaranteed, stable" – minister
44. Finance Ministry to transfer $20us mil. to off-budget funds
45. Georgia soldier buried with honor


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