NEWS: Georgia News Digest 06-17-08

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)

Russia relations and conflicts
1. Georgia, Russia and energy
2. Medvedev reasserts Russian leadership at St. Petersburg summits
3. Desire to please [excerpt]
4. Abkhazian, S Ossetian presidents discuss military cooperation
5. Separatist leaders discuss situation in conflict zone, ties
6. Bagapsh, Kokoity discuss cooperation
7. Representative of Georgia participates in Geneva talks on accession of Russia to WTO
8. Georgia to resume WTO talks if RF stops ties with Abkhazia, Ossetia
9. Five injured in South Ossetia shootout
10. One dies, four injured in S. Ossetia shootout
11. Tbilisi lashes out at Russian peacekeepers in S. Ossetia
12. Georgia denies closing roads in South Ossetia
13. Georgia's actions facilitate escalation of conflict with Ossetia
14. U.S. delegation visits Abkhazia for Georgia peace talks
15. Talks help settle Georgian-Abkhazian conflict
16. Russia denies base in Abkhazia
17. Separatist official says no Russian military bases in Abkhazia
18. Abkhaz reports counter Russian official's allegations on 'foiled terrorist act'
19. Separatists beat up visitor to Gali, Abkhazia
20. Separatists award war veterans
21. Tbilisi to open window to Europe for Abkhaz
22. Abkhazian armed forces ready to resist any aggression
Politics
23. Speaker on opposition's initiative to set up investigation commission
24. CEC determines funding of political parties
25. Christian Democrat leader Giorgi Targamadze
26. Davit Bakradze offers the opposition guaranteed rights
27. Opposition agrees to disagree
28. New Rights rule out Burjanadze joining opposition
29. Konstantine Gamsakhurdia is not going to leave United National Council
Misc.
30. Azerbaijani says no long-term gas contract for Georgia
31. A new player in the Caucasus
32. Georgia fifth in list of Top Global Reformers 2008
33. Georgia’s insurance industry in the making
34. Air travel index nearly doubles
35. Total turnover of businesses up 30%
36. Gambling business filling insiders’ pockets
37. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: An effective tool for winning hearts and minds [excerpt]
38. Kavkasia TV rating raised
39. Two prisoners died with tuberculosis, a third one with cancer
40. Six sacks with antipersonnel mines found near capital city

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