NEWS: Georgia News Digest 06-30-08

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)

1. Saakashvili press conference
Abkhazia deal
2. Benefit from a deadlock: Moscow considers Georgia’s offer to divide Abkhazia into spheres of influence
3. Georgia offers Moscow Abkhazia deal
4. Russian, Georgian diplomats deny Abkhaz ‘partition deal’
5. Lavrov denies Abkhaz ‘partition deal’
6. Georgia, Russia deny plans for dividing Abkhazia
7. MP denies Russian reports on Abkhazia deal
8. Russia and Georgia deny Abkhazia carve-up
9. Russia denies Abkhazia 'separation' talks with Georgia
10. Sukhumi says Tbilisi's plan to divide Abkhazia 'insane'
11. Separatist leader reiterates Abkhazia never to rejoin Georgia
12. Abkhazia not to be divided
13. Abkhaz leader denies discussing ‘partition deal’
14. video: Plan to split Abkhazia is nonsense
Medvedev-Bagapsh meeting
15. Russian president meets leader of Georgia's breakaway province of Abkhazia
16. Medvedev urges Abkhazia, Georgia to honor 1994 truce terms
17. Medvedev meets Bagapsh
18. Separatist leader meets Medvedev
19. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister meets Abkhaz leadership
20. Georgia protests against Russian president's meeting with separatist leader
21. Georgia accuses Russia of encouraging separatist leaders
22. Moscow perplexed with Tbilisi reaction on Medvedev-Bagapsh talk
Foreign relations and conflicts
23. paper: Internationalizing the Georgia-Abkhazia Conflict Resolution Process: A Greater European Role is Needed
24. Germany shares Georgian concern over Russian moves in Abkhazia
25. Opposition not confident in German peace initiative
26. Merkel says Georgia must resolve conflict with Russia before joining NATO
27. President’s successful foreign tourney: Germany supports Georgia’s territorial integrity
28. Merkel to visit Georgia in July
29. Germany shares Georgian concerns
30. Saakashvili met German Chancellor Angela Merkel
31. Georgia welcomes Germany’s involvement in the conflict settlement
32. Georgian president meeting Rice, Merkel in Berlin
33. President, Rice consider ways of conflict settlement
34. Saakashvili, Rice discuss peaceful Abkhazian settlement – Fried
35. Saakashvili says Russia a threat to ex-Soviet states
36. A tale of two wests
37. Georgia-EU relations deepen with the EU Eastern Partnership
38. Europe’s attitude to Georgia to change for better: MP
39. Georgian president upbeat over Europe role in conflict settlement
40. Saakashvili hopes EU to mediate in normalizing Georgian-Russian relations
41. Georgia high on the EU-Russia summit agenda
42. Frozen conflicts discussed at Council of Europe session
43. OSCE Parliamentary Assembly stands for Georgian integrity
44. Georgia's issue on OSCE agenda in Kazakhstan
45. Force should not be an instrument of world politics [excerpt]
46. Georgia will not abandon fellow NATO hopeful Ukraine
47. Polish Foreign Minister believes Georgia "deserves" NATO's Membership Action Plan
48. Defence Minister of Ukraine Yury Ekhanurov visited Georgia
49. Interview with the Ukrainian Defence Minister Yuri Ekhanurov to Georgia
50. CIS interior ministers end meeting in Batumi
51. Batumi hosts GUAM summit
52. Batumi int'l conf to deal with S Caucasus borders security
53. Symposium on Black Sea and Caspian Sea security issues
54. Saakashvili accuses Russia of invading Abkhazia
55. Road map for unrecognized. Foreign Ministry must master modern technologies to resolve international conflicts
56. Final version of conflict settlement in Abkhazia to be determined in Berlin on 30 June
57. Response by Russian MFA Spokesman to a media question in connection with Georgian-Abkhaz conflict
58. Moscow's close ties with Sukhumi, Tskhinvali bars peaceful resolution of conflicts
59. U.S. ambassador supports Friends to Georgia's peace plan
60. State Minister on Re-integration Issues to pay official visit to US
61. New Group of Friends Meets in Poland
62. Georgian NSCG's Secretary comments
63. Meeting of New Group of Friend of Georgia to be held in Warsaw
Russia in Abkhazia
64. Russia, Abkhazia have no right to resume sea traffic
65. Abkhazia could ask Russia to help guard sea boundaries
66. Russia, Abkhazia have no right to resume sea traffic
67. Pro-Tbilisi official slams separatists' maritime area protection plan
68. Abkhaz separatists' plans to close maritime border
69. Russia may build gas pipeline to Abkhazia
70. Caught between feuding enemies; Russian influence in Abkhazia has infuriated Georgia
71. Russia risks clash in Abkhazia to stop Georgia NATO bid
72. Russian TV reports from Abkhazia on anniversary of Joint Peacekeeping Force
73. Police block Russian peacekeepers' movement in Zugdidi district
74. video: Abkhazian President: Russian peacekeepers are our choice
75. Russian troops deny allegations of illegal movement in Abkhazia conflict zone
76. Minister urges Russia to withdraw troops from breakaway region
77. Georgia, Russia in new Abkhazia standoff
Abkhazia explosions
78. Two blasts injure six in Abkhazia
79. Six injured in Abkhaz blasts
80. Two blasts go off in Georgia's Abkhazia, causing mutual accusations
81. Abkhaz official says 6 injured in 2 explosions in breakaway Georgian region
82. Gagra blasts result from mob war
83. Gagry blasts are result of fight for power in Abkhazia
84. Tbilisi calls absurd Abkhaz claims of its alleged involvement in Gagra blasts
85. Abkhaz ministry blames gas discharge from old well for Friday incident
Conflicts misc.
86. Georgian parliament may pass law on restricting separatist leaders' movement
87. Post-Soviet 'frozen conflicts' heat up as big-power interests collide
88. Russia urges sides to Abkhaz, Ossetian conflicts to abide by commitments-Lavrov
89. Abkhaz speaker urges closer ties with Russia
90. Separatist official comments on proposals for Georgian-Abkhaz settlement
91. Russian spokesman slams Georgian statements about Abkhaz settlement
92. Russia accuses Georgia of evading resolution of priority issues
93. The west is confused about what to do in Abkhazia
94. Senior MP on meeting with Abkhaz officials
95. Abkhazian iceberg: Georgians facing Abkhazians
96. Georgia and Russia can avoid war - if the West helps
97. Shevardnadze says only Russia can resolve local conflicts
98. Minister wants to "demilitarize" ties with Russia
99. Tbilisi thinks Russia, Georgia should help each other solve strategic problems
100. Russia created new borders and roughly interfered with Georgia’s sovereignty– Mikheil Saakashvili
101. video: Abkhazia prepares for return of tourists
102. Patriarch notes "violations" by Russian church in Abkhazia
103. Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia delivers Sunday preachment
104. Official rejects fugitive ex-governor's proposal to surrender
105. Kvitsiani in Sukhumi? Tbilisi links these rumours to provocation planned in Upper Abkhazia
106. Abaza TV marked one year anniversary
South Ossetia
107. South Ossetian separatist leader says Russia wants to help conflict zones
108. Tskhinvali claims Ossetian villages face by disaster after Georgian blockade
109. Russian general decorates peacekeepers in South Ossetia
Russia-Georgia trade
110. The WTO accession factor in Georgia-Russia standoff
111. Saakashvili says Russia to take concrete steps to return wines to its market
Politics and elections
112. Parliament annuls opposition MP mandate
113. Parliamentary committee refuses to renounce Labor Party’s MP mandates
114. United opposition not to cooperate with parliamentary opposition
115. Opposition leader says government's actions "detrimental" to democracy
116. Opposition sets up parliamentary minority
117. Opposition leaders inform U.S. diplomat of rights violations
118. Opposition postpones politically “hot summer” for autumn
119. Forced summer vacations of opposition
120. If you convince me that the parliament in Ortachala is more efficient, I'm ready to admit defeat
121. They've sold out Georgia, not us
122. Opposition protests crackdown on street vendors
123. I'm not going to compete in defaming of Saakashvili
124. Davitaia and Baghaturia will get their finances
125. Majority elected Vice Speakers, opposition to set up the minority
126. Who will be Minister of Interior Affairs and where will Merabishvili, Lomaia, Ugulava and Subeliani be appointed?
127. Shall we expect staff changes in law enforcement ministries?
128. Terry Davis hails parliamentary elections
129. Javier Solana is not satisfied with the quality of democracy in Georgia
130. Much work is needed before Georgia will be able to tout democracy as a reality”
131. Senior MP suggests Burjanadze wants presidency
132. Burjanadze’s return “necessary” for Georgian democracy
133. Writing fair rules for the next election
134. Gamkrelidze most approved politician
135. Presentation of political center will be held in September
136. Georgia post-election phone survey
137. European official urges Georgia to hold debates on Election Code
138. Konstantine Gamsakhurdia demands justice for Shevardandze
Defense
139. Courage, loyalty, dignity
140. Turkish Coast Guard to hold join exercises with Georgia
141. DM to inspect Georgian peacekeeping contingent in Iraq
142. Georgia reverses decision to cut defense spending
143. Official reception held by the Defence Attaches’ Association
144. Demonstration exercise at Telavi Reserve Training Base
145. Land forces separate medical battalion
Media
146. 'Sunstroke' at freedom of speech. Mzera becomes consigned to history
147. Mze TV suspends news
148. National TV station ends news broadcasts, may close
149. Mze TV company’s management clarified reasons for news broadcast suspension
150. The Labor Party assesses Mze TV news broadcast suspension as a “freedom of speech pressure”
151. CPJ concerned about lack of independent television news
152. Kavkasia TV claims some firms ‘forced’ to pull ads
153. Kavkasia TV management affirms financial police prevents companies from launching ads on channel
154. City Court postponed examination of Maestro TV suit
155. Belarusian lawyer says condition of jailed US citizen grave
Business and economics
156. Georgia eager to achieve full liberalization of market
157. Forthcoming tax amendments
158. Upbeat Georgian leader looks to growth of 11%
159. Total financial resource of the state budget of Georgia for 2008 to be increased by gel 226,5 million
160. Defense spending up, social welfare down in new budget
161. Gambling brings GEL 14 million in state revenue
162. Epic Elite jet to be certified in Russia first
163. Georgian airspace open for private planes
164. Interest rates jump in Georgia: Can we really blame the world market?
165. Inspection for large taxpayers sequestered accounts of company Telasi
166. Finance Ministry ready to hold talks with Telasi on the topic of restructuring of tax indebtedness
167. Tax Inspection freezes Telasi accounts
168. Street vendors won’t go inside the markets
169. Transport price increased in Kutaisi
Misc.
170. UNDP launches the “Georgia Human Development Report 2008: The Reforms and Beyond”
171. European Union and UNDP campaign against drugs
172. We make our own rules: The rule of law in Georgia
173. report: Freedom in the World 2008
174. Locking its doors: EU hardens immigration laws
175. Deus ex machina: “Mobility partnership” for Georgian migrants
176. Outgoing Georgian ambassador says concerned over Iranian nuclear program
177. Journalists learn to deal with trauma and get unique insight into life in the Pankisi Gorge
178. Ombudsman, President’s Council agree to cooperate on ethnic minority rights
179. Minister, bishop sign agreement
180. Georgian police officer arrested for bribery
181. Elections over, police reinforce unpopular laws
182. Parliament committee hears amendments to criminal law
183. Labor accuses Georgian police of car bomb attack
184. Adjara begins fight against white butterfly
185. Inclusive education – the problems and achievements
186. The good news and bad news about road safety
187. Flashback - Kutaisi Diary 2003
188. Thermal water odyssey
189. Religious practices across the South Caucasus
190. Religious practices across the South Caucasus | Take two
191. Regulation bodies of Georgia and USA to launch partnership program
192. Tourism Department of Georgia to be reformed
193. video: Georgian budgie recites Stalin’s poetry
194. video: Georgia to count cost of five days of rain


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