NEWS: Georgia News Digest 07-01-08

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)

Foreign relations
1. Why is Condoleezza Rice coming to Georgia?
2. GUAM border chiefs to sign cooperation plan for 2009
3. Pipeline project on the agenda at Batumi GUAM summit
4. Polish, Lithuanian Presidents to attend GUAM summit
5. Georgia and Ukraine enter NATO together, or fall away together
6. Georgian and American Defense Ministries discuss plans for future
7. Delegation of the US Office of Security Defence in Georgia
8. Defense Ministry sees U.S. as strategic partner
Abkhazia
9. Sokhumi closes border
10. Abkhazia closes border in wake of terrorist acts
11. video: Abkhazia shuts border after ‘Georgian terrorist attacks’
12. Abkhazia's SC introduces temporary ban to cross border on Inguri
13. Abkhazia to close border with Georgia from 1 July
14. Minister says Abkhazia blasts part of "major provocation"
15. Defence Minister denies separatists' accusations
16. Georgia condemns Abkhazia's border crossing ban
17. Four die in Abkhaz blasts
18. Abkhazia accuses Georgia over explosions
19. Bagapsh visits sites of blasts, bans traffic with Georgia
20. Abkhazian leader describes Sukhumi explosions as terrorism
21. Georgian 'terrorists' accused of deadly attacks in Abkhazia
22. Russia denies its citizen was injured in Sokhumi blast
23. No Russia holidaymakers among Sukhumi blast victims-FM
24. Russia "seriously" concerned at reported blasts in Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia
25. Russia voices concern over blasts in breakaway Georgian region
26. DM denies Georgia's involvement in blasts in Gagra, Sukhumi
27. 15 Refugees families from Abkhazia evicted from Moscow dormitory
28. Russia-incited Abkhazian separatists acting more provocatively
29. Russia wants radar installed in breakaway Georgian region to prevent drone flights
30. Georgia launches a three-track diplomatic effort on Abkhazia
31. Abkhazian conflict to be discussed in Berlin
32. Separatists announce state of emergency
33. Peacekeeping command in Abkhazia refute reports about restriction on movement in conflict zone
34. Separatists say Russian peacekeepers to continue their mission
35. Abkhazia is a Russian ‘protectorate’
36. Russian copters fly above Ganmukhuri
37. Passenger boat launches Sochi-Gagra trips
38. Abkhazia news summary 17-30 Jun 08
South Ossetia
39. Separatist leaders agree to combat "Georgia's policy of state terrorism"
40. Illegal infrastructure created in conflict zone
41. Tbilisi, Tskhinvali breach agreements building fortifications in conflict zone
42. S. Ossetia blames Georgian special services in abduction of Russian citizen
43. Separatists accuse Georgia of kidnapping "innocent" man, lawless actions
Politics
44. Opposition coalition, Labor Party attack each other
45. Parliamentary minority to fill posts
46. Opposition figure’s son charged with hooliganism
47. Laborites Apply to European Countries for Political Asylum
48. Green Party attacks government on agriculture
Media
49. BBC camera crew to cover community radio Marneuli and Ninotsminda community radios’ licensing issues 50. Hearing the lawsuit of Hereti radio station to be resumed on July 1
51. Listeners to programme produced by IWPR appreciate its first-hand reporting of bus blast
52. Ambiguous fate of TV program “7 Days”: Contracts with journalists were ceased earlier
53. Following November 2007 developments Kavkasia TV has prospered
54. Georgian Railway announces international tender on overhaul of carriages
55. Emzar Kvitsiani’s statement
Business and economics
56. Developing Tbilisi’s city centre
57. Recruiting in the construction sector in Georgia
58. Central Bank cuts hundred jobs
59. Vice-Speaker slams Central Bank chief
60. From nothing to something to something bigger
61. Hydroelectric power station to be constructed on Kur River
Misc.
62. UNDP unveils Georgia Human Development Report 2008
63. Report highlights a democratization decline in the South Caucasus
64. Public Registry demands fee for the provided public information
65. Pros and cons of draft legislation on jury system
66. Torture continues in Georgia
67. Ordinary soldiers punished for red tape mistakes of Okruashvili’s generals
68. Three Georgian citizens arrested at Istanbul hotel
69. Lack of investigation shows government’s involvement
70. Zugdidi police brutally beats and frames suspect on weapon charge
71. Criminals freed in countdown to rampant election fraud
72. Prisoners die from pneumonia and TB in Georgian prisons
73. Take me home never-fixed country road
74. Tortured and beaten prisoner request doctor
75. “Rare prisoner”- Aleksi Bakhutov freed
76. Dying prisoners refused hospital care
77. Kasristskali villagers requests assistance
78. Lado Vardzelashvili’s administration spreads disinformation
79. Villagers of Skra in Gori District request restoration of train service
80. Raining on IDPs residing in boarding-house “Vejini”
81. Sighnaghi and Dedoplistskaro administrative and municipality boards
82. Mother of murder victim demands police department punished
83. Union of blind people protest at State Chancellery
84. Route taxis increase travel cost

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