NEWS: Georgia News Digest 07-08-08

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. Dangerous and unsustainable escalation in Abkhazia and South Ossetia
2. Separatists accuse Georgia of plotting invasion
3. Russia has not proposed any effective solution to Abkhazia, S. Ossetia conflict
4. RF interested in soonest peaceful settlement of Georgia's conflicts
5. FM meets OSCE officials over Abkhazian, S Ossetian conflicts
6. West voices concern on Abkhazia violence
7. World condemns Russian actions in Abkhazia, Georgia
8. EU urges Russia to play a 'positive role' in Abkhazia:
9. Secretary-General condemns recent bombings on Abkhaz-controlled territory
10. UN team visits Georgia
11. No concrete peace proposals received from Medvedev
12. Minister For Foreign Affairs Per Stig Møller visits Georgia
13. Russian, US presidents discuss Georgia, missile defence at G8 summit
14. Rice to promote peaceful resolution of Georgian conflicts
15. Germany proposes peace plan for Abkhazia
16. Russian, German leaders discuss progress of Russian-Georgian talks
17. Dual construction in Russia as a battlefield of vicious wars among the ruling elites [excerpt]
18. Knocked out the lid and zeroed out
19. GUAM - between a bright desire and a strict reality
20. GUAM summit held amid adverse trends on energy and the frozen conflicts
21. One shouldn't expect tension in Armenia-Georgia relations in near future
Abkhazia
22. Gryzlov says explosions in Abkhazia were planned terrorist acts
23. David Darchiashvili takes explosions in Abkhazia as attempt to impact upper Abkhazia
24. Statement of the Abkhaz Ministry of Foreign Affairs
25. Abkhazian Prosecutor's Office probes into Sunday explosion in Gali District
26. Abkhazian president visits scene of Sunday's terrorist act in Gali
27. Situation remains tense along Enguri Bridge
28. Bomb in Gali equalled 1 kg of TNT
29. Abkhazia to step up security to prevent "terrorist acts"
30. Georgia denies involvement in Abkhazia blast
31. MP accuses Russia of seeking to "destabilise" Abkhazia
32. Tbilisi calls for joint police force in Gali, Ochamchire
33. Georgia urges international response to Russia's actions in Abkhazia
34. Abkhazia cuts ties with government
35. Peacekeepers in Abkhazia enhance combat readiness
South Ossetia
36. Monitoring finds no Georgian armaments in conflict zone
37. Council of Europe Secretary General - Stop escalation of violence in South Ossetia
38. Russia hopes Finnish presidency in OSCE will help ease tensions in S Ossetia
39. OSCE envoy, Russian diplomat discuss S. Ossetia
40. Terror in South Ossetia. Unrecognized republic on brink of war
41. Tskhinvali shelling has been planned
42. Georgia building forces in Ossetia
43. Interior ministry releases statement
44. Georgia denies alleged deployment of additional armor in Tskhinvali district
45. Foreign Ministry urges Russia not to "voice" separatists' position
46. "Foreign forces" in Russian republic seeking unified Ossetia
47. Transdniester calls for recognition of South Ossetia
Politics and government
48. Rose Revolution leader ditches politics for an NGO
49. Burjanadze launches foundation
50. Former Georgian speaker launches "Foundation for Democracy and Development"
51. Politicians comment on ex-speaker's new foundation
52. Will Bokeria be prosecutor general?
53. Gogi Gugava to chair finance and budget committee
54. Justice minister and prosecutor general posts to merge
55. Parliament to pass amendment to the state budget 2008 on July 15
56. Government changes rule of surplus income distribution
57. Pension reform may not be cure-all for Georgia
58. Defence Ministry to see budget hike: Additional spending to bring armed forces closer to NATO standards
Misc.
59. FINCA to extend resources and services throughout Georgia
60. Rakeen takes over Mtatsminda Amusement Park
61. New fund will aid Isani’s development
62. Turkish aid to help rural poor
63. Kavkasia TV calls on government to stop pressure
64. Kavkasia TV works through the mechanism that will enable the society to participate in its financing
65. Businessmen buying commercial spots on Kavkazia were pressured
66. Coalition of youth organizations opposes the Broadcasters’ Code of Conduct
67. Foreign Office tech overspend leads to project trimming [excerpt]
68. High school graduate prisoner passed the first exam
69. OSCE trains lawmakers and officials in Georgia on preserving human rights in fight against terrorism
70. Georgia’s business elite on holiday
71. Rachel has Georgia on her mind

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