NEWS: Georgia News Digest 07-11-08

A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies

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Rice visit
1. Condoleezza Rice delivers remarks with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili
2. Rice calls for peaceful end to Russia-Georgia standoff
3. US push on Georgia peace as Russia warns against NATO bid
4. Rice says she backs Georgian democratic efforts
5. Rice's visit to yield positive results for Georgia
6. State secretary's visit confirms US support for Georgia
7. Senior official on talks with Rice
8. Rice's visit to Georgia can help ease tension in relations with S Ossetia
9. Rice visit could galvanize action on Abkhazia
10. Tbilisi will deem Rice visit a success if dialogue started with Abkhazia, S. Ossetia
11. Minister hopes US support to help Georgia settle conflicts
12. Rice meets Head of Provisional Administrative-Territorial Entity
13. US reveals new push to resolve Georgian conflict
14. US supports Georgia's territorial unity
15. Lavrov regrets Rice's statement in Georgia
16. Moscow accuses Georgia of fueling conflict ahead of Rice visit
Russia relations and conflicts
17. Georgia recalls Moscow ambassador for consultations
18. Georgia recalls envoy to test Russian president's nerve
19. Georgia recalls its ambassador from Russia
20. Georgia recalls envoy after Russian incursion
21. video: Georgia recalls ambassador to Russia
22. FM gives note of protest to RF Embassy
23. Pundit blames USA for Georgia's decision to recall envoy from Moscow
24. Georgian leader says Russian intimidation at new level
25. President describes Russia as the "elephant in the room" in peace process
26. Georgia for Zimbabwe
27. Tbilisi, Moscow and West jockey for position
28. USA virtually takes mankind back to barbaric medieval ages
29. Georgia’s NATO membership may undermine conflict resolution
30. Georgia's NATO bid bodes ill for Abkhazia, S. Ossetia
31. RF referring draft resolution on Georgia to UN
32. Senior Russian MP challenges Georgian sovereignty claim over breakaway regions
33. Tbilisi could launch military attack against Sukhumi, Tskhinvali
34. Military commander warns of Russian intervention if conflict erupts
35. Abkhaz, South Ossetian leaders visit Moscow
South Ossetia
36. Russian planes fly over South Ossetia to avert Georgia invasion
37. Tbilisi considers violation of Georgia air space act of aggression
38. Russia says its warplanes have averted war in S. Ossetia
39. Russia says jets flew over Georgia
40. Speaker condemns Russia's "unprecedented arrogance"
41. Parliament to adopt statement on Russia planes
42. S. Ossetian leader rejects proposed new peacekeeping format
43. Georgia ready to hold "direct dialogue" with South Ossetia
44. S. Ossetia leader says tensions will heighten in conflict zone
45. De facto Ossetian leadership asks OSCE to help meet Georgian president
46. Villagers ask for help
Abkhazia
47. Saakashvili proposes joint Russo-Georgian committee for ‘Safe Environment’ for Sochi Olympics
48. Georgia wants Russian peacekeepers replaced with Georgian-Abkhaz police force
49. Lavrov says Russian peacekeepers in Abkhazia are not biased
50. Russia party to Abkhazia conflict
51. Russia to set up representation in Abkhazia
52. Russia seeking ways of maintaining ties with Abkhazia
53. "Mechanism" needed for Russia-Abkhazia contacts
54. Abkhaz talks possible this month
55. Abkhaz foreign minister comments on Kodori Gorge incident
Politics and government
56. Rice meets opposition, civil society leaders
57. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice delivers remarks before a roundtable with civil society representatives
58. Georgian opposition and NGO meet with Condoleezza Rice
59. Democracy is young in Georgia and now seeks ways to show up itself
60. Opposition points to US mistakes in its policy to Georgia
61. Opposition slams government for attempts to muzzle media
62. Opposition handed Georgian journalists’ appeal over to US Secretary of State
63. Baghaturia worries about Gamsakhurdia’s party most of all
64. Strasbourg rules Labor’s election rights violated
65. Juridical Committee of Parliament to study Maestro TV case
66. Parliament to discuss nominees for GPB Board of Trustees at extraordinary sitting
Misc.
67. Foreign debt up 14% in Q1
68. Foreign direct investment up 2% in Q1
69. Kazakhstan plans new oil pipeline
70. Georgia to sell power distribution firm
71. Park on Mtatsminda to be fixed up by fall
72. Seasonal rail service Yerevan–Batumi restarts
73. US, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Ukraine start war games near Tbilisi
74. Deputy Minister arrives in Kakheti
75. Religious leaders comment Russian patriarch's letter
76. Vandalism at Saburtalo cemetery
77. Burjanadze holds public meetings
78. Look to Georgia: Lane's advice

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