NEWS: Georgia News Digest 07-21-08

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)

German plan
1. Mikheil Saakashvili and Frank-Walter Shteinmeier held a joint press conference
2. Moscow, Sukhumi stop German plan before the start
3. Steinmeier's meeting with Abkhaz president shifted from Sukhumi to Gali due to weather
4. No alternative to Tbilisi-Sukhumi dialog
5. Georgia's, Abkhazia's positions "far removed from each other"
6. Mixed reviews for German Georgia peace plan
7. Bid to end deadlock in Georgia conflict; German mediator presents peace plan for Abkhazia
8. Germany's Abkhaz peace plan gets off to shaky start
9. No quick solution to Russian-Georgian crisis
10. Europe not able to resolve conflicts in Georgia
11. Abkhaz leader says German plan unacceptable
12. Abkhazia rejects plan to settle Georgian conflict
13. Head of Abkhazia region rejects settlement plan
14. Abkhazia won't talk to Tbilisi until Georgian troops leave Kodori
15. Abkhazia ready to support direct economic contacts with EU
16. Refugees' return to Abkhazia "may lead to new war"
17. video: Hopes remain for peace deal despite Abkhazian rejection
18. Steinmeier's peace tour "constructive," says Russian diplomat
19. Steinmeier plan is step in right direction, contains unrealistic offer
20. Moscow calls German Georgia plan 'extremely helpful'
21. Russia insists on Georgian troop pullout to end Abkhazia conflict
22. Withdrawal of Georgian troops only way out of Abkhazia conflict
23. Russian minister seeks 'road map' over Abkhazia
24. German plan for Georgia "unrealistic”
25. Tbilisi downplays Abkhaz rejection of German plan
26. Tbilisi hopes Moscow would OK German plan for Georgian-Abkhaz settlement
27. Russian visit of German minister vital for Abkhaz settlement plan
28. Russian reaction to Abkhazia settlement plan surprises Georgian MP
29. Georgia agrees to negotiate Abkhazia conflict resolution
30. Georgian-backed Abkhaz official slams Russia for encouraging separatism
31. Abkhazia's rejecting German settlement plan "political game"
Russia relations and conflicts
32. West could side with Russia
33. A furious Kremlin is determined to bar NATO from its backyard but conflict will solve nothing
34. Georgia expects "very serious" discussions at UN Security Council on 21 July
35. I completely rule out likelihood of a full-scale war
36. Is there any hope for Russia's Europeasation?
37. Officials wary of Russian drills near Georgian border
38. Who masterminds terrorist acts?
39. Georgian air defense potential
40. Russian youngsters hold rally
41. Activists hold rally against Georgian president in Moscow
42. War fears cast a shadow over Stalin's former playground
43. Tbilisi unwilling to pull out from Kodori Gorge
44. Moscow tries to legalize ‘ethnic cleansing’ in Abkhazia
45. Separatist deny report of military build-up in Georgia's Abkhazia
46. Russia deploys military hardware in Upper Abkhazia
47. Transdniestria vows to provide military aid to Abkhazia if need be
48. Police post attacked on Abkhaz border
49. Police post shot on in zone of Georgia-Abkhazia conflict
50. Separatists beat up person for his ethnicity
51. South Ossetia rejects EU proposal for talks with Georgia
52. OSCE envoy pushes for movement in South Ossetia peace process
53. Tskhinvali rejects talks in Brussels
Politics and government
54. An open letter to Georgian Parliament
55. The Public Defender to publish a special report on freedom of speech practice in Georgia
56. Burjanadze's struggle for 'embryonic democracy'
57. Way of financing political parties shall change
58. Interview with Mr. Eduard Shevardnadze
59. Labor members without salaries
60. Davit Bakradze met with Terhi Hakala
Business and economics
61. Shocking rates for inflation's sake
62. Basic food, transport costs up sharply as inflation at 11.3 percent
63. Dutch company Alkyon to study the potential of enlargement of Poti seaport
64. Processing enterprise Farkoni opened In Kutaisi with MCG funds
65. Hydroelectric power station opening in Georgia’s region populated with Azerbaijanis
66. After citizen complaints, Environment Ministry monitors industrial plants
67. Tea, two, one: Countdown to Georgian chai revival?
68. Turkey biggest investor in first quarter 2008
69. Turkish, Azeri, Georgian leaders to launch rail link project
Misc.
70. Shalva Ramishvili was denied early release from jail
71. Kavkasia TV and the end of independent media
72. Prime Time on Rustavi 2 or nowhere
73. Ukraine-Georgia Black Sea ferry is no package tour
74. Coastal Guard boat to visit Turkey friendly

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