NEWS: Georgia News Digest 07-24-08

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)

Conflicts
1. Conflicts minister gets new title to smooth talks
2. Post-mortems on the German plan on Abkhazia
3. Swedish FM concerned over Georgia’s tensions
4. EU necessitates agreement on non-use of force to restore confidence between Georgia and Abkhazia
5. Frid says Russia not to launch hostilities against Georgia
6. Frid says refugees should return to Abkhazia under peace plan
7. Georgian units in Kodori may be replaced by an international police
8. Lavrov urges Tbilisi, Sukhumi to conclude non-aggression deal
9. Lavrov, Rice discuss Abkhaz conflict
10. Russia’s tactics bring the region closer to violence
11. Tbilisi claims victory in UN Security Council session
12. Armed attack on Georgian family in Abkhazia
13. International organization concerns about environmental situation
14. Separatists hope to be recognized
15. Two S. Ossetians released
16. Georgian man released from South Ossetian separatist custody
17. South Ossetia reports airspace violation
18. Georgian radars have not detected any flights in South Ossetia
19. OSCE Mission completes first phase of photo and documentary initiative in zone of Georgian-Ossetian conflict
20. Tskhinvali marks mass media day
Foreign relations
21. Welcome to Putin's summer camp [excerpt]
22. Armenia underlines importance of stable Georgia
23. Sitting on the topic of construction of the railroad Baku-Tbilisi-Kars held in Tbilisi
24. Presidents of Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia to attend Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad laying ceremony
25. President to visit Turkey
Economics and business
26. NBG holds interest rate on inflation data
27. Georgia's external state debt up 33% in H1
28. Fruit processing plant opens in Kutaisi
29. Energy minister oversees gas pipeline repairs
30. Georgia and Switzerland entered in the agreement on international air communication
31. Bank of Georgia announces a US$30 million increase of its loan passthrough notes
32. Grivnas 8,4 million invested in development of ferry Kerch-Poti/Batumi
Misc.
33. Saganelidze does not leave politics
34. Gamkrelidze has consultations with Okruashvili
35. Gamkrelidze will speak about democratic crisis in US
36. Georgia ready to contribute to ensuring global security
37. Realization of NATO intensive involvement program discussed at Foreign Ministry of Georgia
38. Top of the class
39. Down on the farm: Georgia struggles to open EU market for agricultural exports
40. Georgia reports two cases of anthrax
41. President promises to make millionaires out of Georgian Olympic champions
42. Rustavi schools undergo repairs
43. Poll: Georgians’ greatest concerns
44. Journalist Nana Pazhava intends to file a lawsuit against Imedi Radio
45. Classified documents dating back to Soviet Georgia published in Saarkivo Moambe Magazine

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