GEORGISCHE PROVINZ ABCHASIEN
Kosovo auf dem Kaukasus
Auf dem Kaukasus spitzt sich die Lage zu: Georgien und Russland könnten bald Krieg um die Provinz Abchasien führen. Der historische Konflikt in der Region wirft eine zentrale Frage auf: Ist es rechtmäßig, den Abchasen die Unabhängigkeit zu versagen, die das Kosovo erst kürzlich bekommen hat? Von Uwe Klußmann, Moskau mehr...
ZUM THEMA AUF SPIEGEL ONLINE
Kaukasus: Georgien und Russland rasseln mit den Säbeln (06.05.2008)
Veto-Drohung: Georgien will Russlands WTO-Beitritt blockieren (30.04.2008)
Showing posts with label Kosovo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kosovo. Show all posts
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Saturday, May 10, 2008
STUDIES: Das Kosovo-Problem - kein Ende in Sicht?
Dr. Geert-Hinrich Ahrens im Gespräch mit Dr. Ulrich Schiller
Die Probleme auf dem Balkan werden mit der Unabhängigkeit des Kosovo kaum zu Ende sein. Es ist zu hören, die Serben Bosnien-Herzegowinas könnten den Anschluss an Serbien, die dortigen Kroaten den an Kroatien fordern, und es gibt Äußerungen, der neue Staat Kosovo werde von Männern regiert, die in organisierte Kriminalität verwickelt seien, und könne sich zu einem "serbischen Palästina" entwickeln. Wie ernst sind solche Befürchtungen zu nehmen?
Auf solche und viele weitere Fragen werden ausgewiesene Balkan-Spezialisten versuchen Antworten zu geben.
Dr. Geert-Hinrich Ahrens war in den 1990er Jahren als Sonderbotschafter intensiv in die internationalen Bemühungen um die Lösung der Jugoslawienproblematik einbezogen. Er war von 1991-1996 an den beiden Jugoslawienkonferenzen beteiligt. Ferner 1999 EU-Sondergesandter der Europäischer Präsidentschaft in Mazedonien; 1999-2002 Leiter der OSZE-Mission in Albanien; Aug. 2004 - März 2008 OSZE-Leiter der Wahlbeobachtungsmissionen in der Ukraine, Aserbeidschan, Belarus, Georgien, Serbien, Armenien u.v.a.
Dr. Ulrich Schiller, eh. Korrespondent für ARD und DIE ZEIT in Jugoslawien, der Sowjetunion und den USA, Autor der Bücher "Zwischen Moskau und Jakutsk. Die Sowjetunion im Wettlauf gegen die Zeit" (1970) und "Macht außer Kontrolle. Geheime Weltpolitik von Chruschtschow bis Busch" (2003).
UKB: 5,- ? / 2,5 ? LKF-Mitglieder, Schüler, Studenten und ALG-II-Empfänger
Die Probleme auf dem Balkan werden mit der Unabhängigkeit des Kosovo kaum zu Ende sein. Es ist zu hören, die Serben Bosnien-Herzegowinas könnten den Anschluss an Serbien, die dortigen Kroaten den an Kroatien fordern, und es gibt Äußerungen, der neue Staat Kosovo werde von Männern regiert, die in organisierte Kriminalität verwickelt seien, und könne sich zu einem "serbischen Palästina" entwickeln. Wie ernst sind solche Befürchtungen zu nehmen?
Auf solche und viele weitere Fragen werden ausgewiesene Balkan-Spezialisten versuchen Antworten zu geben.
Dr. Geert-Hinrich Ahrens war in den 1990er Jahren als Sonderbotschafter intensiv in die internationalen Bemühungen um die Lösung der Jugoslawienproblematik einbezogen. Er war von 1991-1996 an den beiden Jugoslawienkonferenzen beteiligt. Ferner 1999 EU-Sondergesandter der Europäischer Präsidentschaft in Mazedonien; 1999-2002 Leiter der OSZE-Mission in Albanien; Aug. 2004 - März 2008 OSZE-Leiter der Wahlbeobachtungsmissionen in der Ukraine, Aserbeidschan, Belarus, Georgien, Serbien, Armenien u.v.a.
Dr. Ulrich Schiller, eh. Korrespondent für ARD und DIE ZEIT in Jugoslawien, der Sowjetunion und den USA, Autor der Bücher "Zwischen Moskau und Jakutsk. Die Sowjetunion im Wettlauf gegen die Zeit" (1970) und "Macht außer Kontrolle. Geheime Weltpolitik von Chruschtschow bis Busch" (2003).
UKB: 5,- ? / 2,5 ? LKF-Mitglieder, Schüler, Studenten und ALG-II-Empfänger
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
NEWS: Georgia News Digest 04-08-08
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)
1. 83.1% of voters in to participate in parliamentary elections
2. Labor Party nominates three majoritarian MP candidates
3. “Labourists” name other majoritarian MP candidates
4. Republican Party refuses to unite with rest of opposition
5. Radicals, moderates to contest parlt seats on one ticket
6. Two leading Georgian opposition parties pool efforts for parliamentary elections
7. Accused of betrayal
8. Aspiration for unity and confusion
9. Shevardnadze denies rumors he may stage comeback
10. Sidewalks and side-deals: Characteristic feature for pre-election campaign
11. Lawyers on strike
12. Lawyers go on strike, demanding court reforms
13. Court official denounces lawyers’ strike as ‘boycott’
14. Estonia-Georgia scandal over Kosovo
15. MP Bokeria becomes Deputy Foreign Minister
16. Georgia begins preparation for meeting of foreign ministers of NATO countries
17. Special groups in close relations with NATO established in Georgia
18. Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs [excerpt]
19. Press Briefing by the National Security Advisor
20. Questions following a meeting of the Russia-NATO Council [excerpt]
21. Moscow should work on improving relations with NATO [excerpt]
22. Majority of Russians believe NATO is threat - TV studio audience poll [excerpt]
23. Russia to take adequate measures in case of NATO expansion
24. NATO takes Moscow into account, Rogozin said
25. Russia should be friendlier to neighbors
26. Putin tries surprise NATO offensive [excerpt]
27. The anti-Atlantic alliance
28. Several newspapers taunt Tbilisi, Kiev
29. Cooperating rivals [excerpt]
30. Bush, war and the desperate struggle for a slice of life [excerpt]
31. NATO summit shows growing difficulties in reaching solidarity in western alliance [excerpt]
32. Putin threatens unity of Ukraine, Georgia
33. NATO deal built on ambiguity
34. Saakashvili administration claims victory in Bucharest summit
35. NATO makes political commitment to Ukrainian, Georgian membership
36. Ukraine and Georgia’s membership in NATO is closed issue
37. Lame duck Bush with lame duck Putin on the Black Sea [excerpt]
38. We provoke Russian paranoia at our peril [excerpt]
39. Object of exchange
40. Even if Armenia recognizes independence of Nagorno Karabakh, none of the countries will support it [excerpt]
41. Listen to Russia's comments on NATO
42. Spinning the MAP
43. The NATO summit united Europe
44. It's time for a more nuanced approach to the Kremlin [excerpt]
45. Are NATO promises backed by anything?
46. Winging it: European summit, Russia trip take unexpected turns [excerpt]
47. Freudian slip on NATO
48. Strategic autism threatens NATO
49. video: ‘Rotting NATO’ given fish burial by activists
50. Georgia at the NATO summit - winning or losing?
51. Another round of Russian-Georgian talks on WTO to be held in Geneva end of April
52. Moscow to take account of Kosovo in dealing with Abkhazia, South Ossetia
53. Proposals put for boosting Moscow’s ties with Sokhumi
54. Abkhaz leader, Russian official discuss conflict settlement, Georgia's NATO bid
55. Bakradze, Vollebaek discuss Georgia-Abkhazia settlement
56. Kazakhstan will not lift sanctions against Abkhazia
57. Reconciliation for Georgian-Abkhazian families
58. OSCE ready to become involved in Georgian commission on South Ossetia – agency
59. Traffic resumes in Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone
60. Swedish analyst criticizes Georgia’s social programs
61. Donors concerned about humanitarian needs in Georgia
62. Georgian Public Broadcaster gets new director general
63. OSCE representative on freedom of the media regular report to the Permanent Council [excerpt]
64. Maestro denied right to air public-political programming
65. Pardon Commission recommend president to pardon journalists
66. The world on the move [excerpt]
67. Speaker visits orphanage
68. A good day with no hope
photos at digitaljournalist.org
69. Road blocked for deaf and dumb children wanting to attend school
70. Studio “Monitor” investigative report on failed justice
71. Public Defender supports hog farmers
72. Whose membership is more important in parliament: “businessmen or drivers?”
73. IDPs living Akhaltsikhe wait for registration of their flats
74. Stones thrown in the flooded Liakhvi River, yellow-red facades, Japanese quince trees against poverty
75. Waterless and harvestless farmer in Kakheti
76. Increasing pension does not “helping people”
77. Fitch rates Georgia's Eurobond 'BB-'
78. Ex-PM to head football star’s business: Kala Capital emerges with three ambitious projects
79. Kala Capital launches to invest in Eastern Europe’s fastest growing economy
80. Cheap Credit scheme gets underway
81. The government of Georgia approved funding of four extra projects under the program of cheap credits
82. Two electric stations operating on coal to be constructed in Georgia
83. VTEL Georgia to introduce wireless internet service
84. Bricsnet ProjectCenter to help renovate the historic hotel Iveria [excerpt]
www.bricsnet.com - Bricsnet, a leading provider of real estate, facilities and project management solutions, announced today that Development Solutions LLC (www.ds.com.ge) now uses ProjectCenter in conjunction with a truly international team to completely renovate the existing Iveria Hotel into the new Radisson SAS Iveria Hotel. The Hotel Iveria is a major landmark in the center of Tbilisi,Georgia.
85. What a pitcher: Georgian winemakers keep a tradition alive
86. DLA Piper finds success in Georgia
87. Youth organizations to hold anti-drug action in Kakheti Region
88. Adjara’s Head of Government complains over Finance Ministry
89. Doctors protest in front of the Ministry of Economic Development
90. Giorgi and Mariam becoming most popular first names in Georgia
91. Presentation in Tourism Department
92. Regional leader criticizes central government's staffing policies
93. Georgian soldier disappeared without a trace
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
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)
1. 83.1% of voters in to participate in parliamentary elections
2. Labor Party nominates three majoritarian MP candidates
3. “Labourists” name other majoritarian MP candidates
4. Republican Party refuses to unite with rest of opposition
5. Radicals, moderates to contest parlt seats on one ticket
6. Two leading Georgian opposition parties pool efforts for parliamentary elections
7. Accused of betrayal
8. Aspiration for unity and confusion
9. Shevardnadze denies rumors he may stage comeback
10. Sidewalks and side-deals: Characteristic feature for pre-election campaign
11. Lawyers on strike
12. Lawyers go on strike, demanding court reforms
13. Court official denounces lawyers’ strike as ‘boycott’
14. Estonia-Georgia scandal over Kosovo
15. MP Bokeria becomes Deputy Foreign Minister
16. Georgia begins preparation for meeting of foreign ministers of NATO countries
17. Special groups in close relations with NATO established in Georgia
18. Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs [excerpt]
19. Press Briefing by the National Security Advisor
20. Questions following a meeting of the Russia-NATO Council [excerpt]
21. Moscow should work on improving relations with NATO [excerpt]
22. Majority of Russians believe NATO is threat - TV studio audience poll [excerpt]
23. Russia to take adequate measures in case of NATO expansion
24. NATO takes Moscow into account, Rogozin said
25. Russia should be friendlier to neighbors
26. Putin tries surprise NATO offensive [excerpt]
27. The anti-Atlantic alliance
28. Several newspapers taunt Tbilisi, Kiev
29. Cooperating rivals [excerpt]
30. Bush, war and the desperate struggle for a slice of life [excerpt]
31. NATO summit shows growing difficulties in reaching solidarity in western alliance [excerpt]
32. Putin threatens unity of Ukraine, Georgia
33. NATO deal built on ambiguity
34. Saakashvili administration claims victory in Bucharest summit
35. NATO makes political commitment to Ukrainian, Georgian membership
36. Ukraine and Georgia’s membership in NATO is closed issue
37. Lame duck Bush with lame duck Putin on the Black Sea [excerpt]
38. We provoke Russian paranoia at our peril [excerpt]
39. Object of exchange
40. Even if Armenia recognizes independence of Nagorno Karabakh, none of the countries will support it [excerpt]
41. Listen to Russia's comments on NATO
42. Spinning the MAP
43. The NATO summit united Europe
44. It's time for a more nuanced approach to the Kremlin [excerpt]
45. Are NATO promises backed by anything?
46. Winging it: European summit, Russia trip take unexpected turns [excerpt]
47. Freudian slip on NATO
48. Strategic autism threatens NATO
49. video: ‘Rotting NATO’ given fish burial by activists
50. Georgia at the NATO summit - winning or losing?
51. Another round of Russian-Georgian talks on WTO to be held in Geneva end of April
52. Moscow to take account of Kosovo in dealing with Abkhazia, South Ossetia
53. Proposals put for boosting Moscow’s ties with Sokhumi
54. Abkhaz leader, Russian official discuss conflict settlement, Georgia's NATO bid
55. Bakradze, Vollebaek discuss Georgia-Abkhazia settlement
56. Kazakhstan will not lift sanctions against Abkhazia
57. Reconciliation for Georgian-Abkhazian families
58. OSCE ready to become involved in Georgian commission on South Ossetia – agency
59. Traffic resumes in Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone
60. Swedish analyst criticizes Georgia’s social programs
61. Donors concerned about humanitarian needs in Georgia
62. Georgian Public Broadcaster gets new director general
63. OSCE representative on freedom of the media regular report to the Permanent Council [excerpt]
64. Maestro denied right to air public-political programming
65. Pardon Commission recommend president to pardon journalists
66. The world on the move [excerpt]
67. Speaker visits orphanage
68. A good day with no hope
photos at digitaljournalist.org
69. Road blocked for deaf and dumb children wanting to attend school
70. Studio “Monitor” investigative report on failed justice
71. Public Defender supports hog farmers
72. Whose membership is more important in parliament: “businessmen or drivers?”
73. IDPs living Akhaltsikhe wait for registration of their flats
74. Stones thrown in the flooded Liakhvi River, yellow-red facades, Japanese quince trees against poverty
75. Waterless and harvestless farmer in Kakheti
76. Increasing pension does not “helping people”
77. Fitch rates Georgia's Eurobond 'BB-'
78. Ex-PM to head football star’s business: Kala Capital emerges with three ambitious projects
79. Kala Capital launches to invest in Eastern Europe’s fastest growing economy
80. Cheap Credit scheme gets underway
81. The government of Georgia approved funding of four extra projects under the program of cheap credits
82. Two electric stations operating on coal to be constructed in Georgia
83. VTEL Georgia to introduce wireless internet service
84. Bricsnet ProjectCenter to help renovate the historic hotel Iveria [excerpt]
www.bricsnet.com - Bricsnet, a leading provider of real estate, facilities and project management solutions, announced today that Development Solutions LLC (www.ds.com.ge) now uses ProjectCenter in conjunction with a truly international team to completely renovate the existing Iveria Hotel into the new Radisson SAS Iveria Hotel. The Hotel Iveria is a major landmark in the center of Tbilisi,Georgia.
85. What a pitcher: Georgian winemakers keep a tradition alive
86. DLA Piper finds success in Georgia
87. Youth organizations to hold anti-drug action in Kakheti Region
88. Adjara’s Head of Government complains over Finance Ministry
89. Doctors protest in front of the Ministry of Economic Development
90. Giorgi and Mariam becoming most popular first names in Georgia
91. Presentation in Tourism Department
92. Regional leader criticizes central government's staffing policies
93. Georgian soldier disappeared without a trace
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
Monday, April 07, 2008
NEWS: Georgia News Digest 04-07-08
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)
1. Saakashvili on NATO summit results
2. Georgian leader upbeat about US support for his country
3. Foreign Minister warns of Russian backlash in wake of NATO summit
4. Georgia appeals for Western support, saying Russia trying to derail its NATO bid
5. MP warns of Russian provocations before receiving NATO's MAP
6. Burjanadze slams Putin
7. Labor Party leader 'defines' NATO decision on Georgia
8. Pundits expect Georgia to join MAP in December 2008
9. Roundup of Georgian reaction to NATO summit in Bucharest
10. Russia loses NATO summit
11. NATO debates on Ukraine and Georgia add clarity about Russia
12. Georgian, Ukrainian press blame Russia for NATO failure
13. Moscow's scrawny hand doesn't reach inside the alliance [excerpt]
14. Russian pundits offer different responses to NATO summit
15. Russian MPs say satisfied with NATO's decision on Ukraine, Georgia
16. Press briefing by the National Security Advisor, Stephen Hadley [excerpt]
17. Remarks by President Bush and President Putin of Russia in joint press availability [excerpt]
18. Radio address of President Bush to the nation [excerpt]
19. Re NATO expansion
20. NATO's fudges [excerpt]
21. All change for business as usual...[excerpt]
22. Binomial left out of brackets: NATO exchanged Georgia and Ukraine for missile defense
23. NATO waiting for Ukraine, Georgia
24. The great powers' NATO game
25. Summit of emotions [excerpt]
26. Marching orders; in search of a purpose [excerpt]
27. No MAP for Georgia: The victory of the German energy and transport corporations
28. NATO summit dashes Georgia’s hopes
29. Georgia and Ukraine will enter NATO: What Bucharest was all about
30. On Georgia and Ukraine, a meeting of 'old' and 'new' minds
31. Who is at a loss?
32. Foreign ministers to decide Kiev, Tbilisi accession to Action Plan
33. NATO decision "historic victory" for Georgia – official
34. Poland welcomes future NATO membership for Ukraine and Georgia
35. Czech FM explains the Georgia, Ukraine compromise
36. Ministers considers cooperation
37. Portugal opposed to US plan for rapid Ukraine, Georgia NATO membership
38. Merkel beating rivals: surveys [excerpt]
39. Russia officially agrees to joint control over Roki tunnel
40. PM must go because of Kosovo statement - opposition party
41. Estonian paper releases audio of PM saying Georgia would recognize Kosovo
42. No plans for Kosovo recognition
43. Russia seeks peaceful settlements of Georgia conflicts: official
44. Georgia aims to destabilize situation in conflict zones – Putin
45. Russian lawmakers comment on Putin's letter to separatists
46. Russia views Georgia's breakaway regions as "bargaining chips" – minister
47. USA reiterates its backing to Georgia's territorial integrity
48. UN Secretary General releases report
49. report: Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia
50. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister meets Abkhaz leader
51. Georgian workers to repair irrigation canal in Ossetia conflict zone
52. Tskhinvali accuses Georgian side of hindering foreign journalists’ professional activities
53. There are no rose bushes without thorns: On the business of revolutions and pipeline politics
54. President of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reviews Georgia’s past and future
55. Who is Joseph Kay and how is he linked to Patarkatsishvili’s property?
56. G. Targamadze: 'Imedi-TV journalists were under constant pressure'
57. 'Imedi-TV' goes on air but debates over its ownership continue
58. Strip the thieves of everything that belongs to you
59. New Public TV head appointed
60. Levan Kubaneishvili appointed to GPB top job
61. Levan Kubaneishvili to prepare GPB for parliamentary elections
62. GPB Board of Trustees undertakes to remain unbiased in course of parliamentary elections
63. Ombudsman puts question of responsibility of CEC Chairman
64. Ombudsman calls for chief election official's resignation
65. Public Defender accuses CEC chair of rigging polls
66. Public Defender: CEC Chief must resign over ballot rigging
67. The new old majoritarian system
68. upcoming event: The upcoming parliamentary elections in Georgia: Problems and prospects
69. Who will the soldiers of Georgia’s 6th parliament be?
70. What mistakes did opposition make?
71. Zurabishvili: Saakashvili’s government a façade
72. Republicans nominate some majoritarian MP candidates
73. Protestors block street in Batumi
74. Doctors to hold rally outside Ministry of Economic Development of Georgia today
75. Georgian lawyers push for amendments to Procedural Code
76. Blackseafor meets in Batumi
77. Georgia offers to train Afghan soldiers - deputy defence minister
78. Georgia sending 200 peacekeepers to Afghanistan by yearend
79. Georgia's Poverty Reduction Support Operation (PRSO) program won the World Bank's annual award
80. New head appointed at the Treasury of Georgia
81. Georgian footballer starts business group
82. Using 'phage' viruses to help fight infection [excerpt]
83. Batumi hosts first tourism exhibition
84. Borjomi hosts international distributers: A taste of Borjomi
85. Spotlight on the seminar: Deloitte talks about Georgia
86. London meeting to focus on Georgian affairs
87. In Kakhetian wineries, tentative signs of recovery
88. A man and a mountain
89. Georgia’s pagan carnivals cherish fertility
90. 'Well-tailored' Georgian classes make English speaker's life easier
91. Georgian Ballet's sweet renaissance
92. Georgian opera on the Israeli stage
93. review: “Svani”: A captivating story life, love and blood revenge in Svaneti
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
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)
1. Saakashvili on NATO summit results
2. Georgian leader upbeat about US support for his country
3. Foreign Minister warns of Russian backlash in wake of NATO summit
4. Georgia appeals for Western support, saying Russia trying to derail its NATO bid
5. MP warns of Russian provocations before receiving NATO's MAP
6. Burjanadze slams Putin
7. Labor Party leader 'defines' NATO decision on Georgia
8. Pundits expect Georgia to join MAP in December 2008
9. Roundup of Georgian reaction to NATO summit in Bucharest
10. Russia loses NATO summit
11. NATO debates on Ukraine and Georgia add clarity about Russia
12. Georgian, Ukrainian press blame Russia for NATO failure
13. Moscow's scrawny hand doesn't reach inside the alliance [excerpt]
14. Russian pundits offer different responses to NATO summit
15. Russian MPs say satisfied with NATO's decision on Ukraine, Georgia
16. Press briefing by the National Security Advisor, Stephen Hadley [excerpt]
17. Remarks by President Bush and President Putin of Russia in joint press availability [excerpt]
18. Radio address of President Bush to the nation [excerpt]
19. Re NATO expansion
20. NATO's fudges [excerpt]
21. All change for business as usual...[excerpt]
22. Binomial left out of brackets: NATO exchanged Georgia and Ukraine for missile defense
23. NATO waiting for Ukraine, Georgia
24. The great powers' NATO game
25. Summit of emotions [excerpt]
26. Marching orders; in search of a purpose [excerpt]
27. No MAP for Georgia: The victory of the German energy and transport corporations
28. NATO summit dashes Georgia’s hopes
29. Georgia and Ukraine will enter NATO: What Bucharest was all about
30. On Georgia and Ukraine, a meeting of 'old' and 'new' minds
31. Who is at a loss?
32. Foreign ministers to decide Kiev, Tbilisi accession to Action Plan
33. NATO decision "historic victory" for Georgia – official
34. Poland welcomes future NATO membership for Ukraine and Georgia
35. Czech FM explains the Georgia, Ukraine compromise
36. Ministers considers cooperation
37. Portugal opposed to US plan for rapid Ukraine, Georgia NATO membership
38. Merkel beating rivals: surveys [excerpt]
39. Russia officially agrees to joint control over Roki tunnel
40. PM must go because of Kosovo statement - opposition party
41. Estonian paper releases audio of PM saying Georgia would recognize Kosovo
42. No plans for Kosovo recognition
43. Russia seeks peaceful settlements of Georgia conflicts: official
44. Georgia aims to destabilize situation in conflict zones – Putin
45. Russian lawmakers comment on Putin's letter to separatists
46. Russia views Georgia's breakaway regions as "bargaining chips" – minister
47. USA reiterates its backing to Georgia's territorial integrity
48. UN Secretary General releases report
49. report: Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia
50. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister meets Abkhaz leader
51. Georgian workers to repair irrigation canal in Ossetia conflict zone
52. Tskhinvali accuses Georgian side of hindering foreign journalists’ professional activities
53. There are no rose bushes without thorns: On the business of revolutions and pipeline politics
54. President of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reviews Georgia’s past and future
55. Who is Joseph Kay and how is he linked to Patarkatsishvili’s property?
56. G. Targamadze: 'Imedi-TV journalists were under constant pressure'
57. 'Imedi-TV' goes on air but debates over its ownership continue
58. Strip the thieves of everything that belongs to you
59. New Public TV head appointed
60. Levan Kubaneishvili appointed to GPB top job
61. Levan Kubaneishvili to prepare GPB for parliamentary elections
62. GPB Board of Trustees undertakes to remain unbiased in course of parliamentary elections
63. Ombudsman puts question of responsibility of CEC Chairman
64. Ombudsman calls for chief election official's resignation
65. Public Defender accuses CEC chair of rigging polls
66. Public Defender: CEC Chief must resign over ballot rigging
67. The new old majoritarian system
68. upcoming event: The upcoming parliamentary elections in Georgia: Problems and prospects
69. Who will the soldiers of Georgia’s 6th parliament be?
70. What mistakes did opposition make?
71. Zurabishvili: Saakashvili’s government a façade
72. Republicans nominate some majoritarian MP candidates
73. Protestors block street in Batumi
74. Doctors to hold rally outside Ministry of Economic Development of Georgia today
75. Georgian lawyers push for amendments to Procedural Code
76. Blackseafor meets in Batumi
77. Georgia offers to train Afghan soldiers - deputy defence minister
78. Georgia sending 200 peacekeepers to Afghanistan by yearend
79. Georgia's Poverty Reduction Support Operation (PRSO) program won the World Bank's annual award
80. New head appointed at the Treasury of Georgia
81. Georgian footballer starts business group
82. Using 'phage' viruses to help fight infection [excerpt]
83. Batumi hosts first tourism exhibition
84. Borjomi hosts international distributers: A taste of Borjomi
85. Spotlight on the seminar: Deloitte talks about Georgia
86. London meeting to focus on Georgian affairs
87. In Kakhetian wineries, tentative signs of recovery
88. A man and a mountain
89. Georgia’s pagan carnivals cherish fertility
90. 'Well-tailored' Georgian classes make English speaker's life easier
91. Georgian Ballet's sweet renaissance
92. Georgian opera on the Israeli stage
93. review: “Svani”: A captivating story life, love and blood revenge in Svaneti
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
Monday, March 31, 2008
NEWS: Georgia News Digest 03-31-08
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)
1. Patriarch calls on opposition, authorities for dialogue
2. Assessing opposition
3. NDP proposes opposition to make a coalition
4. Opposition ends hunger strike, vows to keep fighting
5. Opposition hunger strike called off
By Robyn Angley; ISCIP Analyst, March 2008: The eight-party opposition bloc, whose tents have been a constant presence on the steps of parliament for the last 17 days, has called off its hunger strike following a request from Georgia's patriarch, Ilia II. Opposition leaders have cited the patriarch's intervention as the primary reason for ending the strike. (1) The decision followed an initially unsuccessful attempt by the patriarch to end the hunger strike on 21 March.
The decision to call off the hunger strike comes just days after parliament passed a contentious new amendment to the election code. Passed by a vote of 134 to 2, the amendment changes the election process for members of parliament. Under the new legislation, 75 of the 150 parliamentarians will be elected in first-past-the-post elections in single-mandate districts. The remaining 75 members will be elected by proportional representation of party lists. (2) The new law also includes a provision stating that the candidate with the most votes in a single-mandate district wins automatically without a runoff if he/she has earned more than 30 percent of the vote. (3)
The passage of the law represents a significant blow to the opposition, for whom a central demand has been a more drastic change of the electoral law. (4) Other issues have included the composition of the board of trustees for Georgian Public Broadcasting (GPB), which is currently in the process of replacing its director general, and numerous points of contention regarding Imedi TV. Imedi was owned by the late Badri Patarkatsishvili, Georgian oligarch and presidential hopeful in the January elections. The channel was a mouthpiece for the opposition leading up to the November protests and was closed by the government during the state of emergency. It has remained a subject of controversy in the ensuing months. Following Patarkatsishvili's death in February, a man named Joseph Kakalashvili claimed to have purchased Imedi. (5)
The opposition protests thus far have netted very few gains. The GPB board is changing, per negotiations with Speaker of Parliament Nino Burdjanadze in January. However, although opposition and government officials have engaged in sporadic negotiations ever since the presidential election in January, the opposition has yet to achieve any major victories. The hunger strike has received considerable media coverage, but has failed to influence the government thus far. It seems that the opposition would be better served to direct its efforts toward winning seats in parliament rather than camping out in front of Burdjanadze’s office.
(1) "Opposition ends hunger strike," Civil Georgia, 25 Mar 08 via http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=17448.
(2) "Controversial rule on majoritarian MPs approved," Civil Georgia, 21 Mar 08 via http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=17417.
(3) "Opposition ends hunger strike,” Ibid.
(4) "Controversial rule on majoritarian MPs approved.”
(5) "Imedi new owner delays TV reopening – Source," Civil Georgia, 25 Mar 08 via http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=17450.
6. Shall hunger strikers die to make the authorities budge?!
7. Opposition caught in its own trap
8. Opposition is threatening to stage popular revolt
9. Saakashvili would be pleased to have a majority, but he is not going to sacrifice for it
10. PACE monitors note ‘full lack of trust’ among parties
11. Ruling party names some majoritarian MP candidates
12. Tbilisi Mayor presented candidate for majoritarian MPs from Nadzaladevi District
13. Ruling party MP becomes Governor
14. Labor Party to take part in the parliamentary elections
15. Political parties slog toward campaign mode as filing deadline passes
16. Labor Party accuses CoE commissioner of corruption deals
17. President to present Inter-Agency Task Force for Free and Fair Elections on Friday
18. Saakashvili manipulates his return to presidency
19. speech: President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili at Atlantic Council (pdf)
20. Lithuanians and Estonians were shocked by Saakashvili’s inauguration
21. Freetocracy
22. Presidential races in Georgia, Armenia and Russia were not just bumps on the road to democracy
23. Georgian PM to meet Estonian President
24. Georgian PM visits Estonia
25. Mikheil Svimonishvili refuses to become an ambassador to Switzerland
26. Scary McCain [excerpt]
27. NATO to invite new members to join military alliance
28. Either MAP or nothing – Tbilisi tells NATO
29. As Georgia seeks to join NATO, a catch-22
30. Georgia ready for status of NATO candidate country – Saakashvili
31. Georgia hopes to get in Bucharest NATO candidate status
32. Resolving Georgia's conflicts through NATO "dangerous game" - Russian minister
33. Keep NATO's door open
34. Bush facing resistance to NATO expansion
35. U.S. wants Georgia, Ukraine in NATO
36. Between NATO and Georgia’s conflicts
37. NATO aspirations and the Kosovo effect
38. Are they ready?
39. A new era with Georgia?
40. Georgian officials upbeat on MAP bid, despite the odds
41. Jockeying for position before Bucharest
42. Bucharest – Time to ask difficult questions
43. Ukraine and Georgia want in
44. NATO may not expand
45. Kaczynski: Our common duty is to support their efforts
46. Estonia supports Georgia's bid for NATO
47. Berlin stresses no to NATO opening door to Georgia, Ukraine
48. Berlin hardens 'no' to NATO offer for Georgia and Ukraine
49. Armenian commenter against Georgian NATO accession
50. video: Georgia and Ukraine in NATO would threaten Russia’s security: Rogozin
51. Lavrov speaks of Georgia’s NATO bid
52. Lavrov lambastes U.S. over Ukraine, Georgia
53. Russia to Georgia: don't use NATO to quell regions
54. Abkhazia says Georgia seeking conflict to speed up NATO bid
55. Georgia does not view NATO bid as way to resolve conflicts with Abkhazia, S. Ossetia
56. Georgia not to use NATO in conflict settlement – official
57. Russian air space opened
58. Voyage marks end of Russia-Georgia shipping freeze
59. Russian passenger ship entered Batumi Port
60. Russia fears to lose the energy monopoly in Europe
61. Government fulfills its vows to sort out relations with Russia
62. Roses for the bear
63. Abkhaz, South Ossetian leaders upbeat about independence prospects
64. Abkhazia, South Ossetia to seek independence – leaders
65. Speaker sceptical of Russia's role in conflict settlement
66. Russia will use military force if Georgia invades Abkhazia, S. Ossetia - Duma deputy
67. Georgian reaction to Russian statement on breakaway regions
68. Voronin satisfied with RF statement on non-recognised republics
69. The UN resolution: Will Azerbaijan break up the OSCE Minsk Group Format? [excerpt]
70. Saakashvili's statement on Tbilisi’s proposals to Abkhazia
71. Saakashvili outlines Tbilisi’s Abkhaz initiatives
72. video: Georgia offers breakaway Abkhazia full autonomy
73. Burjanadze reckons proposal of Saakashvili to have positive results for Abkhazia
74. Abkhazs show interest in Saakashvili's proposals – speaker
75. Speaker hopes president's offer to Abkhazia will yield specific results
76. Sokhumi rejects Tbilisi’s proposal as ‘pr stunt’
77. Russia behind Sokhumi’s no to new proposals
78. Abkhazia gives up broad autonomy as part of Georgia – Shamba
79. Abkhaz separatist leader rejects Georgian offer of "unlimited autonomy"
80. Abkhazia rejects Georgian offer of extensive autonomy
81. New proposal to resolve Abkhaz conflict?
82. Unmanned reconnaissance plane watches exercises in Abkhazia
83. Surveillance drone brought down in Ochamchire
84. Moscow concerned by Georgian drone's sortie over Abkhazia
85. De facto minister: We are preparing for war
86. video: Abkhazia: Untold War Story with Dodge Billingsley
87. Self-ethnic cleansing?
Jibs; Steady State blog, March 2: comments at blogs.tol.org/conflicts/2008/03/02/self-ethnic-cleansing and globalvoicesonline.org/2008/03/05/georgia-self-ethnic-cleansing
Metin, who I suppose is an administrator of the www.circassianworld.com, dropped a link with George Hewitt’s analysis of of the Georgian - Abkhaz conflict and on implications Kosovo has on the resolution of this conflict.
Hewitt’s approach tends to be one sided. In his other works, he himself does not deny being a biased commentator. Many aspects in this conflict, history, reasons or developments are obviously debatable. Nothing is crystal clear. There is however one point that I would like to address.
As a result of the conflict in Abkhazia, nearly 300,000 Georgians left their homes. Here is what Hewitt has to say about this fact:
Their [Georgians’] flight has been portrayed as ethnic cleansing; the relevant areas might be describable as largely (though not completely) cleansed of ‘Georgian’ residents, but this is the result of an act of self-cleansing.
The notion of self-ethnic cleansing is something that I have heard for the first time. To put in other words, it means that Georgians had nothing to fear and for some reason they simply decided to leave their homes. Hence, this is SELF-ethnic cleansing.
It also sounds as if the Abkhaz side is absolved of responsibility of Georgians’ removal from their homes. Almost as if “we didn’t do anything, they ran away themselves”.
I wonder if this is the attitude in Abkhazian society towards this issue. If yes, than it is disappointing… to say the least (there are of course many beliefs in Georgian society that disappoint the Abkhaz). Most cases of ethnic cleansing could be viewed from that perspective — people ran away themselves.
Why were they running btw.? Could it be because they were afraid for their lives? Could it be because they represented an ethnic group, members of which were targeted?
88. Diplomat says peacekeeping command decision postponed
89. video: Blast kills one in South Ossetian capital
90. Woman killed in Tskhinvali blast
91. Separatists to pay reward
92. South Ossetia accuses Georgia in deadly car bombing
93. OSCE Chairman concerned over S. Ossetia blasts
94. Minister ties blasts in breakaway region to NATO summit
95. Separatists blame blast in South Ossetia on Georgia
96. Georgian police accused of barring deliveries to S. Ossetia
97. Russian commander makes "irresponsible political statements" - Georgian MP
98. Terror acts in South Ossetia destabilize satiation in conflict zone – peacekeepers
99. Tbilisi dismisses idea of meeting between Saakashvili, Kokoity
100. S. Ossetia ruled by ‘bandits’
101. Former Georgian defense minister convicted of extortion
102. Okruashvili jailed for 11 years in absentia, barred from polls
103. Okruashvili trial politically motivated
104. video: Georgian ex-minister gets 11 year sentence
105. News Corp to seek to regain ownership of Imedi
106. Patarkatsishvili death blamed on Berezovsky
107. Once again, Imedi at center of controversy
108. Interview with scandalously famous Joseph Kay, alias Soso Kakiashvili
109. Accused of bias, Georgian TV reporters face political attacks
110. Prominent journalists left behind shortlist for GPB top job
111. journal: Georgian Economic Trends
GEPLAC, February 2008: geplac.org/eng/trends.php
The Government Programme “United Georgia without Poverty:”
Steps to Achieving Progress on the Four Freedoms with the EUMain Economic Events
Summary Macroeconomic Indicators
Overview Of The Georgian Economy
- Gross Domestic Product and Real Sector
- Public Finance
- Money and Banking
- Labour Market and Household Budgets
- External Sector
- EU-Georgia Economic Relations
112. paper: Risks for the Sustainability of Georgia’s Economic Growth
113. paper: Development of the Georgian Electricity and Gas Markets in Line with the EU Energy Policy
114. paper: Medium-Term Prospects for the Georgian Economy
115. Investor confidence and capital inflows remain high in Q1 2008
116. Energo-Pro Georgia aims to bring Georgia’s hydropower system in line with European standards
117. Georgian government set to promote hydro-resource investment
118. Seventh melting furnace put in operation at Zestaponi Ferroalloy Plant
119. Fitch affirms Georgia's 'BB-' rating, stable outlook
120. Dollar goes down; prices go up?
121. Expo Batumi seeks to woo tourists
122. New port to be built in Georgia
123. Training of military personnel in Georgia on trafficking in persons
124. MoD publishes “Minister’s Vision 2008-2011”
125. Ethnic minorities in the Georgian Army
126. Interviews with Minister of Defence of Armenia, Michael Harutinyan
127. One day at a reserve base
128. Company leaves for Kosovo
129. Public Defender lashes out at Parliament
130. Ombudsman, NGO sign memorandum
131. Reforming Georgia’s secondary healthcare
132. “Project Komnoidi” works to modernize Georgian judiciary
133. Campaigning for gender equality in Georgian Politics
134. German-Georgian project focuses on the environment
135. Philanthropy in Georgia
136. Intravenous drug users in Tbilisi
137. Tbilisi International Airport’s runway to be reconstructed
138. Electronic cinema archive covers history of Georgian movies
139. video: Confessions of a banned Soviet director
Film fans in Moscow have had a rare insight into what goes on behind the camera lens. Georgian-French director Otar Iosseliani, once banned in the Soviet Union, has revealed some of his professional secrets in Moscow.
For the first time ever the filmmaker is showing the public rare photographs from his film sets, shooting sheets with his own sketches, schemes and comments.He has always wanted to show the simple truth of life. As a result, his films were repeatedly banned in the USSR due to censorship.
Iosseliani moved to France to work there. As he says, you can make Georgian cinema anywhere, it's not about geography."Favourites of the Moon", "Chasing Butterflies", "In vino veritas", "Monday Morning" - the films of Iosseliani are sort of parables. They are contemplative, full of mild humour, and longing for something.
His films have won prizes at festivals in Cannes, Venice and Berlin.
Iosseliani was even awarded the French Order of Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. But it's never been a question of awards or commercial success for the filmmaker. He just goes his own way, and welcomes us to follow. As Iosseliani once put it, you can't give a lesson with the help of cinema. You can just give a bit of hope to someone, who thinks like you think.
140. The ears had it
141. Sofiko Chiaureli
142. What was Misha Saakashvili doing when we were fighting real KGB?
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
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)
1. Patriarch calls on opposition, authorities for dialogue
2. Assessing opposition
3. NDP proposes opposition to make a coalition
4. Opposition ends hunger strike, vows to keep fighting
5. Opposition hunger strike called off
By Robyn Angley; ISCIP Analyst, March 2008: The eight-party opposition bloc, whose tents have been a constant presence on the steps of parliament for the last 17 days, has called off its hunger strike following a request from Georgia's patriarch, Ilia II. Opposition leaders have cited the patriarch's intervention as the primary reason for ending the strike. (1) The decision followed an initially unsuccessful attempt by the patriarch to end the hunger strike on 21 March.
The decision to call off the hunger strike comes just days after parliament passed a contentious new amendment to the election code. Passed by a vote of 134 to 2, the amendment changes the election process for members of parliament. Under the new legislation, 75 of the 150 parliamentarians will be elected in first-past-the-post elections in single-mandate districts. The remaining 75 members will be elected by proportional representation of party lists. (2) The new law also includes a provision stating that the candidate with the most votes in a single-mandate district wins automatically without a runoff if he/she has earned more than 30 percent of the vote. (3)
The passage of the law represents a significant blow to the opposition, for whom a central demand has been a more drastic change of the electoral law. (4) Other issues have included the composition of the board of trustees for Georgian Public Broadcasting (GPB), which is currently in the process of replacing its director general, and numerous points of contention regarding Imedi TV. Imedi was owned by the late Badri Patarkatsishvili, Georgian oligarch and presidential hopeful in the January elections. The channel was a mouthpiece for the opposition leading up to the November protests and was closed by the government during the state of emergency. It has remained a subject of controversy in the ensuing months. Following Patarkatsishvili's death in February, a man named Joseph Kakalashvili claimed to have purchased Imedi. (5)
The opposition protests thus far have netted very few gains. The GPB board is changing, per negotiations with Speaker of Parliament Nino Burdjanadze in January. However, although opposition and government officials have engaged in sporadic negotiations ever since the presidential election in January, the opposition has yet to achieve any major victories. The hunger strike has received considerable media coverage, but has failed to influence the government thus far. It seems that the opposition would be better served to direct its efforts toward winning seats in parliament rather than camping out in front of Burdjanadze’s office.
(1) "Opposition ends hunger strike," Civil Georgia, 25 Mar 08 via http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=17448.
(2) "Controversial rule on majoritarian MPs approved," Civil Georgia, 21 Mar 08 via http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=17417.
(3) "Opposition ends hunger strike,” Ibid.
(4) "Controversial rule on majoritarian MPs approved.”
(5) "Imedi new owner delays TV reopening – Source," Civil Georgia, 25 Mar 08 via http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=17450.
6. Shall hunger strikers die to make the authorities budge?!
7. Opposition caught in its own trap
8. Opposition is threatening to stage popular revolt
9. Saakashvili would be pleased to have a majority, but he is not going to sacrifice for it
10. PACE monitors note ‘full lack of trust’ among parties
11. Ruling party names some majoritarian MP candidates
12. Tbilisi Mayor presented candidate for majoritarian MPs from Nadzaladevi District
13. Ruling party MP becomes Governor
14. Labor Party to take part in the parliamentary elections
15. Political parties slog toward campaign mode as filing deadline passes
16. Labor Party accuses CoE commissioner of corruption deals
17. President to present Inter-Agency Task Force for Free and Fair Elections on Friday
18. Saakashvili manipulates his return to presidency
19. speech: President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili at Atlantic Council (pdf)
20. Lithuanians and Estonians were shocked by Saakashvili’s inauguration
21. Freetocracy
22. Presidential races in Georgia, Armenia and Russia were not just bumps on the road to democracy
23. Georgian PM to meet Estonian President
24. Georgian PM visits Estonia
25. Mikheil Svimonishvili refuses to become an ambassador to Switzerland
26. Scary McCain [excerpt]
27. NATO to invite new members to join military alliance
28. Either MAP or nothing – Tbilisi tells NATO
29. As Georgia seeks to join NATO, a catch-22
30. Georgia ready for status of NATO candidate country – Saakashvili
31. Georgia hopes to get in Bucharest NATO candidate status
32. Resolving Georgia's conflicts through NATO "dangerous game" - Russian minister
33. Keep NATO's door open
34. Bush facing resistance to NATO expansion
35. U.S. wants Georgia, Ukraine in NATO
36. Between NATO and Georgia’s conflicts
37. NATO aspirations and the Kosovo effect
38. Are they ready?
39. A new era with Georgia?
40. Georgian officials upbeat on MAP bid, despite the odds
41. Jockeying for position before Bucharest
42. Bucharest – Time to ask difficult questions
43. Ukraine and Georgia want in
44. NATO may not expand
45. Kaczynski: Our common duty is to support their efforts
46. Estonia supports Georgia's bid for NATO
47. Berlin stresses no to NATO opening door to Georgia, Ukraine
48. Berlin hardens 'no' to NATO offer for Georgia and Ukraine
49. Armenian commenter against Georgian NATO accession
50. video: Georgia and Ukraine in NATO would threaten Russia’s security: Rogozin
51. Lavrov speaks of Georgia’s NATO bid
52. Lavrov lambastes U.S. over Ukraine, Georgia
53. Russia to Georgia: don't use NATO to quell regions
54. Abkhazia says Georgia seeking conflict to speed up NATO bid
55. Georgia does not view NATO bid as way to resolve conflicts with Abkhazia, S. Ossetia
56. Georgia not to use NATO in conflict settlement – official
57. Russian air space opened
58. Voyage marks end of Russia-Georgia shipping freeze
59. Russian passenger ship entered Batumi Port
60. Russia fears to lose the energy monopoly in Europe
61. Government fulfills its vows to sort out relations with Russia
62. Roses for the bear
63. Abkhaz, South Ossetian leaders upbeat about independence prospects
64. Abkhazia, South Ossetia to seek independence – leaders
65. Speaker sceptical of Russia's role in conflict settlement
66. Russia will use military force if Georgia invades Abkhazia, S. Ossetia - Duma deputy
67. Georgian reaction to Russian statement on breakaway regions
68. Voronin satisfied with RF statement on non-recognised republics
69. The UN resolution: Will Azerbaijan break up the OSCE Minsk Group Format? [excerpt]
70. Saakashvili's statement on Tbilisi’s proposals to Abkhazia
71. Saakashvili outlines Tbilisi’s Abkhaz initiatives
72. video: Georgia offers breakaway Abkhazia full autonomy
73. Burjanadze reckons proposal of Saakashvili to have positive results for Abkhazia
74. Abkhazs show interest in Saakashvili's proposals – speaker
75. Speaker hopes president's offer to Abkhazia will yield specific results
76. Sokhumi rejects Tbilisi’s proposal as ‘pr stunt’
77. Russia behind Sokhumi’s no to new proposals
78. Abkhazia gives up broad autonomy as part of Georgia – Shamba
79. Abkhaz separatist leader rejects Georgian offer of "unlimited autonomy"
80. Abkhazia rejects Georgian offer of extensive autonomy
81. New proposal to resolve Abkhaz conflict?
82. Unmanned reconnaissance plane watches exercises in Abkhazia
83. Surveillance drone brought down in Ochamchire
84. Moscow concerned by Georgian drone's sortie over Abkhazia
85. De facto minister: We are preparing for war
86. video: Abkhazia: Untold War Story with Dodge Billingsley
87. Self-ethnic cleansing?
Jibs; Steady State blog, March 2: comments at blogs.tol.org/conflicts/2008/03/02/self-ethnic-cleansing and globalvoicesonline.org/2008/03/05/georgia-self-ethnic-cleansing
Metin, who I suppose is an administrator of the www.circassianworld.com, dropped a link with George Hewitt’s analysis of of the Georgian - Abkhaz conflict and on implications Kosovo has on the resolution of this conflict.
Hewitt’s approach tends to be one sided. In his other works, he himself does not deny being a biased commentator. Many aspects in this conflict, history, reasons or developments are obviously debatable. Nothing is crystal clear. There is however one point that I would like to address.
As a result of the conflict in Abkhazia, nearly 300,000 Georgians left their homes. Here is what Hewitt has to say about this fact:
Their [Georgians’] flight has been portrayed as ethnic cleansing; the relevant areas might be describable as largely (though not completely) cleansed of ‘Georgian’ residents, but this is the result of an act of self-cleansing.
The notion of self-ethnic cleansing is something that I have heard for the first time. To put in other words, it means that Georgians had nothing to fear and for some reason they simply decided to leave their homes. Hence, this is SELF-ethnic cleansing.
It also sounds as if the Abkhaz side is absolved of responsibility of Georgians’ removal from their homes. Almost as if “we didn’t do anything, they ran away themselves”.
I wonder if this is the attitude in Abkhazian society towards this issue. If yes, than it is disappointing… to say the least (there are of course many beliefs in Georgian society that disappoint the Abkhaz). Most cases of ethnic cleansing could be viewed from that perspective — people ran away themselves.
Why were they running btw.? Could it be because they were afraid for their lives? Could it be because they represented an ethnic group, members of which were targeted?
88. Diplomat says peacekeeping command decision postponed
89. video: Blast kills one in South Ossetian capital
90. Woman killed in Tskhinvali blast
91. Separatists to pay reward
92. South Ossetia accuses Georgia in deadly car bombing
93. OSCE Chairman concerned over S. Ossetia blasts
94. Minister ties blasts in breakaway region to NATO summit
95. Separatists blame blast in South Ossetia on Georgia
96. Georgian police accused of barring deliveries to S. Ossetia
97. Russian commander makes "irresponsible political statements" - Georgian MP
98. Terror acts in South Ossetia destabilize satiation in conflict zone – peacekeepers
99. Tbilisi dismisses idea of meeting between Saakashvili, Kokoity
100. S. Ossetia ruled by ‘bandits’
101. Former Georgian defense minister convicted of extortion
102. Okruashvili jailed for 11 years in absentia, barred from polls
103. Okruashvili trial politically motivated
104. video: Georgian ex-minister gets 11 year sentence
105. News Corp to seek to regain ownership of Imedi
106. Patarkatsishvili death blamed on Berezovsky
107. Once again, Imedi at center of controversy
108. Interview with scandalously famous Joseph Kay, alias Soso Kakiashvili
109. Accused of bias, Georgian TV reporters face political attacks
110. Prominent journalists left behind shortlist for GPB top job
111. journal: Georgian Economic Trends
GEPLAC, February 2008: geplac.org/eng/trends.php
The Government Programme “United Georgia without Poverty:”
Steps to Achieving Progress on the Four Freedoms with the EUMain Economic Events
Summary Macroeconomic Indicators
Overview Of The Georgian Economy
- Gross Domestic Product and Real Sector
- Public Finance
- Money and Banking
- Labour Market and Household Budgets
- External Sector
- EU-Georgia Economic Relations
112. paper: Risks for the Sustainability of Georgia’s Economic Growth
113. paper: Development of the Georgian Electricity and Gas Markets in Line with the EU Energy Policy
114. paper: Medium-Term Prospects for the Georgian Economy
115. Investor confidence and capital inflows remain high in Q1 2008
116. Energo-Pro Georgia aims to bring Georgia’s hydropower system in line with European standards
117. Georgian government set to promote hydro-resource investment
118. Seventh melting furnace put in operation at Zestaponi Ferroalloy Plant
119. Fitch affirms Georgia's 'BB-' rating, stable outlook
120. Dollar goes down; prices go up?
121. Expo Batumi seeks to woo tourists
122. New port to be built in Georgia
123. Training of military personnel in Georgia on trafficking in persons
124. MoD publishes “Minister’s Vision 2008-2011”
125. Ethnic minorities in the Georgian Army
126. Interviews with Minister of Defence of Armenia, Michael Harutinyan
127. One day at a reserve base
128. Company leaves for Kosovo
129. Public Defender lashes out at Parliament
130. Ombudsman, NGO sign memorandum
131. Reforming Georgia’s secondary healthcare
132. “Project Komnoidi” works to modernize Georgian judiciary
133. Campaigning for gender equality in Georgian Politics
134. German-Georgian project focuses on the environment
135. Philanthropy in Georgia
136. Intravenous drug users in Tbilisi
137. Tbilisi International Airport’s runway to be reconstructed
138. Electronic cinema archive covers history of Georgian movies
139. video: Confessions of a banned Soviet director
Film fans in Moscow have had a rare insight into what goes on behind the camera lens. Georgian-French director Otar Iosseliani, once banned in the Soviet Union, has revealed some of his professional secrets in Moscow.
For the first time ever the filmmaker is showing the public rare photographs from his film sets, shooting sheets with his own sketches, schemes and comments.He has always wanted to show the simple truth of life. As a result, his films were repeatedly banned in the USSR due to censorship.
Iosseliani moved to France to work there. As he says, you can make Georgian cinema anywhere, it's not about geography."Favourites of the Moon", "Chasing Butterflies", "In vino veritas", "Monday Morning" - the films of Iosseliani are sort of parables. They are contemplative, full of mild humour, and longing for something.
His films have won prizes at festivals in Cannes, Venice and Berlin.
Iosseliani was even awarded the French Order of Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. But it's never been a question of awards or commercial success for the filmmaker. He just goes his own way, and welcomes us to follow. As Iosseliani once put it, you can't give a lesson with the help of cinema. You can just give a bit of hope to someone, who thinks like you think.
140. The ears had it
141. Sofiko Chiaureli
142. What was Misha Saakashvili doing when we were fighting real KGB?
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
Friday, March 28, 2008
NEWS: Georgia News Digest 03-27-08
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)
1. report: The big eviction: Violations of property rights in Georgia
archived as Property Rights (2008).doc at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles/files?&sort=date on March 26
2. report: Putinization of Georgia: Georgian media after the Rose Revolution
archived as Media After RR (2008) at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles/files?&sort=date on March 26
Since independence, the Georgian media has not been as restricted as today, at the 4 year anniversary of the Rose Revolution. Many Georgian journalists feel the same on that issue. Many of them have left the field of their activities out of a feeling of protest. Some of them went abroad and some of them continued their career in a more peaceful sphere. The post-revolutionary expectation on enhancing and protecting democratic values was so huge that the Georgian media granted time and opportunity to the new government. But this concession reflected negatively on the freedom of the press in Georgia. Self-censorship of Georgian journalists has continued for too long and when they do have a desire to criticize the government and play the role of objective media, it is a hard job to do. It became difficult to prove facts by argumentation because the government cut all the ways to the regional and central media to gain any information by imposing financial sanctions, forbidding to investigate trials and the doors of governmental structures have become closed for the journalists. So the journalists were unable to discover any facts compromising the government during these years.Almost all governmental structures have blocked access for journalists, even those which were accessible during the previous Shevardnadze government. Journalists have lost their opportunity to get public information. Physical abuse and insults directed at journalists became very frequent. Leading talk-shows have been taken off the air and one of the most famous television journalists was beaten by a governmental official on live television. This official broke his nose, but the official remains in his job. All the law enforcement structures have became unavailable for journalists. The government refuses to take part in television debates. Journalistic investigations have decreased in number. As for the regional journalists, their job has became a struggle for them.The Human Rights Centre represents a media report which completely reflects the situation in Georgia which developed after the Rose Revolution. The report touches upon existing problems in the media throughout the entire country as well. It highlights the pressure journalists are under nowadays.To make the current situation clear, we have decided to single out the pressure exerted in the regions after the Rose Revolution; the closing of offices, the beating of journalists and imposing financial sanctions – these are only a few examples.
3. report: Pankisi deadlock: Plight of Chechen refugees in Georgia
archived as Chechen Refugees (2008) at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles/files?&sort=date on March 26
4. Opposition calls off hunger strike
5. Hunger strikes end
6. photo gallery: Hunger strike in Georgia
7. Old women stopped hunger striking in Sighnaghi
8. Opposition met with CoE
9. CoE officials arrive in Tbilisi
10. Opposition claims CoE does not believe upcoming elections will be fair
11. Young “Christian-Democrats” declare distrust to Matyas Eorsi
12. Opposition considers cooperation in majoritarian MP elections
13. 60 parties appeal to CEC for running in polls
14. Sixty-two parties file to stand in May parliamentary election
15. Registration deadline for parliamentary elections today
16. Poll: What action should the opposition take?
17. Labour Party to take part in May poll after having threatened boycott
18. Georgian ruling party to stand in May parliamentary election under new name
19. Russia-NATO and more
20. Why Kosovo upsets Russia
21. Interior Ministry says Tbilisi needs to join NATO MAP
22. NATO Membership Action Plans: “Not if but when”?
23. Tbilisi and Kiev step up drive to join Nato
24. Georgia says NATO "no" would fuel conflicts
25. Georgia delegation to discuss in Brussels NATO integration issues
26. Status of NATO country candidate to help settle conflicts
27. FM says decision on Membership Action Plan a "test" for NATO
28. Georgia urges NATO not to bow to Russian pressure
29. Speaker meets with envoys of NATO member states
30. Implementation of IPAP by Georgia to be discussed in Brussels
31. A second Kosovo in Georgia?
32. Georgian-Russian relations offer little to look forward to
33. Postal service between Russia and Georgia to be restored soon
34. Flight from Moscow to Tbilisi delayed as passenger asks to leave jet
35. Soldiers of the Abkhazian unit flee Mukhrovani military base in mass
36. If Georgians refuse Abkhaz passports they will be force to leave the region
37. Residents of Gali are being forced to obtain Abkhaz passports
38. Education center opens in Gali
39. Georgia does not object to Saakashvili-Kokoity meeting
40. Moscow says Georgia-South Ossetia meeting still important
41. Russian peacekeeping commander on recent "tensions" in Georgia's South Ossetia
42. Trail in S. Ossetia terror attacks leads to Georgia - Russian diplomat
43. Russia accuses Tbilisi of ‘terrorist acts’ in S. Ossetia
44. Russia blames Georgia for two blasts in breakaway region, urges restraint
45. Russia points to Georgian involvement in bomb attacks
46. Georgia unlawfully blocks several roads in S. Ossetia - peacekeepers' spokesman
47. Roads to Tskhinvali still blocked by Georgian side
48. Opposition held another protest action to support Imedi TV
49. Opposition rallies ‘to protect Imedi’
50. Matthew Bryza condemned violence against journalists at opposition protest rally
51. Following November 7 government enjoys no moral right to condemn violence against media
52. TV Company Imedi to have no problems with license
53. Imedi TV to resume broadcasting in near future
54. Imedi TV may resume broadcast on April 1
55. News corporation: a farewell to Georgia?
56. Berezovskiy says no links to News Corp,
57. New system of management of risks to be introduced at Georgian Customs
58. Armenian oppositionists extradited by Georgia
59. Businesswomen build ties at Turkish forum
60. Latvian delegation visits Georgia
61. Health minister discusses ‘village doctor’ project with medical staff in Gori
62. MP warns of meddling foreign advisers in business development
63. Statistics Department evaluates MCG projects efficiency
64. Poverty in vineyards: Saakashvili meets only grateful farmers
65. Vardzelashvili preferred regional governor than majority MP
66. Every fifth woman suffers from domestic violence
67. “Cow settlement” reached at Imereti Region Executive Bureau
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
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)
1. report: The big eviction: Violations of property rights in Georgia
archived as Property Rights (2008).doc at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles/files?&sort=date on March 26
2. report: Putinization of Georgia: Georgian media after the Rose Revolution
archived as Media After RR (2008) at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles/files?&sort=date on March 26
Since independence, the Georgian media has not been as restricted as today, at the 4 year anniversary of the Rose Revolution. Many Georgian journalists feel the same on that issue. Many of them have left the field of their activities out of a feeling of protest. Some of them went abroad and some of them continued their career in a more peaceful sphere. The post-revolutionary expectation on enhancing and protecting democratic values was so huge that the Georgian media granted time and opportunity to the new government. But this concession reflected negatively on the freedom of the press in Georgia. Self-censorship of Georgian journalists has continued for too long and when they do have a desire to criticize the government and play the role of objective media, it is a hard job to do. It became difficult to prove facts by argumentation because the government cut all the ways to the regional and central media to gain any information by imposing financial sanctions, forbidding to investigate trials and the doors of governmental structures have become closed for the journalists. So the journalists were unable to discover any facts compromising the government during these years.Almost all governmental structures have blocked access for journalists, even those which were accessible during the previous Shevardnadze government. Journalists have lost their opportunity to get public information. Physical abuse and insults directed at journalists became very frequent. Leading talk-shows have been taken off the air and one of the most famous television journalists was beaten by a governmental official on live television. This official broke his nose, but the official remains in his job. All the law enforcement structures have became unavailable for journalists. The government refuses to take part in television debates. Journalistic investigations have decreased in number. As for the regional journalists, their job has became a struggle for them.The Human Rights Centre represents a media report which completely reflects the situation in Georgia which developed after the Rose Revolution. The report touches upon existing problems in the media throughout the entire country as well. It highlights the pressure journalists are under nowadays.To make the current situation clear, we have decided to single out the pressure exerted in the regions after the Rose Revolution; the closing of offices, the beating of journalists and imposing financial sanctions – these are only a few examples.
3. report: Pankisi deadlock: Plight of Chechen refugees in Georgia
archived as Chechen Refugees (2008) at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles/files?&sort=date on March 26
4. Opposition calls off hunger strike
5. Hunger strikes end
6. photo gallery: Hunger strike in Georgia
7. Old women stopped hunger striking in Sighnaghi
8. Opposition met with CoE
9. CoE officials arrive in Tbilisi
10. Opposition claims CoE does not believe upcoming elections will be fair
11. Young “Christian-Democrats” declare distrust to Matyas Eorsi
12. Opposition considers cooperation in majoritarian MP elections
13. 60 parties appeal to CEC for running in polls
14. Sixty-two parties file to stand in May parliamentary election
15. Registration deadline for parliamentary elections today
16. Poll: What action should the opposition take?
17. Labour Party to take part in May poll after having threatened boycott
18. Georgian ruling party to stand in May parliamentary election under new name
19. Russia-NATO and more
20. Why Kosovo upsets Russia
21. Interior Ministry says Tbilisi needs to join NATO MAP
22. NATO Membership Action Plans: “Not if but when”?
23. Tbilisi and Kiev step up drive to join Nato
24. Georgia says NATO "no" would fuel conflicts
25. Georgia delegation to discuss in Brussels NATO integration issues
26. Status of NATO country candidate to help settle conflicts
27. FM says decision on Membership Action Plan a "test" for NATO
28. Georgia urges NATO not to bow to Russian pressure
29. Speaker meets with envoys of NATO member states
30. Implementation of IPAP by Georgia to be discussed in Brussels
31. A second Kosovo in Georgia?
32. Georgian-Russian relations offer little to look forward to
33. Postal service between Russia and Georgia to be restored soon
34. Flight from Moscow to Tbilisi delayed as passenger asks to leave jet
35. Soldiers of the Abkhazian unit flee Mukhrovani military base in mass
36. If Georgians refuse Abkhaz passports they will be force to leave the region
37. Residents of Gali are being forced to obtain Abkhaz passports
38. Education center opens in Gali
39. Georgia does not object to Saakashvili-Kokoity meeting
40. Moscow says Georgia-South Ossetia meeting still important
41. Russian peacekeeping commander on recent "tensions" in Georgia's South Ossetia
42. Trail in S. Ossetia terror attacks leads to Georgia - Russian diplomat
43. Russia accuses Tbilisi of ‘terrorist acts’ in S. Ossetia
44. Russia blames Georgia for two blasts in breakaway region, urges restraint
45. Russia points to Georgian involvement in bomb attacks
46. Georgia unlawfully blocks several roads in S. Ossetia - peacekeepers' spokesman
47. Roads to Tskhinvali still blocked by Georgian side
48. Opposition held another protest action to support Imedi TV
49. Opposition rallies ‘to protect Imedi’
50. Matthew Bryza condemned violence against journalists at opposition protest rally
51. Following November 7 government enjoys no moral right to condemn violence against media
52. TV Company Imedi to have no problems with license
53. Imedi TV to resume broadcasting in near future
54. Imedi TV may resume broadcast on April 1
55. News corporation: a farewell to Georgia?
56. Berezovskiy says no links to News Corp,
57. New system of management of risks to be introduced at Georgian Customs
58. Armenian oppositionists extradited by Georgia
59. Businesswomen build ties at Turkish forum
60. Latvian delegation visits Georgia
61. Health minister discusses ‘village doctor’ project with medical staff in Gori
62. MP warns of meddling foreign advisers in business development
63. Statistics Department evaluates MCG projects efficiency
64. Poverty in vineyards: Saakashvili meets only grateful farmers
65. Vardzelashvili preferred regional governor than majority MP
66. Every fifth woman suffers from domestic violence
67. “Cow settlement” reached at Imereti Region Executive Bureau
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
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
NACHRICHTEN: Die Internationale Presse äußert sich zu relevanten Themen für den Kaukasus: Kosovo, Nato-Erweiterung & Ethnozentralismus
Quelle: eurotopics
+++ Neu im euro|topics-Magazin: Kosovo
Am 17. Februar 2008 hat sich der Kosovo für unabhängig erklärt. Einige europäische Länder wie Deutschland oder Großbritannien haben den Staat bereits anerkannt. Andere sind kategorisch dagegen. Welche Herausforderungen kommen auf den Kosovo und die EU zu? +++
http://www.eurotopics.net/de/magazin
+++ Neue Konflikte im Kosovo
Schweden - Dagens Nyheter. In der ethnisch geteilten Stadt Mitrovica im Norden Kosovos ist es zu gewaltsamen Zusammenstößen zwischen Serben sowie UN-Polizisten und Soldaten der Kosovo-Schutztruppe KFOR gekommen. Barbro Hedvall kommentiert: "Die nationalistischen Kräfte sind durch die Entwicklung im Kosovo gestärkt worden. Viel spricht dafür, dass die Regierung, die nach der Parlamentswahl im Mai [in Serbien] an die Macht kommt, der 'serbischen Sache' hohe Priorität einräumen wird... Ein großes Problem besteht darin, dass sowohl die Uno als auch die EU als Gegner der Serben und als Pristinas verlängerter Arm gesehen werden. Dies ist bei den Zusammenstößen noch deutlicher geworden... Der Kosovo-Auftrag entwickelt sich zu einem Kampf Europa gegen Serbien-Russland." (18.03.2008) +++
+++ Nato-Erweiterung um Georgien und die Ukraine?
Frankreich - Libération. Georgien und die Ukaine wollen in die Nato, doch Russland ist dagegen. Zwei Wochen vor dem nächsten Nato-Gipfel in Bukarest schlägt Bernard Guetta vor: "Statt
lange zu überlegen, könnte man das Problem umgehen, indem man Russland die Neutralität seiner ehemaligen georgischen, ukrainischen und moldawischen Besitztümer anböte und im
Gegenzug ein Stabilisierungs- und Kooperationsabkommen für den ganzen Kontinent bekäme... Die EU, die USA und Russland haben heute übereinstimmende wirtschaftliche und politische
Interessen. Wenn es ihnen gelänge, diese Gemeinsamkeit in Vertrauen umzuwandeln, das die Grundlage des allseitigen Respekts für die vollkommene Neutralität Georgiens, der Ukraine und Moldawiens wäre, dann ginge es allen Beteiligten besser und der ganzen Welt auch. Man muss den Weg zur Finnlandisierung dieser Länder frei machen." (18.03.2008) +++
+++ Andreas Theophanus über die Risiken des Ethnonationalismus für Zypern
Zypern - Cyprus Mail. Andreas Theophanus, Ökonom an der Universität von Nikosia, überlegt, wie man auf die Zypern-Frage Erkenntnisse über den Ethnonationalismus anwenden kann, zu denen der Historiker Jerry Z. Muller in seinem Artikel "Us and Them" in der amerikanischen Zeitschrift "Foreign Affairs" gelangt ist. Theophanus kommt zu dem Schluss, "dass föderale Modelle, die allein auf ethnischem Nationalismus gründen, eher zum Scheitern neigen als zum Erfolg. Die jüngsten Erfahrungen des Balkans oder europäischer Herzländer (wie die frühere Tschechoslowakei und Belgien) bestätigen diese These. Auf der anderen Seite haben solche
föderalen Modelle größere Erfolgschancen, die ethnische Gemeinschaften ebenso wie individuelle Rechte respektieren und auf einem bürgerlichen Nationalismus und gemeinsamen Wertesystem fußen... Wir sollten sehr vorsichtig gegenüber jedem Plan für Zypern sein, der ausschließlich auf
Ethnonationalismus basiert." (16.03.2008) +++
+++ Neu im euro|topics-Magazin: Kosovo
Am 17. Februar 2008 hat sich der Kosovo für unabhängig erklärt. Einige europäische Länder wie Deutschland oder Großbritannien haben den Staat bereits anerkannt. Andere sind kategorisch dagegen. Welche Herausforderungen kommen auf den Kosovo und die EU zu? +++
http://www.eurotopics.net/de
+++ Neue Konflikte im Kosovo
Schweden - Dagens Nyheter. In der ethnisch geteilten Stadt Mitrovica im Norden Kosovos ist es zu gewaltsamen Zusammenstößen zwischen Serben sowie UN-Polizisten und Soldaten der Kosovo-Schutztruppe KFOR gekommen. Barbro Hedvall kommentiert: "Die nationalistischen Kräfte sind durch die Entwicklung im Kosovo gestärkt worden. Viel spricht dafür, dass die Regierung, die nach der Parlamentswahl im Mai [in Serbien] an die Macht kommt, der 'serbischen Sache' hohe Priorität einräumen wird... Ein großes Problem besteht darin, dass sowohl die Uno als auch die EU als Gegner der Serben und als Pristinas verlängerter Arm gesehen werden. Dies ist bei den Zusammenstößen noch deutlicher geworden... Der Kosovo-Auftrag entwickelt sich zu einem Kampf Europa gegen Serbien-Russland." (18.03.2008) +++
+++ Nato-Erweiterung um Georgien und die Ukraine?
Frankreich - Libération. Georgien und die Ukaine wollen in die Nato, doch Russland ist dagegen. Zwei Wochen vor dem nächsten Nato-Gipfel in Bukarest schlägt Bernard Guetta vor: "Statt
lange zu überlegen, könnte man das Problem umgehen, indem man Russland die Neutralität seiner ehemaligen georgischen, ukrainischen und moldawischen Besitztümer anböte und im
Gegenzug ein Stabilisierungs- und Kooperationsabkommen für den ganzen Kontinent bekäme... Die EU, die USA und Russland haben heute übereinstimmende wirtschaftliche und politische
Interessen. Wenn es ihnen gelänge, diese Gemeinsamkeit in Vertrauen umzuwandeln, das die Grundlage des allseitigen Respekts für die vollkommene Neutralität Georgiens, der Ukraine und Moldawiens wäre, dann ginge es allen Beteiligten besser und der ganzen Welt auch. Man muss den Weg zur Finnlandisierung dieser Länder frei machen." (18.03.2008) +++
+++ Andreas Theophanus über die Risiken des Ethnonationalismus für Zypern
Zypern - Cyprus Mail. Andreas Theophanus, Ökonom an der Universität von Nikosia, überlegt, wie man auf die Zypern-Frage Erkenntnisse über den Ethnonationalismus anwenden kann, zu denen der Historiker Jerry Z. Muller in seinem Artikel "Us and Them" in der amerikanischen Zeitschrift "Foreign Affairs" gelangt ist. Theophanus kommt zu dem Schluss, "dass föderale Modelle, die allein auf ethnischem Nationalismus gründen, eher zum Scheitern neigen als zum Erfolg. Die jüngsten Erfahrungen des Balkans oder europäischer Herzländer (wie die frühere Tschechoslowakei und Belgien) bestätigen diese These. Auf der anderen Seite haben solche
föderalen Modelle größere Erfolgschancen, die ethnische Gemeinschaften ebenso wie individuelle Rechte respektieren und auf einem bürgerlichen Nationalismus und gemeinsamen Wertesystem fußen... Wir sollten sehr vorsichtig gegenüber jedem Plan für Zypern sein, der ausschließlich auf
Ethnonationalismus basiert." (16.03.2008) +++
NEWS: Georgia News Digest 03-19-08
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)
1. Parliamentary elections could be held May 21
2. Saakashvili offers to increase number of MPs, hints on poll date
3. President suggests increasing number of seats in parliament
4. Government, opposition remain at loggerheads
5. Increase of number of MPs proposed
6. Republicans offer new rule of election majoritarian MPs
7. Opposition calls for European mediation to resolve crisis
8. Appeal to the international community
9. Republicans intend to resume negotiations with Nino Burjanadze
10. NGOs demand to meet Levan Tarkhnishvili
11. Opposition could become our victim
12. Opposition dumps rubbish on steps of Tbilisi City Hall
13. Irakli Okruashvili becomes official leader of his party
14. Natelashvili slams opposition
15. United Opposition breaks up
16. Are we going to receive MAP?
17. US stays the course: Secretaries of State and Defense check out Moscow's foreign policy leanings [excerpt]
18. US and allies put Germany under unprecedented pressure to waive objections to Georgia and Ukraine in NATO
19. Rapid reaction: Moving NATO forward
20. Important developments in North Caucasus
21. Good policies should make good neighbors
22. Russia agrees to restore air link with Georgia 17 months after imposing transport blockade
23. UN Secretary General to receive President of Georgia
24. Moscow expects resumed air traffic with Georgia to improve relations
25. Abkhazia region claims to shoot down unmanned Georgian spy plane
26. Abkhazia shows reconnaissance plane fragments to media
27. Unmanned spy plane Abkhazia downed was of Israeli manufacture
28. Georgia denies separatist report of plane downed over Abkhazia
29. President says new approach needed on Abkhaz conflict
30. Georgia about to make new proposals on Abkhaz settlement
31. Saakashvili promises "radical" new proposals for Abkhaz conflict settlement
32. Tbilisi to lay out new Abkhaz proposals
33. Georgia urges UN group to react to Russia’s "dangerous" Abkhazia policy
34. Playing Kosovo card: The Duma intends to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as sovereign state
35. UN chief to discuss breakaway regions with Georgian leader
36. Georgia cannot unilaterally replace Russian peacekeepers in Abkhazia
37. Russian Foreign Ministry denies plan to supply arms to Georgian breakaway region
38. Senior MP does not rule out use of force to restore territorial integrity
39. “Our Georgia” addresses Russian Duma regarding Abkhazia and South Ossetia
40. Georgia seeks to modify South Ossetian peace negotiation format
41. Dismissed employee sets fire to university
42. Expansion in staff of Congress of Georgian Azerbaijanis
43. Analysts warn against lack of building code
44. Youth patriot camp to be built in Shaori
45. How bad is poverty in Georgia?
46. 18 micro-finance organizations operate in Georgia
47. Construction of refrigerating station for agricultural products started in Poti under the program AGRO 100
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
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)
1. Parliamentary elections could be held May 21
2. Saakashvili offers to increase number of MPs, hints on poll date
3. President suggests increasing number of seats in parliament
4. Government, opposition remain at loggerheads
5. Increase of number of MPs proposed
6. Republicans offer new rule of election majoritarian MPs
7. Opposition calls for European mediation to resolve crisis
8. Appeal to the international community
9. Republicans intend to resume negotiations with Nino Burjanadze
10. NGOs demand to meet Levan Tarkhnishvili
11. Opposition could become our victim
12. Opposition dumps rubbish on steps of Tbilisi City Hall
13. Irakli Okruashvili becomes official leader of his party
14. Natelashvili slams opposition
15. United Opposition breaks up
16. Are we going to receive MAP?
17. US stays the course: Secretaries of State and Defense check out Moscow's foreign policy leanings [excerpt]
18. US and allies put Germany under unprecedented pressure to waive objections to Georgia and Ukraine in NATO
19. Rapid reaction: Moving NATO forward
20. Important developments in North Caucasus
21. Good policies should make good neighbors
22. Russia agrees to restore air link with Georgia 17 months after imposing transport blockade
23. UN Secretary General to receive President of Georgia
24. Moscow expects resumed air traffic with Georgia to improve relations
25. Abkhazia region claims to shoot down unmanned Georgian spy plane
26. Abkhazia shows reconnaissance plane fragments to media
27. Unmanned spy plane Abkhazia downed was of Israeli manufacture
28. Georgia denies separatist report of plane downed over Abkhazia
29. President says new approach needed on Abkhaz conflict
30. Georgia about to make new proposals on Abkhaz settlement
31. Saakashvili promises "radical" new proposals for Abkhaz conflict settlement
32. Tbilisi to lay out new Abkhaz proposals
33. Georgia urges UN group to react to Russia’s "dangerous" Abkhazia policy
34. Playing Kosovo card: The Duma intends to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as sovereign state
35. UN chief to discuss breakaway regions with Georgian leader
36. Georgia cannot unilaterally replace Russian peacekeepers in Abkhazia
37. Russian Foreign Ministry denies plan to supply arms to Georgian breakaway region
38. Senior MP does not rule out use of force to restore territorial integrity
39. “Our Georgia” addresses Russian Duma regarding Abkhazia and South Ossetia
40. Georgia seeks to modify South Ossetian peace negotiation format
41. Dismissed employee sets fire to university
42. Expansion in staff of Congress of Georgian Azerbaijanis
43. Analysts warn against lack of building code
44. Youth patriot camp to be built in Shaori
45. How bad is poverty in Georgia?
46. 18 micro-finance organizations operate in Georgia
47. Construction of refrigerating station for agricultural products started in Poti under the program AGRO 100
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
Friday, March 07, 2008
NEWS: Georgia News Digest 03-07-08
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)
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)
1. Tbilisi City Hall gave permission to opposition for holding rally
2. Opposition coalition wants repeat presidential election
3. Jondi Baghaturia: Government delaying the release of political prisoners!
4. Okruashvili criticizes opposition for lacking radicalism
5. Labor Party to organize street protests
6. NATO chief: No decision on Georgia’s MAP
7. Accession to NATO to destabilise situation in Georgia – Rogozin
8. NATO divided on Ukraine, Georgia entry bids
9. Rice meets Burjanadze
10. Saakashvili congratulates Russian president-elect
11. Tbilisi citizens expect more of the same from Medvedev
12. Tbilisi starts to feel the backlash of Kosovo independence
13. Russian-Georgian relations and the situation with South Ossetia and Abkhazia 14. USA exercises double standards again
15. Developments in Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno Karabakh once again confirm Kosovo as a precedent
16. Breakaway regions push for independence
17. Duma debate on Georgia's breakaway regions "show" – minister
18. Revision of peacekeeping formats. Current tasks in conflict settlement
19. Supporting Georgia's separatists means encouraging ethnic cleansing – MP
20. Russia should recognize CIS breakaway republics - Communist leader
21. Pandora's box opening: South Ossetia appealed for recognition yesterday, Abkhazia will do so today
22. Ossetians ask Russian lawmakers to recognize South Ossetia
23. Ossetian MPs ask Russian Duma to recognize South Ossetia's independence
24. Ossetia parliament to hold joint meeting
25. Moscow, Tbilisi determined to settle S Ossetian conflict – diplomat
26. Georgian, Russian negotiators discuss S. Ossetia
27. Tskhinvali braces for ‘terrorist acts’
28. Russia insists on existing format for settling Georgia's South Ossetia problem
29. Russia representative to discuss Georgia-S Ossetia conflict
30. Russia lifts trade, economic, financial sanctions on Abkhazia
31. Russia quits Abkhazia sanctions treaty
32. video: Russia says no more sanctions on Abkhazia
33. RF walks out ban on trade, econ, other relations with Abkhazia-FM
34. Russian lawmaker lauds lifting of restrictions against Abkhazia
35. Russia still respects Georgia territorial integrity, despite lifting Abkhaz ban
36. Abkhazia considers Russia's decision "fair" – speaker
37. Bagapsh hails Russia's decision to drop sanctions against Abkhazia
38. RF decision on Abkhazia not linked to situation in Kosovo – FM
39. Tbilisi says lifting sanctions off Abkhazia ‘dangerous’
40. Georgian officials react to Russia's decision to lift sanctions against Abkhazia
41. Georgian officials decry Russia's decision on Abkhazia
42. Russian peacekeepers to stay in Georgia’s breakaway region
43. Unauthorized use of Abkhaz territory equal to "annexation" - Georgian minister
44. Abkhazia press summary 18 Feb-10 Mar 08
45. Sokhumi releases two Georgians
46. ‘Abkhazians are afraid of you’ – released journalist tells Saakashvili
47. Released Georgian journalists speak at news conference in Sukhumi
48. Released Georgian journalist makes first comment
49. Minister thanks journalists for helping to release detained colleague
50. President visits released journalist at home
51. Mze TV journalist being released by Abkhaz side speaks of torture undergone
52. UNOMIG officials – Malkhaz Basilaia and David Tsotsoria were not beaten in detention
53. Ministry of Culture, Sports and monument protection to address EurosporT 2 with protest letter
54. Will the Georgian military force leave Iraq?
55. Reservists to be trained with new arms
56. International conference regarding arrangement of roads and communications held In Tbilisi
57. Public broadcaster’s director general resigns
58. Disbanding antimonopoly commission still criticized by analysts
59. Revaz Arveladze: It’s possible to reduce electricity tariffs in Georgia!
60. In Georgia, giving birth to a baby is a symbol of lost income
61. Journalist Giorgi Mamatsashvili begins a hunger strike
full digest: Georgia News Digest - Ansicht in Groups BetaNeu!
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
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
NEWS: Georgia News Digest 03-05-08
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)
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)
1. Opposition outcry over majoritarian MP election rule
2. Opposition against initiated amendment
3. Controversial majoritarian MP election rule endorsed
4. report: Georgia Extraordinary Presidential Election
5. Election over, political tension continues
6. Okruashvili to run for parliament
7. Shalva Natelashvili: Mikheil Saakashvili carried out a failed terrorist attack against me and I survived!
8. Phone conference with Dr. Ron Asmus
9. The Georgian Association meets with Obama campaign advisors
10. The Georgian Association discusses policy with former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
11. Difference between situations in Armenia and Georgia is that Georgian opposition has a chance to rehabilitate
12. News agency chief: GUAM relying too much on US
13. Georgia may withdraw military contingent from Iraq this summer
14. Tbilisi thinks much of Kazakh reforms
15. Polish president confirms support for Georgia's, Ukraine's NATO aspirations
16. We will either receive MAP or improve relations with Russia
17. Moscow backtracking in negotiations with Georgia on border and customs control
18. Georgian reaction to Russian presidential election
19. Georgia hopes for improvement of relations with Russia – ForMin
20. Minister hopes for improved Georgian-Russian ties after election
21. Russian lawmakers mull over Abkhazia, S. Ossetia recognition
22. Russian special envoy to visit Georgia
23. Malkhaz Basilaia’s family temporarily ceased hunger strike
24. Head of Abkhaz state news agency rebukes Georgian media of anonymous address
25. Journalists’ release might be resolved positively unless they are found guilty of other crimes
26. Students, journalists rally at Enguri Bridge
27. Speaker says release of Georgian journalist "only correct decision"
28. Sokhumi signals readiness to release two detainees
29. No answers on Gali firefight
30. "Unprecedented" army drill in Abkhazia
31. Medvedev wins over 90 per cent in South Ossetia
32. Kosovo has nothing in common with South Ossetia - separatist official
33. Georgia continues to insist on changing South Ossetia conflict resolution format
34. Tbilisi to reconsider Russia's part in Georgian-Ossetian conflict settlement
35. Tbilisi scraps JCC on S. Ossetia
36. Reaping the benefits of FDI (charts at investor.ge/issues/2008_1/06.htm and details by source country at investor.ge/issues/2008_1/08.htm)
37. FDI in 2008: $2 billion?
38. Evaluation of the IMF
39. State employment program cannot solve unemployment
40. Workers go on strike in Zestaponi
41. GPB Board of Trustees to hold first session on March 5
42. Staff changes in Kakheti
43. “Mass demonstrations achieved positive results” , participants of social survey conclude
44. Victim of revenge was imprisoned for twelve years
45. Ugulava’s buses create problems in Gori
46. Prosecutor’s Office persecuted Chechen refugee without “good reason”
47. Welfare or pre-election promises?
48. Presidents and artists praise late Georgian actress
49. Blue monday with Okros Stumrebi
50. Diana Gurtskaya to represent Georgia at Eurovision in Serbia
full digest: Georgia News Digest - Ansicht in Groups BetaNeu!
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
NEWS: Georgia News Digest 03-04-08
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)
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)
1. Republican Party withdraws from opposition: is strength found through breaking-up?
2. Opposition, government bargaining over pending constitutional amendments
3. Georgia counts on Poland’s support for joining NATO
4. Saakashvili hopes for "irreversibility" of NATO accession
5. “Republicans” condemn latest developments in Armenia
6. Georgian “Conservators” call on international society to respond to events in Armenia
7. Burjanadze expressed condolences to families of people who died in Armenia
8. Saakashvili hopes that situation in Armenia improves in nearest future
9. Russian paper compares Armenian protests with earlier events in Georgia, Ukraine
10. NGOs rally in Tbilisi in protest at Armenian government's use of force
11. Tbilisi’s reaction to Armenian crisis
12. A week in the Russian blogosphere, 16-22 February
13. Moscow mayor slams Georgian leader's "aggressive actions"
14. Further Russian-Georgian relations will only depend on Tbilisi – Luzhkov
15. Burjanadze hopeful of improved Russian ties under new president
16. video: Interview: Aslan Abashidze
17. Burjanadze hopes for improvement of Georgian-Russian relations after presidential elections in Russia
18. Kosovo and Abkhazia: they could not be more different
19. Situation was calm in Russian presidential election in Abkhazia – Bagapsh
20. Abkhazia votes in Russian presidential election
21. Medvedev receives 90% in Abkhazia, S. Ossetia
22. Burjanadze calls on dialogue between sides regarding detention of Malkhaz Basilaia
23. Burjanadze urges Abkhaz separatists to release journalist
24. Detained journalist treated well in Abkhazia – Georgian Minister
25. Abkhazia to free Georgian reporters if found to only have violated "border"
26. Abkhaz reporters urged to act over detained journalist
27. Shida Kartli journalists demand release of Malkhaz Basilaia
28. Journalist in Sokhumi appealed Bagapsh for the release of their Georgian colleagues
29. Georgian journalists’ address to their Abkhaz colleagues was released
30. Kutaisi journalists demand release of Malkhaz Basilaia
31. Zugdidian mothers held manifestations supporting the journalist
32. Kidnapped journalist offered in ‘hostage swap’
33. Office of Abkhazian Public Persecutor leveled charges against Malkhaz Basilaia and Davit Tsotsoria
34. New defence minister of South Ossetia appointed
35. South Ossetian leader demands tighter security to thwart Georgian "terrorism"
36. South Ossetia votes for "independence" in Russian poll - separatist leader
37. War looming for once-Jewish city?
38. Two socially vulnerable mothers handed vouchers on GEL 1000
39. President pardoned 9 female convicts
40. Gigi Ugulava congratulated mothers with many children
41. Burjanadze and Kvitashvili congratulated inmates of boardinghouse for old people on mother’s day
42. ICC seeks international trade safeguards: New policy statement confirms position
43. Bee’s milk production cannot cope with demand
44. Skiing in Georgia: Bakuriani and Gudauri - Europe’s best kept secret
45. Old numbers, new sums: New study more critical about Georgia
46. New board for Public Broadcaster: ‘Independent from politics’
47. Education certification process postponed: Nodia: ‘more time is needed’ for planning
48. Badri Patarkatsishvili buried in Tbilisi – fate of Imedi still clouded
49. Try, try again
50. The President of Georgia makes a statement on Sophiko Chiarulei’s death
51. Correspondent of Asaval-Dasavali newspaper is starting hunger strike
52. Tsiskarishvili opened tractors service center in village Velistsikhe
53. Local population holds rally in village Duisi
54. Young Christian-Democrats rally at Healthcare Ministry
55. Rustavi 2 TV denies chief's dismissal
56. Ethnic groups in Georgia # 4 –Roms
57. Smoking risks widely unknown in Georgia
full digest: Georgia News Digest - Ansicht in Groups BetaNeu!
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
Sunday, March 02, 2008
NEWS: Georgia News Digest 02-29-08
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)
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)
1. U.N. human rights chief voices concerns on Georgia
2. UN official upbeat on rights situation in Georgia
3. Georgia's human rights record still of concern, despite progress – top UN official
4. “Republican” to supposedly separate from United National Council of opposition
5. Opposition leader speaks of possible split as a tactic
6. Pundit sceptical on chances for moving to next stage of NATO accession
7. Tbilisi claims joint border control agreed with Russia, but details are open question
8. Russian MPs insist no disagreement within government on Georgia checkpoints
9. Bakradze reckons that statement of official Moscow is result of internal problems
10. Bakradze denies misinterpreting results of Putin-Saakashvili meeting
11. Georgia responds to Russian MFA statement
12. Georgia needs strong and efficient intelligence
13. Best of possible
14. Rhetoric: Response to Kosovo?
15. Russian-Georgian relations see possible improvement
16. Tbilisi stands firm on case against Russia at ECHR
17. 'Turning point' in Russia's relations with Poland, Ukraine, Georgia
18. Moscow did not give guarantee to Tbilisi that “never recognize Abkhazia or South Ossetia”
19. Georgia critical of Russia ForMin statement
20. Russia reckons that there is nothing illegal in participation of citizens of Russia in election
21. Bomb blast kills 2 people, injures 15 in South Ossetia
22. video: Policemen killed in Georgia's breakaway republic
23. S Ossetia accuses Georgia of attempt at life of pro-Georgian official
24. S. Ossetia blames Thursday's bomb attack on Georgian secret services
25. Tskhinvali accuses Tbilisi of ‘terrorist act’
26. Saakashvili deceiving people ahead of election - separatist official
27. Bagapsh: Russia will not recognize Abkhazia’s independence so quickly!
28. Abkhazia wants recognition from Russia and Europe
29. Russia priority for Abkhazia - Shamba
30. Abkhazia to satisfy democratic standards to be recognized - Shamba
31. Georgian official condemns detention of journalist in Abkhazia
32. Abkhazia urges Georgia to release official in exchange for detained reporter
33. Bakradze: Everything to be done to release detained journalist
34. Abkhazia not to demand release of official in return for Georgian reporter
35. Saakashvili threatens police operation in Abkhazia over detained journalist
36. Gamkrelidze accuses Saakashvili of making “irresponsibility statements”
37. On Abkhazia, president’s ill-considered ultimatums create needless danger
38. Sokhumi defies Tbilisi’s warning over detained journalist
39. Paata Davitaia informed Prosecutor’s Office of Haaga about detention of Georgian journalist
40. Relatives of journalist Malkhaz Basilaia held rally at Enguri Bridge
41. General Ochalov flatly refutes information on detention of journalist Malkhaz Basilaia at peacekeepers’ checkpoint
42. Louise Arbour unable to name exact date of release of detained Georgian journalist
43. ‘Diplomatic efforts’ underway to release journalist
44. Separatists say Georgian special purpose troops mobilized near Abkhazia
45. Patarkatsishvili buried in Tbilisi
46. Badri Patarkatsishvili buried in courtyard of his residence
47. Final farewell to a robber baron and a philanthropist
48. video: Georgian tycoon laid to rest in Tbilisi
49. President of Israel not to attend funeral of Patarkatsishvili
50. Badri Patarkatsishvili assassinated?
51. Billionaire love child
52. Delegation of RA Defense Ministry headed by Mikael Harutyunyan to pay three-day official visit to Georgia
53. Armenian Defense Minister visits