NEWS: Georgia News Digest 03-24-08

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. A smuggler's story
2. Hunger strike continues, as opposition demands remain firm
3. Hunger strikers ‘quarantined’
4. Hunger striking opposition leader's "life in danger" – agency
5. Searching for a way out, Patriarch calls to end the hunger strike
6. Parliamentary elections set for May 21
7. “Republicans” criticize amendments to election code
8. Saakashvili schedules parliament election for May 21 – 2
9. Opposition slams election code amendments
10. Controversial rule on majoritarian MPs approved
11. 'If we fail, dictatorship will win in Georgia'
12. 'They want everything or nothing'
13. Tit-for-tat accusations prevail after Patriarch’s failed mediation
14. Majority about the opposition's ultimatum
15. Opposition responds to Speaker's statement
16. Republicans respond to United National Council
17. Tbilisi mayor proposal to opposition
18. Opposition extends date for fulfillment of demand
19. Opposition dispersed
20. Opposition should display high organizational skills
21. Opposition vs. Maisashvili and Topadze
22. Opposition responds to Speaker's statement
23. Government ready for talks if opposition stops hunger strikes - Georgian Speaker
24. Burjanadze says opposition's fresh demand "absolutely unacceptable"
25. Berezovsky on his plans, Georgian opposition, authorities
26. Opposition goes back to old demands – agency
27. 'The West has shown Saakashvili a yellow Card'
28. Visit of Mikheil Saakashvili to the USA
29. Saakashvili says his visit to US very successful
30. Range of bilateral security topics discussed
31. Saakashvili’s visit to the White House
32. DoD news briefing [excerpt]
33. Georgia to leave CIS when it is not in its "interests" to be there – minister
34. There are good prospects for co-operation of GUAM and Council of Europe
35. Georgia extends troop deployment in Iraq
36. Georgian troops to stay in Iraq until end of year
37. Georgia, Ukraine may not join NATO for years
38. Saakashvili hears encouraging words from United States on NATO membership
39. Georgia and NATO
40. NATO ready to assist Caucasus And Central Asia in defending energy resources and infrastructures
41. NATO members stating the case for Georgian and Ukrainian membership action plans
42. Is NATO facing a Russian veto through Franco German hands?
43. Russia and NATO
44. NATO benefits from Georgian membership: Bush’s message for Bucharest Summit
45. The Bucharest Summit: geopolitical roulette
46. Ukraine and Georgia need NATO, NATO needs time
47. Russia to recognize Abkhazia, S Ossetia if Georgia joins NATO
48. Duma adopts statement on Georgian, Moldovan breakaway republics
49. Duma opposition favors new policy on Abkhazia, S-Ossetia
50. Russian parliament to offer Georgian separatists new support
51. Russia's Duma votes on Georgia regions
52. Duma votes to back separatist efforts in Georgia
53. video: Kremlin urged to recognise Georgia’s breakaway states
54. Russian MPs back recognition of Georgian separatists
55. Russian MPs urge recognition of Georgia separatists
56. North Ossetia supports independence of unrecognized republics
57. Georgia's Ambassador to Russia ready for 'warmer relations'
58. They assign to Russia the role of the furnace man [excerpt]
59. Direct air communication between Georgia and Russia to be restored
60. Russian recognition of Georgia's breakaway regions unlikely – minister
61. Georgia cannot "state endlessly that it will not resort to force"
62. Georgia promises to respond to Duma statement on Abkhazia, S. Ossetia next week
63. Minister says there will be no war in Abkhazia
64. Georgia dubs Duma statement on Abkhazia “propaganda step”
65. Abkhaz MPs warn against possible armed conflict
66. Abkhazia, the country that doesn't exist, prepares to follow Kosovo's example
67. Georgia protests Abkhazia documentary on French TV channel
68. Georgia escalates tensions on Abkhaz border - separatist parliament
69. Abkhaz, S-Ossetian independence has historical prerequisites – deputies
70. Abkhazia calls on global community to prevent new war in Caucasus
71. Abkhazia insists unmanned spy plane shot down on March 18 belonged to Georgia
72. Abkhaz separatists left dangling by Russia
73. Sukhumi vows to protect its skies
74. Pro-Tbilisi Abkhaz official condemns Russian Duma statement
75. Separatist envoy upbeat on South Ossetia's chances of independence
76. Terror act committed against peacekeepers in South Ossetia
77. Separatists say blast in South Ossetia a Georgian "terrorist attack"
78. Explosion hits transport with Russian peacekeeper in breakaway Georgian region
79. Tskhinvali claims arms cache recovered in Java
80. Jozeph Kay denies talks with government on Imedi TV issue
81. Imedi TV director general is asking for guarantees for broadcasting license maintenance
82. Protest action in Kakheti
83. Okruashvili calls for focusing on Imedi TV
84. Imedi TV ‘new owner’ denies talks with government
85. Imedi TV ‘new owner’ plans to restore ‘old Imedi’
86. Imedi TV's new owner meets channel's leadership
87. Imedi TV's present owner confirms purchase of TV station
88. Berezovsky uncertain how much of Imedi TV company he owns
89. If Imedi fails to resume broadcasts by Wednesday, its licence will be revoked
90. Kavkasia TV levelled threats against Labourists
91. The number of Public Broadcasting Board of Trustees director’ position seekers has increased
92. 12 compete for public tv top job
93. State Appeal Commission to review the early release of former press secretary of Adjara’s ex-leader
94. Interest rates on mortgage credits in Georgia make within 14-18%
95. Foreign participation makes 64% in the total capital of Georgian banks
96. National Scientific Fund to fund scientists, participants of scientific programs of NATO
97. Parliament speaker visits Kutaisi
98. Spotlight on diaspora: A little ministry with big plans
99. Journalism serving motherland
100. Georgia’s state energy policy in the natural gas sector
101. Wind blows, roof crawls
102. Art therapy on Asatiani Street: Tbilisi mental facility patients spend their time creating
103. Tbilisi’s Mama Daviti church about to get a facelift

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