NEWS: Georgia News Digest 05-06-08

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)

Abkhazia
1. Abkhaz minster says plane fragments found
2. MoD says international experts completed drone downing probe
3. Abkhaz claim Georgian drone overflight
4. Georgia asks UN to probe Abkhazia's claims on downed drones
5. Georgia says Russia's WTO entry depends on Abkhazia stance
6. Abkhazia shows off what it says is wreckage of downed Georgia spy planes
7. Abkhazia detects another Georgian drone, takes no action
8. Abkhaz official says any Georgian drone will be shot down - Russian radio
9. Abkhazia maps out its hot-spots
10. Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia—I
11. Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia—II
12. Comment on information spread by the Abkhaz separatist regime and the MFA of the Russian Federation
13. Abkhazia seeks security guarantees from Russia
14. What's ging on in Abkhazia? The Russians are meddling in Georgia, and America can't do much about it.
15. Georgia should stop to heat up tension in Abkhazia – Duma
16. Abkhazia shows off what it says is wreckage of downed Georgia spy planes
17. Army put on alert in breakaway Abkhazia - Georgian TV
18. Interview: Vladimir Kotlyar
19. Ethnic Georgians oppressed in Gali district
20. Abkhazian vice-president describes situation as normal
21. Estonia ready to take part in peacekeeping in Abkhazia
22. Russia will not let military operations near its borders – Rogozin
23. Russian troops in Georgia deny local TV report of interethnic clash among them
24. Commander gives numbers, explains task of new Russian troops in Georgian region
25. Georgia’s actions escalate confrontation – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
26. Commander trains new Russian troops in Georgia in use of force
27. Russia’s strange “peacekeeping” operation in Abkhazia
28. Russia doubling its troops in Georgia’s Abkhazia region
29. RF peacekeepers reinforce positions in Georgia-Abkhazia conflict area
30. Georgia laughs off reports of war
31. Azerbaijan going to send gunmen for Georgia’s war against Abkhazia?
32. Possible outcomes of a Georgian-Abkhazian war
33. Kremlin policy regarding Abkhazia contradicts Russia's interests
International organizations
34. EU urges RF, Georgia to join efforts on restoring trust
35. Georgian Ambassador: 'NATO sent the wrong signal to Russia'
36. Georgia hopes to join NATO Membership Action Plan in December 2008
37. Georgia links pullout from CIS treaty to NATO integration
38. Georgia, NATO and Mr. Medvedev
39. Trouble in Georgia: The ex-Soviet republic and Russia are at odds over a restive region—and NATO, and WTO
40. Russia’s WTO talks run into deadlock
41. Georgia says Russia's WTO entry depends on Abkhazia stance
42. Interview with Gerhard Schroeder [excerpt]
Russia-Georgia relations
43. Georgia PM wants economic boom, not Russia conflict
44. Georgia seeks to garner US political support
45. Georgia pulls out from air defense treaty with Russia
46. video: Georgia pulls out of air-defence treaty with Russia
47. Georgia's secession from air defence cooperation agreement not to affect Russia
48. Georgia explains its secession from air defence cooperation agree with Russia
49. Georgia’s actions escalate confrontation – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
50. Russia will not let military operations near its borders- Rogozin
51. Russian-Georgian row concerns the West
52. Hexogenetically modified: Russia does not need to respond to the Kosovo precedent
53. Russia rehearses inauguration show of strength
54. A fight for peace in Georgia
Politics
55. Chief Prosecutor becomes Foreign Minister
56. Eka Tkeshelashvili appointed new Georgian foreign minister
57. President Mikheil Saakashvili’s speech delivered at the National Movement Party congress
58. report: Georgia's May 2008 Parliamentary elections: Setting sail in a storm
By Niklas Nilsson and Svante E. Cornell, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Program, May 2008

59. Survey shows United National Movement with majority support in Republic of Georgia parliamentary race
60. Sozar Subari: “No more rigged elections” – real problem or pre-election trick
61. Unknown people are threatening Republican Party activists
62. Deadline for rechecking voter lists extended
63. Opposition says audio tape reveals intimidation of state employees
64. Ruling party MP candidate exits race over audio tape
65. MP candidate in Kutaisi pulls out citing ‘pressure’
66. Candidates for MP are busy bribing voters
67. Opposition’s economic visions
68. Gogi Topadze advises the government to find a common language with Russia
69. National Movement 3rd majoritarian candidate for Tsalenjikha district voters
70. Arrested election observer for “not” accepting deal
Media
71. Imedi TV Company has resumed broadcasting
72. video: No news is good news for Georgia’s opposition TV
73. Georgian Imedi TV runs brief trial broadcast
74. video: Interview: Joseph Kay
American businessman Joseph Kay, who claims to be a step cousin of the late billionaire Badri Patarkatsishvili’s, spoke exclusively to RT about the future of independent Georgian channel Imedi, which he has inherited.

75. Assault on a journalist
76. National Movement member wants to shut down a newspaper
77. MP accused of removing 500 newspaper copies out of the sale network
Business
78. Norway grants preferences to Georgia under GSP scheme
79. British firm Interchem buys 37,750 T Georgian oil
80. Georgia's credit outlook revised down to stable-S&P
81. “Great trade” in the hospitals sector
Misc.
82. New social assistance scheme – a step forward?
83. Peace seekers in Tbilisi Botanical Garden
84. Tbilisi sakrebulo started charity drive for orphanages
85. Scientific research center on Georgian-Abkhaz relations established at TSU
86. Only bait is free in a mouse-trap
87. Seven IDP families unable to receive compensations
88. Prosecutors are regional governors in police state
89. Why destroy Karaleti Forest?
90. Khashuri locals complain: poor sewage system
91. "People’s wishes unfulfilled"- concluded Akhaltsikhe district locals
92. Attorney hunger strike means Georgian justice died

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