Lincoln A. Mitchell
Reviewed by By Robert Legvold / Source: foreignaffairs.com
March/April 2011
Books & Reviews are sponsored by World Bank Publications
Mitchell argues that in its democracy-promotion efforts, the United States should be more critical of its perceived democratic allies, less focused on single benchmarks such as elections, and more attuned to the many elements needed to create an engaged citizenry.
As much as Western governments wanted Georgia, even before the 2003 Rose Revolution, to be the poster child for democracy in the post-Soviet region, reality fell short. Georgia under Eduard Shevardnadze, who led Georgia from 1993 to 2003, raised U.S. and European expectations and, with them, proportionately large sums of money to make them come true. But as Mitchell describes, although Georgia in that era was freer than most of its neighbors, it also slid into the ditch of corruption and economic incompetence. Eventually, Shevardnadze "tried to steal one too many elections." The "accidental revolution" this fathered, although genuinely popular, was scarcely democratic. Those who led it, for all their indisputable success in fighting corruption, salvaging a badly decayed infrastructure, and rallying public support, have attended far more to strengthening and modernizing the state than building democracy -- priorities Washington has mostly excused. So, Mitchell argues, in its democracy-promotion efforts, the United States should be more critical of its perceived democratic allies, less focused on single benchmarks such as elections, and more attuned to the many elements needed to create an engaged citizenry.
Author Lincoln A. Mitchell
Publisher University of Pennsylvania Press
Year 2008
Pages 192 pp.
ISBN 0812241274
Price $45.00
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Showing posts with label Shevardnadze. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shevardnadze. Show all posts
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
NEWS: RFE/RL Caucasus Report, November 12, 2010 (rferl.org)
A review of RFE/RL reporting and analysis about the countries of the South Caucasus and Russia's North Caucasus region. For more stories on the Caucasus, please visit and bookmark our Caucasus page .
Armenian Army Scrambles To Tackle Abuse After Spate Of Deaths Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian this month faced the uneasy task of comforting parents whose sons were found dead after suffering vicious treatment in the army. More
Kazakhstan's Jihadists Solicit Assistance From Ingush Insurgency Website More
Interview: One Year After Husband's Sentence, Wife Of Azerbaijani 'Donkey Blogger' Speaks Out One year ago, Azerbaijani youth activists Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizada were jailed for 2 1/2 and two years in a case that has generated interest far beyond the Caucasus. Dubbed the "donkey bloggers," the two men had posted a satirical video shortly before their arrest in which a person dressed as a donkey led a government press conference. More
Azerbaijani Government Crackdown Follows Bear Video After the video was posted on RFE/RL's website, Azerbaijani officials conducted raids on two restaurants, confiscating two bears and placing them in an Environment Ministry rehabilitation center. More
Azerbaijan's Most Prominent Opposition Parties Lose Parliament Mandates As widely anticipated, the November 7 Azerbaijani parliamentary elections replicated to varying degrees the most egregious failings of previous ballots. For the first time, not a single candidate from the main right-wing opposition Azerbaijan Popular Front or Musavat parties was elected to parliament. More
Armenian Government Dismissals: Turning Point, Or PR Exercise? Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian has followed up on his trenchant criticism last week of government corruption by announcing the dismissal of two deputy ministers and a senior Finance Ministry official. In addition, he requested the sacking of a civil servant employed at the Ministry of Agriculture. It's not yet clear, however, whether this marks the start of the systematic crackdown on corruption that many analysts argue is long overdue. More
It Depends on What You Mean by 'Elected'.... In the aftermath of Azerbaijan's parliamentary elections on November 7, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said "the country needs to do much more to make progress in developing a truly pluralist democracy." Khadija Ismaiylova of RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service spoke about the vote and the future of democracy in Azerbaijan with Ambassador Audrey Glover, head of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Election Observation Mission in Baku. More
Former Georgian President Speaks Out For several years after his ouster in Georgia's November 2003 Rose Revolution, Eduard Shevardnadze lived quietly outside Tbilisi and rarely spoke to the press. But over the past year he has spoken out with increasing frequency, not only criticizing the present Georgian leadership but candidly admitting to his own grave errors of judgment. More
End Of Part 1 The two high-profile attacks by Chechen suicide bombers in late August and mid-October have eclipsed the more frequent, and more deadly attacks committed almost on a daily basis by Islamic insurgents in Kabardino-Balkaria. More
New Georgian Opposition Party Under Pressure Georgia's newest opposition party took shape less than a month ago, and has still to hold its founding congress. But already the brother of one of its five leaders has been arrested on fraud charges, two of its activists have been arrested and accused of perpetrating explosions in Tbilisi, and someone opened fire on the son and daughter-in-law of a third. More
Interview: Top U.S. Diplomat Discusses Regional Developments, Abuses, Stalemates, And Cooperation Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Gordon sat down with RFE/RL for a wide-ranging interview on the U.S. position on everything from the jailed bloggers in Azerbaijan to Ukraine's improving relationship with Moscow, Georgia's right to territorial sovereignty, to Russia's role in brokering a deal over Nagorno-Karabakh. More
Stefan Fuele's Revolution That Never Was A small revolution came close to taking place in the European Union right about now -- only to dissolve into the kind of self-doubt so characteristic of the bloc of late, leaving behind only the barest ripple among (mostly bemused) officials. More
Armenian Army Scrambles To Tackle Abuse After Spate Of Deaths Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian this month faced the uneasy task of comforting parents whose sons were found dead after suffering vicious treatment in the army. More
Kazakhstan's Jihadists Solicit Assistance From Ingush Insurgency Website More
Interview: One Year After Husband's Sentence, Wife Of Azerbaijani 'Donkey Blogger' Speaks Out One year ago, Azerbaijani youth activists Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizada were jailed for 2 1/2 and two years in a case that has generated interest far beyond the Caucasus. Dubbed the "donkey bloggers," the two men had posted a satirical video shortly before their arrest in which a person dressed as a donkey led a government press conference. More
Azerbaijani Government Crackdown Follows Bear Video After the video was posted on RFE/RL's website, Azerbaijani officials conducted raids on two restaurants, confiscating two bears and placing them in an Environment Ministry rehabilitation center. More
Azerbaijan's Most Prominent Opposition Parties Lose Parliament Mandates As widely anticipated, the November 7 Azerbaijani parliamentary elections replicated to varying degrees the most egregious failings of previous ballots. For the first time, not a single candidate from the main right-wing opposition Azerbaijan Popular Front or Musavat parties was elected to parliament. More
Armenian Government Dismissals: Turning Point, Or PR Exercise? Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian has followed up on his trenchant criticism last week of government corruption by announcing the dismissal of two deputy ministers and a senior Finance Ministry official. In addition, he requested the sacking of a civil servant employed at the Ministry of Agriculture. It's not yet clear, however, whether this marks the start of the systematic crackdown on corruption that many analysts argue is long overdue. More
It Depends on What You Mean by 'Elected'.... In the aftermath of Azerbaijan's parliamentary elections on November 7, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said "the country needs to do much more to make progress in developing a truly pluralist democracy." Khadija Ismaiylova of RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service spoke about the vote and the future of democracy in Azerbaijan with Ambassador Audrey Glover, head of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Election Observation Mission in Baku. More
Former Georgian President Speaks Out For several years after his ouster in Georgia's November 2003 Rose Revolution, Eduard Shevardnadze lived quietly outside Tbilisi and rarely spoke to the press. But over the past year he has spoken out with increasing frequency, not only criticizing the present Georgian leadership but candidly admitting to his own grave errors of judgment. More
End Of Part 1 The two high-profile attacks by Chechen suicide bombers in late August and mid-October have eclipsed the more frequent, and more deadly attacks committed almost on a daily basis by Islamic insurgents in Kabardino-Balkaria. More
New Georgian Opposition Party Under Pressure Georgia's newest opposition party took shape less than a month ago, and has still to hold its founding congress. But already the brother of one of its five leaders has been arrested on fraud charges, two of its activists have been arrested and accused of perpetrating explosions in Tbilisi, and someone opened fire on the son and daughter-in-law of a third. More
Interview: Top U.S. Diplomat Discusses Regional Developments, Abuses, Stalemates, And Cooperation Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Gordon sat down with RFE/RL for a wide-ranging interview on the U.S. position on everything from the jailed bloggers in Azerbaijan to Ukraine's improving relationship with Moscow, Georgia's right to territorial sovereignty, to Russia's role in brokering a deal over Nagorno-Karabakh. More
Stefan Fuele's Revolution That Never Was A small revolution came close to taking place in the European Union right about now -- only to dissolve into the kind of self-doubt so characteristic of the bloc of late, leaving behind only the barest ripple among (mostly bemused) officials. More
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
RADIO: Guter Tropfen aus Georgien. Weinlese in Kachetien. Von Henning Hübert (dradio.de)
Wachleute eines Sicherheitsdienstes sitzen plaudernd auf einer weiß angestrichenen Parkbank vor dem Museum. Das zeigt die großbürgerliche Lebensart seines Erbauers inmitten kleinbäuerlicher Bescheidenheit: 1886 erbaute der georgische Schriftsteller und Militär Alexander Tschawtschawadse das Weingut Zinandali samt Weinkellerei an einem Hang wenig östlich von der kachetischen Provinzhauptstadt Telawi.
Die Lebensart von damals ist ein Besuchermagnet. Im Garten, an einer Palme, posiert ein Hochzeitspaar - die Braut ganz in weiß, der Bräutigam mit schwarzer Tracht, Wams, Dolch und stilisierten Patronenhülsen an der Brust. Eine Besuchergruppe nach der nächsten strömt hinein in das Schlösschen. Die meisten haben Führung durch Museum und Weinkeller sowie eine anschließende Weinprobe gebucht. Zu Zeiten der Sowjetunion war Zinandali Erholungsort für die Nomenklatur. Ganz in der Nachbarschaft soll bis heute Eduard Schewardnadse ein Wochenendhaus haben. Doch die Führerin Marina Msuqnishwili spricht viel lieber vom vergangenen Glanz des 19. Jahrhunderts:
"Also das ist das Hausmuseum des genialen georgischen Dichters Alexander Tschawtschawadse. Er wurde in Petersburg geboren. Er war Generalleutnant und hat an vielen Kämpfen teilgenommen. Alexanders Vater war georgischer Botschafter in Russland. Die Mutter war eine Adlige und eine gute Erzieherin ihres Sohnes. Sie starb in Tblisi, begraben ist sie hier in Kachetien im Kloster Neu-Shoamta, 20 Kilometer von hier entfernt."
Gezeigt werden die beiden wohl ältesten Klaviere und Flügel, die es in Georgien gibt - 200 Jahre sind sie alt. Sie stehen im Salon und stammen aus Deutschland, Marke Becker. Der Salon des Offiziers - Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts ein Sommertreffpunkt der geistigen Elite.
"Alexander Tschawtschawadse war ein sehr gebildeter Mensch, er beherrschte sechs Sprachen. Dieses Haus war das Sommerhaus des Dichters, meistens lebte die Familie des Dichters in Tbilisi. Sie waren sehr gastfreundlich. Hier waren zu verschiedenen Zeiten der französische Schriftsteller Dumas, Professor Koch von der Universität Jena, russische Schriftsteller wie Lermontow und Puschkin."
Den runden Esstisch ziert weit gereistes Porzellan aus Limoges und Meißen. Vom Speisesaal hat man einen Blick auf den schneebedeckten Kaukasus. Ausnahmsweise wird auch die Kristallglocke angeschlagen, die schon den Dichter zum Essen rief und ansonsten still zwischen Sauciere und Weingläsern liegt.
Das Signal für den Abgang Richtung Weinkeller und Weinprobe. In einem tief unter der Erde liegenden Keller lagern bis heute über 16.000 Flaschen bei konstant 10 bis 14 Grad. Die ältesten sind von 1814. Fotos von ihnen darf man nicht machen. Und natürlich auch nicht den echten Staub von den Etiketten abwischen. Ob sie noch trinkbar sind? Seit Sowjetzeiten soll keine Flasche aus dem 19. Jahrhundert mehr neu verkorkt oder aufgefüllt worden sein.
"Alexander Tschawtschawadse war selbst ein großer Wirtschaftler. Er hatte große Weinberge. Und sein Wein hatte eine hohe Qualität und sein Wein konkurrierte mit französischen Weinen. Hier im ersten Stock haben wir einen Raum, in dem man Wein probieren kann, und hier gibt es auch rote und weiße Weine. Rote Weine namens Zinandali."
Seit Tausenden von Jahren läuft das Keltern im Weinland Georgien anders ab als in den Anbaugebieten Europas. Die Reiseführerin Nino Kurtskhalia kann das im Weinkeller von Zinandali erklären:
"Das unterscheidet man von den Europäischen: Damit man Maische und Saft von den Weintrauben nicht voneinander trennt, hält man sie zusammen in einem Kessel für ein paar Tage. Damit diese Maische eine eigene Farbe und einen eigenen Geschmack gibt und auch das Tannin dabei ist und auch die Stärken. Dann nach ein paar Tagen trennt man schon diesen Saft und die Maische voneinander. Dann braucht man noch Zeit. Manche kommen in die Tongefäße, manche in Holzfässer, um dort zu altern. Und mit der Maische macht man den georgischen Schnaps namens Tschatscha."
Früherer Hauptabnehmer georgischen Weins war der Nachbarstaat Russland. Doch die Beziehungen liegen auf Eis, 2008 gab es einen Krieg zwischen beiden Staaten, der Georgien die Kontrolle über zwei Provinzen kostete. Bereits 2006 hatte Russland ein Handelsembargo für georgische Waren verhängt. Der Hauptexportmarkt brach weg - offiziell haben die georgischen Winzer darauf mit einer Qualitätsoffensive reagiert. Heute wollen sich georgische Spitzenwinzer mit spanischen und französischen Tropfen messen lassen. Aber auch die Masse der Weingüter hat nach dem ersten Schock durch das Handelsembargo eine Lösung gefunden: Georgischer Wein finde auch heute noch trotz Verbots seinen Weg nach Norden über Kazbegi und den hohen Kaukasus hinein nach Russland, verrät Nino Kurtskhalia:
"Macht man das, natürlich offiziell, sondern illegal. Das ist also durch Armenien. Zuerst bringt man die Waren nach Armenien. Und dann werden in Armenien diese Waren als armenische ausgegeben. Und dann bringt man sie wiederum durch Georgien nach Russland. Und durch Aserbaidschan geht es auch. Alles, was man erntet, kann man in Georgien auch verkaufen oder exportieren."
Darauf wird dann noch angestoßen mit einem abschließenden Glas Zinandali in Zinandali.
Quelle: www.dradio.de
Die Lebensart von damals ist ein Besuchermagnet. Im Garten, an einer Palme, posiert ein Hochzeitspaar - die Braut ganz in weiß, der Bräutigam mit schwarzer Tracht, Wams, Dolch und stilisierten Patronenhülsen an der Brust. Eine Besuchergruppe nach der nächsten strömt hinein in das Schlösschen. Die meisten haben Führung durch Museum und Weinkeller sowie eine anschließende Weinprobe gebucht. Zu Zeiten der Sowjetunion war Zinandali Erholungsort für die Nomenklatur. Ganz in der Nachbarschaft soll bis heute Eduard Schewardnadse ein Wochenendhaus haben. Doch die Führerin Marina Msuqnishwili spricht viel lieber vom vergangenen Glanz des 19. Jahrhunderts:
"Also das ist das Hausmuseum des genialen georgischen Dichters Alexander Tschawtschawadse. Er wurde in Petersburg geboren. Er war Generalleutnant und hat an vielen Kämpfen teilgenommen. Alexanders Vater war georgischer Botschafter in Russland. Die Mutter war eine Adlige und eine gute Erzieherin ihres Sohnes. Sie starb in Tblisi, begraben ist sie hier in Kachetien im Kloster Neu-Shoamta, 20 Kilometer von hier entfernt."
Gezeigt werden die beiden wohl ältesten Klaviere und Flügel, die es in Georgien gibt - 200 Jahre sind sie alt. Sie stehen im Salon und stammen aus Deutschland, Marke Becker. Der Salon des Offiziers - Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts ein Sommertreffpunkt der geistigen Elite.
"Alexander Tschawtschawadse war ein sehr gebildeter Mensch, er beherrschte sechs Sprachen. Dieses Haus war das Sommerhaus des Dichters, meistens lebte die Familie des Dichters in Tbilisi. Sie waren sehr gastfreundlich. Hier waren zu verschiedenen Zeiten der französische Schriftsteller Dumas, Professor Koch von der Universität Jena, russische Schriftsteller wie Lermontow und Puschkin."
Den runden Esstisch ziert weit gereistes Porzellan aus Limoges und Meißen. Vom Speisesaal hat man einen Blick auf den schneebedeckten Kaukasus. Ausnahmsweise wird auch die Kristallglocke angeschlagen, die schon den Dichter zum Essen rief und ansonsten still zwischen Sauciere und Weingläsern liegt.
Das Signal für den Abgang Richtung Weinkeller und Weinprobe. In einem tief unter der Erde liegenden Keller lagern bis heute über 16.000 Flaschen bei konstant 10 bis 14 Grad. Die ältesten sind von 1814. Fotos von ihnen darf man nicht machen. Und natürlich auch nicht den echten Staub von den Etiketten abwischen. Ob sie noch trinkbar sind? Seit Sowjetzeiten soll keine Flasche aus dem 19. Jahrhundert mehr neu verkorkt oder aufgefüllt worden sein.
"Alexander Tschawtschawadse war selbst ein großer Wirtschaftler. Er hatte große Weinberge. Und sein Wein hatte eine hohe Qualität und sein Wein konkurrierte mit französischen Weinen. Hier im ersten Stock haben wir einen Raum, in dem man Wein probieren kann, und hier gibt es auch rote und weiße Weine. Rote Weine namens Zinandali."
Seit Tausenden von Jahren läuft das Keltern im Weinland Georgien anders ab als in den Anbaugebieten Europas. Die Reiseführerin Nino Kurtskhalia kann das im Weinkeller von Zinandali erklären:
"Das unterscheidet man von den Europäischen: Damit man Maische und Saft von den Weintrauben nicht voneinander trennt, hält man sie zusammen in einem Kessel für ein paar Tage. Damit diese Maische eine eigene Farbe und einen eigenen Geschmack gibt und auch das Tannin dabei ist und auch die Stärken. Dann nach ein paar Tagen trennt man schon diesen Saft und die Maische voneinander. Dann braucht man noch Zeit. Manche kommen in die Tongefäße, manche in Holzfässer, um dort zu altern. Und mit der Maische macht man den georgischen Schnaps namens Tschatscha."
Früherer Hauptabnehmer georgischen Weins war der Nachbarstaat Russland. Doch die Beziehungen liegen auf Eis, 2008 gab es einen Krieg zwischen beiden Staaten, der Georgien die Kontrolle über zwei Provinzen kostete. Bereits 2006 hatte Russland ein Handelsembargo für georgische Waren verhängt. Der Hauptexportmarkt brach weg - offiziell haben die georgischen Winzer darauf mit einer Qualitätsoffensive reagiert. Heute wollen sich georgische Spitzenwinzer mit spanischen und französischen Tropfen messen lassen. Aber auch die Masse der Weingüter hat nach dem ersten Schock durch das Handelsembargo eine Lösung gefunden: Georgischer Wein finde auch heute noch trotz Verbots seinen Weg nach Norden über Kazbegi und den hohen Kaukasus hinein nach Russland, verrät Nino Kurtskhalia:
"Macht man das, natürlich offiziell, sondern illegal. Das ist also durch Armenien. Zuerst bringt man die Waren nach Armenien. Und dann werden in Armenien diese Waren als armenische ausgegeben. Und dann bringt man sie wiederum durch Georgien nach Russland. Und durch Aserbaidschan geht es auch. Alles, was man erntet, kann man in Georgien auch verkaufen oder exportieren."
Darauf wird dann noch angestoßen mit einem abschließenden Glas Zinandali in Zinandali.
Quelle: www.dradio.de
Saturday, October 16, 2010
DISKUSSION: Medien im Südkaukasus als Spielball der Politik (tt.com)
Wien (APA) - Die Politik in den drei früheren Sowjet-Republiken Georgien, Armenien und Aserbaidschan benutzt die Medien als Spielball und Instrument. So der Tenor einer vom Forum Alpbach organisierten Podiumsdiskussion am Freitagabend in Wien. Es sei eine „Illusion“, die Medien in den drei Ländern des Südkaukasus „als Bereiche für sich“ zu sehen, sagte etwa der georgische TV-Investigativ-Journalist Akaki Gogichaischwili.
„Das Fernsehen ist total unter staatlicher Kontrolle“, erklärte auch Nouneh Sarkissian (Sarksjan) für Armenien. Ein ähnliches Bild von der Lage in ihrer Heimat zeichnete Gülnare Axundova (sprich: Achundowa) vom Aserbaidschan Media Center, die an der alljährlichen, hochrangig mit Medienschaffenden und -experten besetzten Konferenz der Commission on Media Policy in Wien teilnimmt, deren Co-Vorsitzender Ex-Vizekanzler Erhard Busek ist.
Die Medienlandschaften der drei kleinen Länder zeichnen sich jeweils durch eine relativ kleine, schrumpfende Leserschaft und einem entsprechend kleinen Print-Markt aus. Demgegenüber ist die Zahl an Fernsehsendern übergroß. Diese Situation begünstige den Zugriff der Politik, waren sich die Teilnehmer der Podiumsdiskussion einig. Aber auch die verschiedenen, sich widerstrebenden Interessen von internationalen Akteuren wie Russland, EU, USA, Iran oder Türkei spielten in die eingeschränkte Medienfreiheit in der Region hinein, die als Energielieferanten bzw. für den Energietransit strategische Bedeutung haben, wie der für den Sender Rustavi II tätige Gogichaischwili ausführte.
Sarkissian, Direktorin der Internews Media Support NGO, sagte, die Lage in Armenien sei vielleicht nicht so schlimm wie in Aserbaidschan. Dafür wisse man dort, „woher die Kontrolle kommt“. In Armenien sei das nicht so klar. Die TV-Stationen würden nicht direkt, sondern über die Regulierungsbehörde kontrolliert, die eigentlich unabhängig sein sollte, allerdings vollkommen unter dem Einfluss der Regierung stehe.
Sarkissian erinnerte an den Fall des Senders A1+, dem selbst nach einem Urteil des Europäischen Gerichtshofes für Menschenrechte (EGMR) die entzogene Lizenz nicht zurückgegeben wurde. Je nach Stimmung in den angespannten Beziehungen zur Türkei und zu Aserbaidschan werde die Berichterstattung über die Nachbarn in Armenien gegängelt.
Der Georgier Gogichaischwili wurde für sein Aufdecker-Magazin, in dem er die grassierende Korruption unter dem 2003 aus dem Amt gejagten Präsidenten Eduard Schewardnadse entlarvte und anprangerte, bedroht. Nachdem es danach mehr Medienfreiheit gegeben habe, brauche aber auch die jetztige Regierung unter dem pro-westlichen Präsidenten Micheil Saakaschwili keine Aufdecker und Aufklärer mehr: Gogichailschwili macht heute eine Wirtschaftssendung. „Vielleicht ist das der Preis für Stabilität und Entwicklung“, zweifelte er. 90 Prozent des Fernsehprorgamms seien Unterhaltung oder Gehirnwäsche.
Auch Axundova beklagte, dass sich die breite Öffentlichkeit in Aserbaidschan gar nicht mit Politik beschäftige und derartiger Themen müde sei. Einzig Neue Medien, Internet und Blogs, die allerdings nur einer Minderheit zugänglich seien, böten Hoffnung auf mehr Medienfreiheit und eine kritischere Gesellschaft. Einig waren sich die Teilnehmer der Podiumsdiskussion, dass Journalisten in Georgien, Armenien und Aserbaidschan eine bessere Ausbildung bräuchten; auch ein freier Medienmarkt müsse sich im Südkaukasus erst entwickeln.
Quelle: www.tt.com
„Das Fernsehen ist total unter staatlicher Kontrolle“, erklärte auch Nouneh Sarkissian (Sarksjan) für Armenien. Ein ähnliches Bild von der Lage in ihrer Heimat zeichnete Gülnare Axundova (sprich: Achundowa) vom Aserbaidschan Media Center, die an der alljährlichen, hochrangig mit Medienschaffenden und -experten besetzten Konferenz der Commission on Media Policy in Wien teilnimmt, deren Co-Vorsitzender Ex-Vizekanzler Erhard Busek ist.
Die Medienlandschaften der drei kleinen Länder zeichnen sich jeweils durch eine relativ kleine, schrumpfende Leserschaft und einem entsprechend kleinen Print-Markt aus. Demgegenüber ist die Zahl an Fernsehsendern übergroß. Diese Situation begünstige den Zugriff der Politik, waren sich die Teilnehmer der Podiumsdiskussion einig. Aber auch die verschiedenen, sich widerstrebenden Interessen von internationalen Akteuren wie Russland, EU, USA, Iran oder Türkei spielten in die eingeschränkte Medienfreiheit in der Region hinein, die als Energielieferanten bzw. für den Energietransit strategische Bedeutung haben, wie der für den Sender Rustavi II tätige Gogichaischwili ausführte.
Sarkissian, Direktorin der Internews Media Support NGO, sagte, die Lage in Armenien sei vielleicht nicht so schlimm wie in Aserbaidschan. Dafür wisse man dort, „woher die Kontrolle kommt“. In Armenien sei das nicht so klar. Die TV-Stationen würden nicht direkt, sondern über die Regulierungsbehörde kontrolliert, die eigentlich unabhängig sein sollte, allerdings vollkommen unter dem Einfluss der Regierung stehe.
Sarkissian erinnerte an den Fall des Senders A1+, dem selbst nach einem Urteil des Europäischen Gerichtshofes für Menschenrechte (EGMR) die entzogene Lizenz nicht zurückgegeben wurde. Je nach Stimmung in den angespannten Beziehungen zur Türkei und zu Aserbaidschan werde die Berichterstattung über die Nachbarn in Armenien gegängelt.
Der Georgier Gogichaischwili wurde für sein Aufdecker-Magazin, in dem er die grassierende Korruption unter dem 2003 aus dem Amt gejagten Präsidenten Eduard Schewardnadse entlarvte und anprangerte, bedroht. Nachdem es danach mehr Medienfreiheit gegeben habe, brauche aber auch die jetztige Regierung unter dem pro-westlichen Präsidenten Micheil Saakaschwili keine Aufdecker und Aufklärer mehr: Gogichailschwili macht heute eine Wirtschaftssendung. „Vielleicht ist das der Preis für Stabilität und Entwicklung“, zweifelte er. 90 Prozent des Fernsehprorgamms seien Unterhaltung oder Gehirnwäsche.
Auch Axundova beklagte, dass sich die breite Öffentlichkeit in Aserbaidschan gar nicht mit Politik beschäftige und derartiger Themen müde sei. Einzig Neue Medien, Internet und Blogs, die allerdings nur einer Minderheit zugänglich seien, böten Hoffnung auf mehr Medienfreiheit und eine kritischere Gesellschaft. Einig waren sich die Teilnehmer der Podiumsdiskussion, dass Journalisten in Georgien, Armenien und Aserbaidschan eine bessere Ausbildung bräuchten; auch ein freier Medienmarkt müsse sich im Südkaukasus erst entwickeln.
Quelle: www.tt.com
Friday, October 09, 2009
BLOG: RFE/RL Caucasus Report from (rferl.org)
10/9/2009 5:52:15 PM A review of RFE/RL reporting and analysis about the countries of the South Caucasus and Russia's North Caucasus region. For more stories on the Caucasus, please visit and bookmark our Caucasus page .
Russia Facing Resistance On CIS's Southern Flank Representatives of the CIS are holding a summit in the Moldovan capital today, but most of the Central Asian presidents won't be in attendance. The presidents of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan instead sent lower-level delegations. Focusing on the three Central Asian states that make up the CIS's southern frontier, we examine how, by skipping the summit, they might be exhibiting their discontent with Russia. More
Efforts To Stage-Manage Elections Fuel Tensions In North Caucasus Daghestan's President Mukhu Aliyev is reportedly sparing no effort to secure the reelection on October 11 of the incumbent mayor of the southern town of Derbent, Feliks Kaziakhmedov. In Karachayevo-Cherkessia, candidates for the post of mayor of the town of Karachayevsk have demanded that acting Mayor Umar Uzdenov be disqualified from the ballot (also on October 11) on the grounds that his registration as a candidate is invalid, and that the presidential administration is pressuring voters to cast their ballots for him. More
EBRD's Chief Economist Assesses Conditions In Central, Eastern Europe Erik Berglof, the chief economist of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, joined other officials from international financial institutions at meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund this week in Istanbul, where one of the central topics was the global financial crisis. In an exclusive interview with RFE/RL, he discusses how Central and Eastern European countries are faring amid the crisis. Berglof also discusses the conditions that the IMF is attaching to loans that it is giving to governments in the region. More
Low Turnout Hints At CIS Woes The mood ahead of the latest gathering of leaders from the Commonwealth of Independent States is tense. Four of five Central Asian leaders have declined to attend. Georgia will be conspicuously absent. And host Moldova's pro-Western prime minister has dismissed the CIS as "not viable." More
Turkey Deal A Tough Sell For Armenia's President Many among Armenia's 5.7 million-strong diaspora see rapprochement with Turkey as a betrayal. As President Serzh Sarkisian nears the end of a four-country tour to drum up diaspora support for the thaw with Ankara, he must navigate a mosaic of deep mistrust, historical grievances, and bitter tensions. More
After Russia-Georgia Report, A Sense Of 'What Now?' In the wake of last week's EU report on the Russia-Georgia war, many in the West are wondering what can be done to prevent the conflict from repeating itself. For answers, RFE/RL's Georgian Service spoke to Lithuanian Foreign Minister Vygaudas Usackas and Ron Asmus of the German Marshall Fund. More
Russia Rejects Trade-Off With Turkey On Recognition Of Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Northern Cyprus In Sukhumi on October 2, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov rejected media speculation that Russia may reach an agreement on formally recognizing the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in return for Ankara's recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states. More
Ingushetian President Dissolves Cabinet, Fires Prime Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov dismissed Prime Minister Rashid Gaysanov and the entire republican government on October 5, citing as the reason for doing so corruption and ministers' failures in resolving socioeconomic problems, including in agriculture. He named Security Council Secretary Aleksei Vorobyov acting prime minister, while the remaining ministers will continue to discharge their duties pending the naming of a new cabinet. More
Ten Alleged Georgian Mutiny Participants Retract Guilty Pleas Ten of the 41 men charged in connection with the purported mutiny at the Mukhrovani military base near Tbilisi on May 5 retracted their pleas of guilty on September 30 and refused to testify further. It is not clear why they did so; before the trial began, then human rights ombudsman Sozar Subari told RFE/RL that his office sought to clarify reports that at least some of the defendants had been beaten and/or tortured. More
Homeless Stage Protest In South Ossetia Between 60 and 200 Ossetians whose homes were destroyed or damaged in the August 2008 war between Georgia and Russia gathered on September 30 outside the government building in Tskhinvali to protest the delay in providing them with new accommodation. More
Shevardnadze Talks About German Reunification Former Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze was a major force behind reforms that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union. On the anniversary of German reunification, Shevardnadze talks to RFE/RL's Georgian Service about his role and the tempest that threatened "had Germany not been united without bloodshed." More
Lessons Georgians Should Draw From War Probe Former Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zurabishvili says "our duty to both Georgian and international opinion is to confront this reality and try to move on from there." More
Tony Judt On 'One Of East Europe's Great Mistakes' The future of the EU, Russia's relations with Europe, the course of American foreign policy. All have dominated headlines in recent weeks, and all are issues that renowned European historian Tony Judt has spent a lifetime analyzing and writing. Judt, who is director of the Erich Maria Remarque Institute at New York University, sat down with RFE/RL correspondent Heather Maher for a broad-ranging interview about the strength of the European Union, Russia's ambitions, and what Central and Eastern Europe should expect from Washington. More
Azerbaijan Rejects Call For Probe Of Journalist’s Death A Baku district court rejected on September 29 a demand by the widow of Talysh newspaper editor Novruzali Mamedov to open a criminal investigation into the circumstances of his death in prison last month. More
EU Report On 2008 War Tilts Against Georgia An international report into the causes of the 2008 Russian-Georgian war suggests that both parties share the blame for the long-simmering conflict. But the report's conclusion that Georgia started the hostilities means that Russia seems to have achieved its main objective for this round in the post-war standoff. More
Moscow Snubs European Rights Court On Chechnya Human Rights Watch has accused Russia of repeatedly ignoring decisions by the European Court of Human Rights on Chechnya. The U.S.-based rights group said in a report released this week that Russia's failure to investigate and punish abuses under the court's rulings is fueling "unchecked violence" in the North Caucasus. More
Sharing The Blame A long-awaited report on the causes of the five-day war between Russia and Georgia in August 2008 will strike a delicate balance, EU officials say. Brussels now appears keen to turn the page and move on with talks between Georgia, Russia, and Georgia's breakaway regions. More
Armenian Parties Join Forces Against Draft Agreements With Turkey The widespread public outcry in Yerevan triggered by the publication one month ago of two draft protocols intended to pave the way for the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey shows no sign of abating. More
Key Defendant In Georgian Mutiny Trial Pleads Guilty Thirteen of the 41 people currently on trial in Tbilisi on charges of seeking to overthrow Georgia's leadership have concluded plea bargains with the prosecution. The 13 include one of the alleged ringleaders, Gia Gvaladze, on whose testimony the charges against a second purported ringleader, Koba Kobaladze, are based. Five of the 13 are charged with knowing about the planned insurgency in advance but failing to alert the relevant authorities; seven face charges of insubordination. More
Georgian President Advocates Direct Mayoral Elections In his September 24 address to the UN General Assembly, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili delivered an implicit warning to toe the line to two members of the parliamentary faction of his United National Movement who have queried the expediency of direct elections for the post of Tbilisi mayor. Saakashvili affirmed that the Georgian leadership is committed "to the direct election of all mayors in a few months' time." Local municipal council elections and elections for the mayor of Tbilisi are provisionally scheduled for May 30, 2010. More
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Grilled Over Bloggers Case When Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov appeared at a seminar at Columbia University in New York on September 22, students, activists, and journalists (including RFE/RL's Baku bureau chief Khadija Ismayilova) used the rare opportunity to question him intensively about the case of the "hooligan" bloggers. More
Prominent Oppositionists Join Forces For Tbilisi Ballot Irakli Alasania, who stepped down as Georgian ambassador to the UN in December 2008 and now heads the opposition Alliance for Georgia, and Sozar Subari, whose five-year term as human rights ombudsman expired earlier this month, will join forces to run in the Tbilisi mayoral and municipal council elections tentatively scheduled for May 30, 2010. Both men were previously close and loyal supporters of President Mikheil Saakashvili, but now criticize his apparent indifference to election fraud and egregious human rights violations on the part of the Interior Ministry and security services. More
Georgia Mutiny Trial Adjourned The trial of 41 men accused of participating or conniving in the May 5 mutiny by a tank division based at Mukhrovani, near Tbilisi [add link to blog story of May 5], was adjourned on September 19 after Gia Gvaladze, former commander of the Delta special assignment force and one of the presumed ringleaders, said he wished to engage a new defense lawyer. His current lawyer said Gvaladze planned to retract his earlier testimony and make a new statement exonerating his co-defendant, former National Guard commander Major General Koba Kobaladze. More
Aussies Outraged Over Kadyrov's Horses Chechen leader and horse-racing enthusiast Ramzan Kadyrov has once again provoked outrage from human rights activists -- this time in Australia -- as he prepares two of his personal horses to race in the upcoming Melbourne Cup, according to Australian press reports. More
Russia Facing Resistance On CIS's Southern Flank Representatives of the CIS are holding a summit in the Moldovan capital today, but most of the Central Asian presidents won't be in attendance. The presidents of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan instead sent lower-level delegations. Focusing on the three Central Asian states that make up the CIS's southern frontier, we examine how, by skipping the summit, they might be exhibiting their discontent with Russia. More
Efforts To Stage-Manage Elections Fuel Tensions In North Caucasus Daghestan's President Mukhu Aliyev is reportedly sparing no effort to secure the reelection on October 11 of the incumbent mayor of the southern town of Derbent, Feliks Kaziakhmedov. In Karachayevo-Cherkessia, candidates for the post of mayor of the town of Karachayevsk have demanded that acting Mayor Umar Uzdenov be disqualified from the ballot (also on October 11) on the grounds that his registration as a candidate is invalid, and that the presidential administration is pressuring voters to cast their ballots for him. More
EBRD's Chief Economist Assesses Conditions In Central, Eastern Europe Erik Berglof, the chief economist of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, joined other officials from international financial institutions at meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund this week in Istanbul, where one of the central topics was the global financial crisis. In an exclusive interview with RFE/RL, he discusses how Central and Eastern European countries are faring amid the crisis. Berglof also discusses the conditions that the IMF is attaching to loans that it is giving to governments in the region. More
Low Turnout Hints At CIS Woes The mood ahead of the latest gathering of leaders from the Commonwealth of Independent States is tense. Four of five Central Asian leaders have declined to attend. Georgia will be conspicuously absent. And host Moldova's pro-Western prime minister has dismissed the CIS as "not viable." More
Turkey Deal A Tough Sell For Armenia's President Many among Armenia's 5.7 million-strong diaspora see rapprochement with Turkey as a betrayal. As President Serzh Sarkisian nears the end of a four-country tour to drum up diaspora support for the thaw with Ankara, he must navigate a mosaic of deep mistrust, historical grievances, and bitter tensions. More
After Russia-Georgia Report, A Sense Of 'What Now?' In the wake of last week's EU report on the Russia-Georgia war, many in the West are wondering what can be done to prevent the conflict from repeating itself. For answers, RFE/RL's Georgian Service spoke to Lithuanian Foreign Minister Vygaudas Usackas and Ron Asmus of the German Marshall Fund. More
Russia Rejects Trade-Off With Turkey On Recognition Of Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Northern Cyprus In Sukhumi on October 2, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov rejected media speculation that Russia may reach an agreement on formally recognizing the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in return for Ankara's recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states. More
Ingushetian President Dissolves Cabinet, Fires Prime Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov dismissed Prime Minister Rashid Gaysanov and the entire republican government on October 5, citing as the reason for doing so corruption and ministers' failures in resolving socioeconomic problems, including in agriculture. He named Security Council Secretary Aleksei Vorobyov acting prime minister, while the remaining ministers will continue to discharge their duties pending the naming of a new cabinet. More
Ten Alleged Georgian Mutiny Participants Retract Guilty Pleas Ten of the 41 men charged in connection with the purported mutiny at the Mukhrovani military base near Tbilisi on May 5 retracted their pleas of guilty on September 30 and refused to testify further. It is not clear why they did so; before the trial began, then human rights ombudsman Sozar Subari told RFE/RL that his office sought to clarify reports that at least some of the defendants had been beaten and/or tortured. More
Homeless Stage Protest In South Ossetia Between 60 and 200 Ossetians whose homes were destroyed or damaged in the August 2008 war between Georgia and Russia gathered on September 30 outside the government building in Tskhinvali to protest the delay in providing them with new accommodation. More
Shevardnadze Talks About German Reunification Former Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze was a major force behind reforms that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union. On the anniversary of German reunification, Shevardnadze talks to RFE/RL's Georgian Service about his role and the tempest that threatened "had Germany not been united without bloodshed." More
Lessons Georgians Should Draw From War Probe Former Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zurabishvili says "our duty to both Georgian and international opinion is to confront this reality and try to move on from there." More
Tony Judt On 'One Of East Europe's Great Mistakes' The future of the EU, Russia's relations with Europe, the course of American foreign policy. All have dominated headlines in recent weeks, and all are issues that renowned European historian Tony Judt has spent a lifetime analyzing and writing. Judt, who is director of the Erich Maria Remarque Institute at New York University, sat down with RFE/RL correspondent Heather Maher for a broad-ranging interview about the strength of the European Union, Russia's ambitions, and what Central and Eastern Europe should expect from Washington. More
Azerbaijan Rejects Call For Probe Of Journalist’s Death A Baku district court rejected on September 29 a demand by the widow of Talysh newspaper editor Novruzali Mamedov to open a criminal investigation into the circumstances of his death in prison last month. More
EU Report On 2008 War Tilts Against Georgia An international report into the causes of the 2008 Russian-Georgian war suggests that both parties share the blame for the long-simmering conflict. But the report's conclusion that Georgia started the hostilities means that Russia seems to have achieved its main objective for this round in the post-war standoff. More
Moscow Snubs European Rights Court On Chechnya Human Rights Watch has accused Russia of repeatedly ignoring decisions by the European Court of Human Rights on Chechnya. The U.S.-based rights group said in a report released this week that Russia's failure to investigate and punish abuses under the court's rulings is fueling "unchecked violence" in the North Caucasus. More
Sharing The Blame A long-awaited report on the causes of the five-day war between Russia and Georgia in August 2008 will strike a delicate balance, EU officials say. Brussels now appears keen to turn the page and move on with talks between Georgia, Russia, and Georgia's breakaway regions. More
Armenian Parties Join Forces Against Draft Agreements With Turkey The widespread public outcry in Yerevan triggered by the publication one month ago of two draft protocols intended to pave the way for the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey shows no sign of abating. More
Key Defendant In Georgian Mutiny Trial Pleads Guilty Thirteen of the 41 people currently on trial in Tbilisi on charges of seeking to overthrow Georgia's leadership have concluded plea bargains with the prosecution. The 13 include one of the alleged ringleaders, Gia Gvaladze, on whose testimony the charges against a second purported ringleader, Koba Kobaladze, are based. Five of the 13 are charged with knowing about the planned insurgency in advance but failing to alert the relevant authorities; seven face charges of insubordination. More
Georgian President Advocates Direct Mayoral Elections In his September 24 address to the UN General Assembly, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili delivered an implicit warning to toe the line to two members of the parliamentary faction of his United National Movement who have queried the expediency of direct elections for the post of Tbilisi mayor. Saakashvili affirmed that the Georgian leadership is committed "to the direct election of all mayors in a few months' time." Local municipal council elections and elections for the mayor of Tbilisi are provisionally scheduled for May 30, 2010. More
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Grilled Over Bloggers Case When Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov appeared at a seminar at Columbia University in New York on September 22, students, activists, and journalists (including RFE/RL's Baku bureau chief Khadija Ismayilova) used the rare opportunity to question him intensively about the case of the "hooligan" bloggers. More
Prominent Oppositionists Join Forces For Tbilisi Ballot Irakli Alasania, who stepped down as Georgian ambassador to the UN in December 2008 and now heads the opposition Alliance for Georgia, and Sozar Subari, whose five-year term as human rights ombudsman expired earlier this month, will join forces to run in the Tbilisi mayoral and municipal council elections tentatively scheduled for May 30, 2010. Both men were previously close and loyal supporters of President Mikheil Saakashvili, but now criticize his apparent indifference to election fraud and egregious human rights violations on the part of the Interior Ministry and security services. More
Georgia Mutiny Trial Adjourned The trial of 41 men accused of participating or conniving in the May 5 mutiny by a tank division based at Mukhrovani, near Tbilisi [add link to blog story of May 5], was adjourned on September 19 after Gia Gvaladze, former commander of the Delta special assignment force and one of the presumed ringleaders, said he wished to engage a new defense lawyer. His current lawyer said Gvaladze planned to retract his earlier testimony and make a new statement exonerating his co-defendant, former National Guard commander Major General Koba Kobaladze. More
Aussies Outraged Over Kadyrov's Horses Chechen leader and horse-racing enthusiast Ramzan Kadyrov has once again provoked outrage from human rights activists -- this time in Australia -- as he prepares two of his personal horses to race in the upcoming Melbourne Cup, according to Australian press reports. More
Saturday, November 15, 2008
INTERVIEW: Eduard Schewardnadse:“Russland hat einen gefährlichen Präzedenzfall geschaffen.” (euronews)
Schewardnadse: “Georgien wird (...) immer eine bedeutende Rolle in der Region spielen.”
Als Außenminister der Sowjetunion leitete Eduard Schewardnadse zusammen mit Michael Gorbatschow die Perestroyka und das Ende der Sowjetunion ein. Danach bestimmt er fast ein Jahrzehnt als Präsident das Geschick seines Heimlandes Georgien. Auch die Wiedervereinigung Deutschlands soll Eduard Schewardnadse massgeblich vorangetrieben haben. Erst 2003 zwangen Straßenproteste, angeführt von der Opposition und Georgiens jetzigem Präsidenten Michail Saakaschwili, Schewardnadse zum Rücktritt. Mit euronews unterhält er sich über die Zukunft seines Landes und die Nachbarschaft zu Russland.
Sergio Cantone, euronews-Korrespondent in Brüssel: Herr Schewardnadse, mit ihrer Erfahrung, wie schätzen Sie die aktuelle Lage im Kaukasus ein?
Eduard Schewardnadse, ehemaliger Präsident Georgiens: Die alles überragenden Themen heißen Öl und Gas! Über Pipelines wollen wir das Gas aus Aserbaidschan über georgisches Territorium nach Europa transportieren. Das Ganze erinnert stark an das Nabucco-Erdgas-Pipeline-Projekt. Außerdem wird unsere Politik durch die Nähe zu Russland beeinflußt. Wir waren 200 Jahre lang russische Kolonie. Diese Nachbarschaft wird unsere Politik auch weiterhin stark beeinflußen.
Das ganze Interview >>>
Als Außenminister der Sowjetunion leitete Eduard Schewardnadse zusammen mit Michael Gorbatschow die Perestroyka und das Ende der Sowjetunion ein. Danach bestimmt er fast ein Jahrzehnt als Präsident das Geschick seines Heimlandes Georgien. Auch die Wiedervereinigung Deutschlands soll Eduard Schewardnadse massgeblich vorangetrieben haben. Erst 2003 zwangen Straßenproteste, angeführt von der Opposition und Georgiens jetzigem Präsidenten Michail Saakaschwili, Schewardnadse zum Rücktritt. Mit euronews unterhält er sich über die Zukunft seines Landes und die Nachbarschaft zu Russland.
Sergio Cantone, euronews-Korrespondent in Brüssel: Herr Schewardnadse, mit ihrer Erfahrung, wie schätzen Sie die aktuelle Lage im Kaukasus ein?
Eduard Schewardnadse, ehemaliger Präsident Georgiens: Die alles überragenden Themen heißen Öl und Gas! Über Pipelines wollen wir das Gas aus Aserbaidschan über georgisches Territorium nach Europa transportieren. Das Ganze erinnert stark an das Nabucco-Erdgas-Pipeline-Projekt. Außerdem wird unsere Politik durch die Nähe zu Russland beeinflußt. Wir waren 200 Jahre lang russische Kolonie. Diese Nachbarschaft wird unsere Politik auch weiterhin stark beeinflußen.
Das ganze Interview >>>
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
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