FERNSEHEN: Wenn niemand mehr liest - Bibliothekarinnen in Georgien. Film von Ana Tsimintia - am 21.9. um 23.05 Uhr im MDR

Sieben Räume hat die städtische Bibliothek von Zugdidi, zu wenige Leser und zu viele Mitarbeiter. Die kleine Stadt liegt im westlichsten Teil Georgiens. Widersprüchlich sind die meisten Dinge in der Stadtbücherei: Ein frisch renovierter Leseraum ohne Leser. Die Ausleihe, der wichtigste Raum, ist geschlossen. Und in die Stille zwischen den Regalen, in denen die Bücher langsam zerfallen, dringt Lachen und Tanzmusik aus den oberen vermieteten Stockwerken.

25 Mitarbeiter, allesamt unverheiratete Frauen, arbeiten seit mehr als 20 Jahren in der kleinen Bibliothek. Durch das kalte Gebäude weht noch der Geist der Sowjetunion, die Bezahlung ist schlecht, in der Provinzstadt liest niemand Bücher, und doch will keine der Bibliothekarinnen kündigen. Im Gegenteil, die resoluten Damen fordern eine Gehaltserhöhung, und zwar sofort!

FILM: Between Zugdidi and Abkhazia. By Tiko Bukia, Zugdidi, Samegrelo, Georgia. (youtube.com)

more: youtube.com/gogroupmedia

CONCERT: Zugdidi - Music Breaks Walls! Stars in concert in Georgia. (tbilisiopenair.com)

26 MAY | Tbilisi-Zugdidi-Tbilisi | Just 3 buses for FREE!!! CALL NOW and REGISTER!!! 47 12 17

World-known Stars and Georgian musicians supporting IDPs

On May 26, 2010 -from 18:00 p.m. to 23:00 p.m. a concert will take place with famous world stars and Georgian musicians in Zugdidi at the Central Square. Earlier that day a solidarity march will take place at the Enguri Bridge. This event aims to express solidarity for IDPs and to announce to the world – Music Breaks Walls!

World-known stars like: Youssou N' Dour, MC Solaar, Jane Birkin, Youssoupha, Grace, Maia.K will perform at this event free of charge.

The main goal of their visit is to support IDPs in Georgian, to direct the attention of the international society and media towards the problems of the IDP's.

There are more than 350, 000 IDPs in Georgia; (internally displaced persons as a result of Russian-Georgian War in August 2008, conflicts in Abkhazia in 1991-93) and Tskhinvali region in 1991.

150 special guests will visit Georgia, including musicians, public figures, officials, politicians, NGOs and journalists from leading media agencies;

Guests are visiting Georgia on invitation by NGO Coalition For Justice and two French NGOs – UEJF & Coalition Against Racism.

The Event is planned and organized by ALTERVISION GROUP.

“There are more than 350, 000 IDPs in Georgia. There are people left without homes, expelled from their own land. Coalition for Justice aims to bring the world attention to this issue. A benefit concert by world famous musicians and Georgian artists, together with international NGOs, public figures, officials, politicians will resonate across the world”- says Vera Kobalia, Head of NGO Coalition for Justice;

ALTERVISION GROUP supports and shares the main goal and direction of the project.

“World famous musicians, International and local NGOs, private companies and other famous people consolidation give us opportunity to say that such projects are of great importance for IDP's. Alter Vision Group shares and supports the aim of the project and uses all the resources to make this an issue of international importance" said Irakli Nadareishvili of ALTERVISION GROUP.

Before the concert in Zugdidi, May 26th, 2010, Georgian musicians will perform at small scale concerts in Senaki (May 16th) and in Kutaisi (May 22nd).

Georgian musicians and project organizers call upon Georgian society to join the Zugdidi concert and support Georgian IDPs.

links:

www.myspace.com/openairtbilisi

www.tbilisiopenair.com

NEWS: 3 Jul 09 | Caucasus Reporting Service 500 (iwpr.net)

Baku’s Warming Ties to Israel Anger Iran
Tehran’s attempt to scupper Israeli president’s visit gets nowhere, as Baku decides ties to Israel take priority over Islamic solidarity. By Kenan Guluzade in Baku (CRS No. 500, 3-July-09)
UN Withdrawal Leaves Border Georgians Fearful
Georgian minority in Abkhazia feels especially exposed now international monitor are packing their bags. By Irakli Lagvilava in Zugdidi and Anaid Gogorian in Sukhum (CRS No. 500, 3-July-09)
Armenia: Departing Phone Giant Claims Unfair Competition
Russian firm’s pull-out reignites debate on extent of illegal imports. By Armenak Chatinian in Yerevan (CRS No. 500, 3-July-09)

REPORT: Georgien: Einsatz für deutsche EU-Beobachter verschärft sich

Berlin (AFP) — Die deutschen EU-Beobachter in Georgien werden künftig auch in der spannungsreichen Pufferzone vor der abtrünnigen Provinz Südossetien im Einsatz sein. Der Chef der EU-Beobachtermission (EUMM), der deutsche Diplomat Hansjörg Haber, kündigte im Gespräch mit der Nachrichtenagentur AFP an, die nationalen Kontingente ab Februar auf verschiedene Standorte neu verteilen und stärker durchmischen zu wollen. Haber zog eine positive Bilanz der ersten drei Monate der Mission, kritisierte aber den mangelnden Willen der russischen Seite zur Zusammenarbeit.

Der ganze Text >>>

NEWS:

6 Sep 07 Caucasus Reporting Service 409

Building Tragedy Reverberates Through Baku
Both the construction company and city authorities are blamed for disaster. By Emin Guliev and Leila Amirova in Baku (CRS No. 409 06-Sept-07)

Georgians Angry At Abkhazia Peacekeepers
A series of confrontations between Georgian locals and Russian peacekeepers raises the temperature near ceasefire line. By Tamuna Shonia in Zugdidi and Natia Kuprashvili in Tbilisi (CRS No. 409 06-Sept-07)

Internet Re-Unites Armenian, Azeri Friends
Old friendships maintained across the Karabakh conflict divide. By Lusine Musaelian and Anahit Danielian in Nagorny Karabakh (CRS No. 409 06-Sept-07)

PHOTOGRAPHY:

The Dadiani Palace Museum in Zugdidi, (Samegrelo Region)

Uploaded on September 5, 2007 by Paata Vardanashvili

The Dadiani Palace Museum in Zugdidi, (Samegrelo Region) is one of the largest and most important regional museums in Georgia. The museum complex includes the palaces of Queen Ekaterine Chavchavadze-Dadiani and Prince Niko Dadiani, the court church, and a botanical garden, constructed between 1860 and 1890. The museum is home to more than 41,000 historical treasures, including archaeological finds representing the antique period of Greek and Georgian culture; a collection of Christian sacred objects (icons, various religious objects); samples of European applied art and fine art; and collections of the royal family of Dadiani, including numerous items connected with Napoleon Bonaparte, manuscripts and charters; crystal, china, faience crockery and so on.

Nicolas Landru (CauCaz.com) war in Samegrelo - hier gibt's ein paar Foto von Zugdidi und von der Grenze

Russian Peacekeeper's watchtower in the no man's land

Georgien Checkpoint at the boarder to Abkhazia (Enguri Bridge)

Rukhi castles a few kilometres before the Georgian-Abkhaz boarder

Sukhumi road sign in Zugdidi

Block in Zugdidi

Cemetary Church in Zugdidi

Cementary in Zugdidi

On Zugdidi's central bazar

Murat Castle of Dadiani Dukes in Zugdidi

Rustaveli Avenue in Zugdidi