Georgian Foreign Minister Eka Tkeshelashvili will participate in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly session in Vienna. She embarked for the Austrian capital on September 17. Debates on Georgian-Russian relations are on the agenda of the Assembly Session.
“There will be very significant discussion regarding the current situation in Georgia at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly session. [Russian Foreign Minister] Lavrov has refused to be questioned in open debates and won’t take part in this session”, Tkeshelashvili declared.
The Georgian Foreign Minister will also attend the 63rd session of UN General Assembly, which opened in New York on September 17, alongside the Georgian President.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Ban Ki-moon supports extending UN Mission mandate in Georgia
Ban Ki-moon supports extending the mandate of the UN Mission to Georgia. “The UN Peace Mission’s mandate in the Abkhazian conflict zone expires on October 15, it must be extended. The UN operation in Georgia, due to recent events in the region, also needs to be concretized,” the UN Secretary General said.
Ban Ki-moon says that the work of the mission must correspond to the new reality in Georgia.
Ban Ki-moon says that the work of the mission must correspond to the new reality in Georgia.
Sergey Lavrov – Thank God Saakashvili is a unique phenomenon
Recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia does not create a precedent for Transdnestria and Nagorno Karabakh, Sergey Lavrov declared at the Federation Council on September 18. “Russia will take an active part in resolving all conflicts in the CIS space peacefully. This will be done according to international law, UN resolutions and previous agreements. We will act as mediator during negotiations which refer directly to Transdnestria and Nagorno Karabakh”, Lavrov stressed.
Lavrov declared that Russia will not use the methods of the Georgian Government to settle regional problems and will not bomb civilians and peacekeepers. “Thank God, Saakashvili is a unique phenomenon,” Lavrov said.
Lavrov declared that Russia will not use the methods of the Georgian Government to settle regional problems and will not bomb civilians and peacekeepers. “Thank God, Saakashvili is a unique phenomenon,” Lavrov said.
Sergey Lavrov – Our relations with the Georgian People have not ceased
Moscow wants to know the viewpoint of ordinary Georgians regarding relations with the Russian Federation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated. “Relations with Georgia have not ceased. I hope and am sure that the Georgian people will acquire a worthy President, interested in good neighbourly relations with all states,” Lavrov said. He stressed that Russia did not break diplomatic relations with Georgia, but vice versa. “We want to know how people see this,” Lavrov stated, adding that “the Georgian Government talked about preserving consular relations when it broke off full diplomatic relations.”
Georgia to address international organizations regarding mine clearance
Georgia will ask international organizations and other countries for assistance with mine clearance operations. Georgia will draw up its 5th Statement of Case concerning “the explosive remains of the war,” as discussed at the Parliamentary Defence and Security Committee.
The country is committed to locating and marking undetonated explosives and clearing and destroying all mines on Georgian territory. A concrete plan for doing this, and its financial implications, have been discussed by the Defence and Security Committee. Implementing these commitments will cost money, and although the required expense is certainly within the limits of the present budget, other countries will also be approached for assistance.
The country is committed to locating and marking undetonated explosives and clearing and destroying all mines on Georgian territory. A concrete plan for doing this, and its financial implications, have been discussed by the Defence and Security Committee. Implementing these commitments will cost money, and although the required expense is certainly within the limits of the present budget, other countries will also be approached for assistance.
Georgian First Lady visits Marneuli
Georgian First Lady Sandra Reolofs visited the Marneuli region on September 18 to open a new public school in the village of Molaoghi. The school opening was also attended by Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Georgia Namik Aliev, Kvemo Kartli Governor Davit Kirkitadze and Deputy Assistant Education and Science Minister Aleksandre Chikvaidze. The First Lady congratulated pupils at the start of the academic year and bestowed on them gifts from the President - bags, books and school uniforms.
This new school was built within two months as part of the Iakob Gogebashvili programme. Chikvaidze and Davit Kirtitadze have also opened another school, in the city of Bolnisi, rehabilitated as part of the same project.
This new school was built within two months as part of the Iakob Gogebashvili programme. Chikvaidze and Davit Kirtitadze have also opened another school, in the city of Bolnisi, rehabilitated as part of the same project.
Beeline gains 25.3% more subscribers between April and June
The subscriber base of the Beeline telecommunications company increased by 25.3% in the period April-June, according the company’s published financial results. The General Director of its parent company Vimpelkom, Aleksandr Izosimov, has stated that the company is satisfied with Beeline’s performance in Georgia. “The company has shown a serious increase in income compared with last year,” Izosimov said. Beeline profits amounted to 3,891,710 US Dollars in the reporting period.
Debates on the Georgian President’s annual report held on September 18
Debates about the Georgian President’s annual report to Parliament were held on September 18 at an extraordinary session. Deputies discussed the new democratic reforms which the President intends to introduce.
Having heard the report on September 16, members of the majority party reaffirmed the importance of the President’s initiatives. The opposition however raised new questions in addition to evaluating these initiatives. Although generally agreeing with them, the opposition considers the Presidential initiatives inadequate to fully develop democracy.
The opposition is developing additional proposals concerning the election code, court reform, limitations on Executive power, freedom of the media and local self-government. It has once again demanded that a commission to investigate August’s events is established.
Having heard the report on September 16, members of the majority party reaffirmed the importance of the President’s initiatives. The opposition however raised new questions in addition to evaluating these initiatives. Although generally agreeing with them, the opposition considers the Presidential initiatives inadequate to fully develop democracy.
The opposition is developing additional proposals concerning the election code, court reform, limitations on Executive power, freedom of the media and local self-government. It has once again demanded that a commission to investigate August’s events is established.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Saakashvili asks his opponents to unite behind the country
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has addressed the opposition in his annual report to Parliament. He called upon both the parliamentary and extra-parliamentary opposition to cooperate and consolidate their forces for the sake of Georgia.
Mikheil Saakashvili asked his opponents to take into consideration external threats and the current situation in the country when making specific decisions. Saakashvili said he was prepared to answer all questions on issues which might make his opponents wary of cooperating with him.
“In many countries it might have been said that less democracy, less transparency and greater control by a small group of people were needed in times of war,” Saakashvili said. “Georgia however, a beacon of democracy in this region, says that its response to Russia’s aggression will be more democracy, more freedom and more progress.”
The President said that the authorities had recently undertaken a number of “important steps” to help increase the role and powers of the opposition in Parliament. “I welcome the fact that we have managed to find a common language with the opposition on such key issues as Georgia’s unity,” Saakashvili said.
Mikheil Saakashvili asked his opponents to take into consideration external threats and the current situation in the country when making specific decisions. Saakashvili said he was prepared to answer all questions on issues which might make his opponents wary of cooperating with him.
“In many countries it might have been said that less democracy, less transparency and greater control by a small group of people were needed in times of war,” Saakashvili said. “Georgia however, a beacon of democracy in this region, says that its response to Russia’s aggression will be more democracy, more freedom and more progress.”
The President said that the authorities had recently undertaken a number of “important steps” to help increase the role and powers of the opposition in Parliament. “I welcome the fact that we have managed to find a common language with the opposition on such key issues as Georgia’s unity,” Saakashvili said.
Two people arrested at airports
Georgian coastal patrol officers have arrested a passenger at Tbilisi Airport and another at Batumi Airport. According to the coastal patrol Press Service the two passengers, who had booked flights from Tbilisi to Minsk and Batumi to Istanbul, were trying to cross the border and leave the country with false passports. Preliminary investigations are under way.
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