Prime News Online

Prime-News was told at the Temporary Administrative Unit in South Ossetia that the group was invited by the administration and the visit is organized by the “Eastern Promotion” Company.

The abovementioned concert will complete events organized by the movement “Kokoity Fandarast”, which started on October 03.

Boney M will arrive in Georgia tomorrow. It is planned to hold press conference at Sheraton Metechi Palace.

The concert in Tamarasheni is free of charge.

Prime-News was told at the IWPR, that participants of the meeting would discuss issues of highlighting problems related to conflicts and ethnic minorities.

The round table is held within frameworks of the project “Media of south Caucasus for deepening of trust in the society and prevention of conflicts”. The abovementioned project is implemented with the financial support of the GCPP.

IWPR is a British media organization based in London; its Caucasian Bureau is situated in Tbilisi. Regional bureaus of the organization are situated in 23 countries.

Prime-News was told at the Patriarchy of Georgia that these celebrations would be held throughout Georgia.

The celebration is dated to Svetistskhovloba on October 14. Representatives of Orthodox Churches will visit Georgia on October 12-16.

The guests will attend conference dedicated to Svetistskhoveli monastery and celebrations regarding anniversary of enthronement of the Catholicos-Patriarch of all Georgia Ilia II.

Shota Khizanishvili told journalists that Oleg Meskhidze wanted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia opened the fire from automatic gunfire.

The special operation carried out by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia in Laituri settlement of Ozurgeti region on Monday ended with the fatal outcome.The law enforcement bodies had liquidated 26-year old O. Meskhidze wanted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

Three policemen were heavily injured in the fire exchange. Murman Tsidava, Malkhaz Tsetskhladze and Vakhtang Tavartkiladze were hospitalized to Kutaisi immediately. The father of liquidated O. Meskhidze had been detained.

Vano Merabishvili, Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia, has arrived in the region due to the incident.

Prime-News was told at the border Police that during the passport control the border guards discovered that the Russian suspects had several times crossed the State Border of Georgia illegally, without official border control – from “Nizhniy Zaramag” and “Adler”.  The Armenian Suspect was trying to cross the State Border of Georgia on another person’s passport.

The case is under investigation.

According to participants of the action, after depriving students of training bases and buildings the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia should have handed them sport complex “Karishkhala” and sports base “SKA” for training.

According to students the sport complex “Karishkhala” needs rehabilitation.

Prime-News was told at the Ministry of Environment Protection and Natural Resources of Georgia that 18 objects put out for auction are in Tbilisi, Kaspi, Khoni, Adigeni, Oni, Sagarejo, Dusheti, Gardabani, Mtskheta, Tskaltubo, Khashuri, Lanchkhuti, Kvareli, Gurjaani and Chokhatauri.

2 commercial banks and the NBG participated in the trading. In total deals worth $1 600 000 were concluded.

Nino Shaduri, Deputy Chair of the Public Relations Department of the Georgian Railway, told journalists that both the Georgian and foreign companies are welcomed to participate in the international tender.

The bidders may submit applications from October 22 to October 29 and they ought to be experienced in the construction of railways.

The winner company ought to accomplish the construction of the railway sector until October 01 2009.

Prime-News was told at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia that the meetings would be held with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Maxime Verhagen, Minister of Defense Eimert van Middlekoop, Vice-presidents of the Standing Committee of Foreign Affairs, Defense and Development Cooperation, Chairman of the Committee of Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives  and committee members. Mr. Bezhuashvili will also meet with representatives of the local and international mass media sources.

At the Clingendael Institute of International Relations, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Gela Bezhuashvili will deliver a speech titled ‘Europe without Dividing Lines – Georgia’s Challenges and Opportunities’.

In the framework of Minister Bezhuashvili’s visit to the Hague, a reception will be held on the occasion of official opening of the Embassy of Georgia to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The MP told journalists that it was planned to hold closed consultations with the Chairwoman of the Parliament of Georgia on the aforementioned issue, but due to the hysteria of Maia Nadiradze, leader of parliamentary majority dialogue turned into a regular meeting.

It is pitiful that the problem related to the viticulture will not be settled in the near future. The government of Georgia failed to answer questions related to loss of the wine market.

“Not only Russian market but also the market of the European Union are closed for the Georgian wine,” noted Kukava.

“The Georgian wine is locked in Georgia and it is not only the problem of the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia, but the problem of the wrong policy of the government of Georgia,” stated Kukava.

The incident started when the Patrol Police ordered the participants of the rally to free the road and to walk on the pavement. Several devotees refused to obey the instruction of the police and blocked the movement of patrol police cars.

Opposition has been mobilized in front of the building of the Parliament of Georgia and plans to hold a rally near the building of Tbilisi City Court.

Maia Nadiradze declared about that after the meeting of inter-factional group held on Tuesday, where the issues related to the vintage 2007 were discussed.

According to her, in comparison to the previous year the harvest of grapes has been doubled this year. “The most part of the grapes has been already processed,” noted Nadiradze.

Nadiradze remarked that the fact that the peasants failed to receive GEL 0,70 for a kilo of grapes like the previous year was preconditioned by a bountiful harvest of grapes.

Prime-News was told at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia that the General Conference is UNESCO’s main governing body that meets every two years and involves delegations of all member states. The agenda of the 34^thsession of the General Conference envisages adopting budget and work program for 2007-2008, as well as conducting elections in UNESCO’s Executive Board and other governing bodies.

On the sidelines of the General Conference there will also function educational, cultural, scientific, communications and information, administrative and other commissions, Ministerial Round Table of Education and Science, Forum of Civil Society.

On 19 October the Head of the Georgian delegation Gela Bezhuashvili will address the plenary session of the General Conference and participate in the general policy debates.  The Georgian side will pose the issue of ensuring protection of the cultural heritage in Georgia’s conflict zones.

The same day, on behalf of the Georgian Foreign Minister, a reception will be held at Le Palais de la Monnaie de Parisdisplaying a Georgian archeological exhibition ‘L’or de la Toison’.

Mamuka Katsitadze stated at the press conference organized on Tuesday that the presidential program of subsidies is tied with the low political rating of Georgian president and the ruling party “United National Movement”.

According to Mamuka Katsitadze, it was unfair to give one-time assistance to the people, who were put to this kind of state by the acting government of Georgia.

Mamuka Katsitadze appealed to the population of Georgia to accept the vouchers issued by the government of Georgia and reminded people that it was the money that the government of Georgia has been stealing to the population of Georgia since 2005.

In comparison to previous year the budget of the Ministry of Defense of Georgia has been decreased with GEL 348 334 500.

Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Security has discussed and approved the aforementioned issue today.

Papuna Petriashvili, Deputy Minister of Finance of Georgia, stated at the session of Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Security that it was planned to introduce amendments into the initial draft budget in November. Relatively the budget of the Ministry of Defense of Georgia will be increased from GEL 922 million up to GEL 100 million.

According to the statement of Vera Dzneladze, Deputy Minister of Defense of Georgia, the main part of the allocated money will be spent on increase of salaries to servicemen.

Vera Dzneladze stated that the budget of the Ministry of Defense of Georgia envisages the construction of a new military base in Khoni and improvement of defense system of the country.

State expenditure will be GEL 4.6 billion and revenues – GEL 4.3 billion in 2008, according to the initial draft budget submitted to Parliament for consideration.

Prime-News was told at the Administration of State Ministry on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration that regional issues, relations with Russia and issues of conflict resolution in the region would be discussed at the meeting.

ame day Vice Prime Minister Giorgi Baramidze, together with Euro-Commissioner of Foreign Affairs and European Neighborhood Policy Ms. Benita Ferrero Valdner will open an exhibition of history and jewelry in the Euro-Commission building “Ancient Georgia – on the Crossroad of Europe and Asia”, which is a project aimed at popularization of Georgia’s cultural heritage in Western Europe.

An annual European Union and Georgia Cooperation Council 8^th Session will be held on October 16, in Luxemburg. State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Vice Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Baramidze and Minister of Foreign Affairs Gela Bezhuashvili will attend.

During the Cooperation Council session they will review European Neighbor Policy Action Plan Implementation, on-going reforms in country, Rule of Law, Human Rights Protection and Internal Conflict Resolution problems.

During the Cooperation Council session the sides will also review EU and Georgia’s cooperation on issues of Law, Freedom and Security, and specifically about foundation of the Legal, Freedom and Security sub-committee, under which the migration and visa issues could be discussed and decisions made. At the Cooperation Council session Georgian side will once again raise the questions of simplified visa regime among Georgia and the European Union and read mission agreements.

Irakli Alasania stated at the press conference held at the UN that the resolution reflected all the important issues voiced by the Georgian side among them are IDPs’ fundamental right to return and their right of property.

According to the information of Irakli Alasania, the majority of the members of the UN Security Council support the proposal voiced by the President of Georgia to review the entire peace process in Abkhazia.

Irakli Alasania also admitted that Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General, supported the aforementioned idea.

The UN Security Council has adopted its sequential resolution on the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia and extended mandate of the of the UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) for a new period terminating on April 15 2008.

The UNSC reaffirms the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders. In this context, the UNSC expresses its support for the principles contained in the so-called “Boden document” that imply distribution of competencies between Tbilisi and Sokhumi within the Georgian State.

At the same time, it is notable that the UNSC calls upon the parties for further increase their bilateral contacts by making full use of all existing mechanisms in order to come to a peaceful settlement, including the safe and dignified return of refugees and internally displaced persons.

Prime-News was told at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia that according to the aforementioned Resolution, the UNSC reaffirms the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders. In this context, the UNSC expresses its support for the principles contained in the so-called “Boden document” that imply distribution of competencies between Tbilisi and Sokhumi within the Georgian State.

At the same time, it is notable that the UNSC calls upon the parties for further increase their bilateral contacts by making full use of all existing mechanisms in order to come to a peaceful settlement, including the safe and dignified return of refugees and internally displaced persons. 

“The UNSC stresses the need for a perspective of life in security and dignity for IDPs and refugees in Abkhazia, Georgia, in particular for a new generation growing up outside the region. It reaffirms fundamentally the right of return for the refugees/IDPs to their homes and property in Abkhazia, Georgia,” declare at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia.

It should be particularly mentioned that, due to efforts of the full majority of Group of Friends, for the first time the UNSC resolution contains provisions according to which individual property rights may not be affected by the fact that owners had to flee during the conflict and the residency rights and the identity of those owners must be respected.

The UNSC expressed its serious concern over the incident that took place Abkhazia, Georgia on 11 March and 20 September 2007. In this regard, it is noteworthy that the Council once again called on Abkhazian side to exercise restraint in connection with the Georgian commitments with regard to Upper Abkhazia.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Georgia reaffirms its readiness to continue cooperation with the UNOMIG and with representatives of the UN Secretary General’s Group of Friends in this regard, and supports the settlement of conflicts only by peaceful means. In order to reach this goal, the Georgian side reiterates its readiness to conduct, without any preconditions, direct bilateral negotiations with the Abkhazian side.

“The Georgian side’s position is that the UNSC has adopted a well-balanced document which adequately reflects the current situation in Abkhazia, Georgia and the basic principles for the peaceful settlement of the conflict – territorial integrity of Georgia and the return of IDPs and refugees in safety and dignity. Resolution reflects all issue put forward by Georgian side namely by the President of Georgia, Minister of Foreign Affairs and State Minister for conflict resolution in their consultations at the UN,” reads the statement disseminated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia.

Along with the resolution, UNSC consultations encompassed discussions on issue of Comprehensive Review of Settlement Process in Abkhazia, Georgia. Majority of council members shared the initiative presented by President of Georgia in September at the UN General Assembly General Debate, which later was detailed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs in his follow up meetings with the UN officials.

Levan Gogichaishvili, member of the “Equality Institute”, stated about thta at the press conference today and accused Mikheil Saakashvili, president of Georgia, of applying double standards.

According to him, relatives of the president do thing for which the president criticizes other people.

The matter concerns investments allocated by “Geo Pro Mining” Company to the abovementioned territory, which is of a particular interest Temur Alasania.

“The territory belongs to Azerbaijan. At the same time Saakashvili criticizes Russia for allocating investments to Abkhazia,” stated he.

According to him, “Geo Pro Minisng” is Georgian company, however, it is backed by Russian “Industrial group”, owned by Alasania’s friend sergey Generalov.

Kirkitadze urges Patarkatsishvili to answer the questions regarding the high-profile murders of Listev and Litvinenko.

“Patarkatsishvili should better give answers on the questions put regarding the murder of Litvinenko, Listyev and others in Russia. I have not asked for advice from him. Irakli Okruashvili’s activities have demonstrated what kind of advice he can give,” Kirkitadze told journalists today.

“We call on EU, European Commission, not to support Tarkhnishvili’s candidature,” stated Gugava.

The Parliament of Georgia will vote on candidature of Levan Tarkhnishvili as Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Georgia today.

Prime-News was told at the Parliament of Georgia that Burjanadze delivered a speech at the Assembly.She spoke about importance of the Black Sea region on contemporary geopolitical map.

Chairwoman of Georgian Parliament also spoke about priorities of Georgia and noted that they are ensuring of inevitability of democratic reforms and strengthening of state institutions.

Within frameworks of the visit, Burjanadze held meeting with the president of the International Parliamentary Union (IPU).

Within frameworks of the visit, Gocha Martinenko, Head of the Parliament’s Administration and Secretary General of the South Korean Parliament signed a memorandum on cooperation between Parliaments of the both countries.

The document, posted on the official website reads that the incident occurred in 300 meters from the administrative border of the Abkhazian side. Several Abkhazians were injured during the incident and two Russian officers, who were working at de facto border guard department, were killed.

According to the report, the sides have different versions regarding the fact.

“We cannot confirm or deny version of the Georgian side at the moment,” reads the report.

The UN expresses gratitude to the government of Georgia and de facto regime for cooperation.

According to information of the Georgia side, the attack occurred on the territory of Upper Abkhazia controlled by the Georgian side. A group of saboteurs planned some diversions on the abovementioned territory.

Pikria Chikhradze, member of the parliamentary faction “Right Opposition”, stated at the plenary session today that it would be better to hold the debates with the attendance of Nino Burjanadze, Chairwoman of Georgian Parliament.

Catholicos-Patriarch of all Georgia Ilia II reckons that constitutional monarchy is one of the alternatives for the structure of state. The Patriarch said during his Sunday Preachment on October 07 that the people of Georgia were to decide what kind of state they want to live in.

Prime-News was told at the press service of the party “Way of Georgia” that in Germany Salome Zurabishvili would participate in debates “development of global democracy” on the local Television.

Salome Zurabishvili intends to hold official meetings at the Foreign Ministry of Germany.

Zurabishvili will leave Germany for France, where she will deliver a course of lectures on foreign relations at the Paris Institute of Political Science. She will presumably meet with Nicolas Sarkozy, president of France.

Zurabishvili will hold meeting with Javier Solana, High representative of foreign policy and security of the EU, in Brussels.

After meeting the population of Gori, Khashuri and Borjomi, representatives of the “United People’s Movement” will hold a rally in Alkhaltsikhe.

The opposition will call on the population to participate in the rally in front of the Parliament of Georgia scheduled for November 02.

“We promised the people to visit almost all regions of the country,” stated Tina Khidasheli, one of the leaders of the “Republican” party.

The united opposition intends to hold a rally “Georgia without president” in front of the Parliament of Georgia on November 02 with the demand to hold special elections.