According to the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, the Georgian side considered it inexpedient to organize the process of voting in Georgia’s conflict zones – Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region and did not give its consent to the opening of polling stations there in its Notes sent to the Russian side on 12 and 22 November 2007.
The Georgian side consented to the opening of polling stations only on the territory of the Russian Embassy in Tbilisi and to the arranging of preliminary voting process in Batumi (16-19 November) and in Akhalkalaki (23-26 November).
The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminds the Russian side once again that organization of the Russian Federation’s any election on the territory of Georgia, including in the conflict zones, should take place by consent of the Georgian Central Authorities. In other case any act of the Russian Federation will be considered as a violation of the universally recognized norms of international law and gross infringement of Georgia’s sovereignty.
Ambassador: Russia Has Not Sent Arms Withdrawn From Georgia To Nagorno-Karabakh
The Azeri news agency “Trend” informs about that referring to Vasili Istratov, Ambassador of Russia to Azerbaijan, while commenting on the information spread in the Azerbaijani media regarding the placement of Russian armaments in the Azerbaijan territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and other territories occupied by Armenia.
Earlier the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan stated that part of Russia’s military equipment withdrawn from Georgia was placed in Azerbaijan’s occupied territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Russia placed nearly 70% of its military equipment, withdrawn from Georgia, in the 102 military base in the Armenian city of Gurmi. Due to the political situation between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the placement of Russian military equipment in Gurmi increases the risks of a war outbreak.
Azerbaijan considers that Russia’s position presents obstacles for a peaceful settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh. The Defense Ministry in Armenia refuted the statement of the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan that part of the Russian military equipment, withdrawn from Georgia, was placed in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Ambassador said that Russia has repeatedly highlighted this at meetings with the senior officials of Azerbaijan. According to him, the Russian military equipment, which is located in Russia’s military bases in Armenia, cannot be used against Azerbaijan because they are in hands of the Russian military.
Shalva Natelashvili Plans To Annul Post Of President
Shalva Natelashvili made the above-mentioned statement in the churchyard of Metekhi Chapel on Thursday, where the presentation of election program of the presidential candidate was held.
According to him, anti-national legislation will be also annulled. Constitutional reforms and main legislation will be adopted by means of plebiscite or referendum. Governors, mayors, judges and chiefs of police will be elected.
Shalva Natelashvili pledged that the political pressure and censorship on mass media would be uprooted. In addition, the labor party leader promises to revise number of court rulings and release political prisoners, redress bank deposits which Georgian citizens lost as the Soviet Union ruined.
Mr. Natelashvili admitted that he claims responsibility that during his presidency national heritage would be returned to Georgia, the problem of unemployment would be solved, investment environment would be improved, temporary unemployed people would receive high compensations, pensions and salaries would be increased. “There will be no poor and hungry people in our country,” noted the leader of “Labour Party of Georgia”.
Natelashvili also vowed state funding of GEL 1 000 for each newborn and GEL 2 000 for each new family.
According to Shalva Natelashvili, emergency service, immediate operations, reanimation will be financed from the state budget. He also said that tariffs on gas, electricity and water consumption would be halved in the event he becomes the president.