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)
Conflicts news
1. Russian paratroopers deployed near Kodori Gorge
2. Georgia condemns Russia's "additional military manoeuvres" in Abkhazia
3. Calls grow for international mediation & change of peacekeeping format, as Russian troop numbers increase
4. Sergei Shamba: We don't believe Saakashvili’s declarations
5. Russian diplomat warns of war if peacekeepers leave
6. Russian reinforcements join peacekeepers in Abkhazia
7. Revenge said exacted for killing of officer in Abkhazia
8. Abkhazia determined to shoot down Georgian reconnaissance planes
9. Abkhaz ready for war with Georgia
10. Burjanadze says Abkhaz status quo must be restored
11. video: Russia-Georgia tensions over Abkhazia
12. Abkhaz claim downed drone carried missile
13. Abkhazia fears tensions with Georgia may progress – minister
14. Russian stance has made Georgia more peaceable - Abkhazia
15. Georgia demands Russia withdraw reinforcements from Abkhazia
16. Russia preparing for provocation against Georgia – opposition
17. Talks with Tbilisi can begin only when it observes earlier agreements - Abkhaz leader
18. Russian Ambassador comments on peacekeepers mission in Abkhazia
19. Russia, Georgia will overcome if friendship preserved – ambassador
20. Kodori Gorge villages under assault threat
21. Russia foreign investors unfazed by rows with West [excerpt]
22. Local NGO works to strengthen Georgian-Abkhazian cultural ties
23. VE-Day celebrated in Abkhazia
24. WW II veterans object to Russia's policy
25. Russians consider China to be top friend, while USA, Georgia get lowest ratings
Conflicts US and European intervention
26. US and EU support for Tbilisi grows amid escalating tension with Russia
27. US, NATO support territorial integrity of Georgia – Bryza
28. US diplomat says no military solution in Abkhazia
29. US delegation meets with Abkhazian leaders to discuss negotiations
30. video: U.S. to help settle Georgian-Abkhazian conflict
31. US diplomat says drone flights over Abkhazia help Georgia feel secure
32. Top US official urges Georgia, Abkhazia for negotiations
33. Abkhaz leaders meet US officials
34. U.S. official meets opposition leaders
35. U.S. official: Russia’s provocative steps deter peace process
36. U.S. official notes progress in preparing fair elections
37. State Minister affirms importance of Bryza's Sukhumi visit
38. Russian MP says USA unlikely to succeed in Abkhazia
39. Washington does not believe Russia, Georgia want to go to war
40. Top US official hopeful of resumed dialogue between Georgia, Abkhazia
41. Looking forward to the Medvedev administration in Russia
42. Discussions on Georgia in Brussels and Vienna
43. No call for help from Georgia, NATO chief of staff says
44. EU will not take side in Russo Georgian tension
45. EU ministers launch talks on Georgia crisis, Lithuania-Russia spat
46. Georgia on EU's mind as ministers decide whether to accept mission
47. EU ministers set for Georgia crisis talks
48. EU foreign ministers to fly to Georgia to cool Russia crisis: officials
49. EU satellite imagery experts will seek to solve Georgia drones row
50. Lithuania to join EU mission to Georgia to ease tensions in relations with Moscow
51. Slovenia confirms EU mission to Georgia
52. Latvian FM underscores wider EU participation in solving Georgia’s situation
53. Polish president supports foreign minister's proposed mission to Georgia
Conflicts commentary and analysis
54. Don't blame Georgia
55. Russia thinks it has ample time before Olympics, but it's a misjudgment
56. Russian blue berets - guarding separatists' interests
57. War or peace? Toeing the line in Abkhazia
58. An emboldened Russia and a weak Georgia
59. Russia and Georgia on the brink of armed conflict over Abkhazia
60. audio: Ed Lucas and Gideon Rachman on Georgia v. Russia
BBC, May 9, at about 50 min. in tinyurl.com/52vtt8
61. Another needless confrontation: Stay out of the Russian-Georgian crossfire
62. The mouse that roared: Georgia's Saakashvili trying to provoke Russia
63. Taking the temperature in Georgia’s hot spring
64. What is happening in Georgia is a clear attempt by Russia to redesign Eastern Europe
65. The west can respond more effectively to Russia’s assault on Georgia: part iii
66. Smeared by peace. Russia not planning to go to war with Georgia but wants to teach it lesson
Politics and elections
67. Burjanadze was up to something but she was blocked
68. Labor Party accuses government of mishandling public funds
69. After Misha
70. Not dressed for the party: Where party politics is failing Georgia
71. Four organizations publish interim reports on parliamentary elections
72. Opposition calls to snub exit polls
73. Opposition launches "liberation movement"
74. Opposition campaigns in western Georgia
75. Public Defender ‘alarmed’ over cases of voter intimidation
76. Candidate from opposition promised Azerbaijani voters to open Sadakhlo market in Georgia
77. Balancing political gender: Ekaterine Tkeshelashvili appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs
Misc.
78. Bank accounts of special funds for special needs
79. First logistics conference in Tbilisi
80. Reducing poverty through sustainable growth
81. Local NGO promotes reproductive and sexual health
82. Tbilisi’s Jewish House closes under suspicious circumstances
83. Georgia marks V-Day
84. VE-Day celebrated in Georgia
85. Goga Khaindrava to participate in conference scheduled in Poland upon the invitation of Adam Mikhnik
86. Maestro executive hopes resolution of OSCE Observation Mission will have a positive effect
87. video: Georgia buries Iraq victims
88. The Caucasus transit: The Baku-Supsa oil pipeline is currently being upgraded
89. Journal: Archival Bulletin of the Archive Dept. of the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs
90. Azerbaijan resumes gas deliveries to Georgia
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
Monday, May 12, 2008
NEWS: Georgia News Digest 05-12-08
PHOTOGRAPHY: Old Picture from Stalin in a Mountain Cottage
Hochgeladen am 23. März 2008 von Donovan Driver
Sunday, May 11, 2008
LESUNG: "DER GUTE STALIN." DIE MACHT DER VERGANGENHEIT IN DER GEGENWART
Freitag, 23. Mai 2008, 19.00 Uhr
Galerie der Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Rosenthaler Str. 40/41, Berlin-Mitte
Eintritt frei
mit
* Viktor JEROFEJEW, Schriftsteller, Moskau
* Ralf FÜCKS, Vorstand Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Berlin
aus Viktor Jerofejews Roman liest: Irina Sommer, Berlin
"Ich hatte eine schöne stalinistische Kindheit", schreibt Viktor Jerofejew in seinem 2004 erschienenem Buch "Der gute Stalin". Halb Roman, halb autobiographischer Essay, schildert Jerofejew darin seine persönliche, familiäre Erfahrung mit dem sowjetischen Diktator, die im Kontrast zu der vieler anderer Millionen Sowjetbürger gar nicht schrecklich war. Als Sohn eines sowjetischen Diplomaten und Stalin-Übersetzers lebte Jerofejew "ein liberales, luxuriöses Leben mit vielen Privilegien" inmitten der stalinistischen Schrecken.
Jerofejew ironisiert eine widersprüchlich Erfahrung, die viele Sowjetbürger und ihre Kinder und Enkel noch heute mit sich herum tragen: hier der siegreiche vaterländische Krieg gegen Hitlerdeutschland und ein enormer wirtschaftlicher Modernisierungsprozess, dort der große Terror und der GULAG.
Unter der Präsidentschaft Vladimir Putins hat das seit dem Zerfall der Sowjetunion angeschlagene Selbstbewusstsein der russischen Gesellschaft eine neue, national-patriotische Aufwertung erfahren. Geschichte spielt eine zentrale Rolle in dieser transformierten kollektiven Selbstwahrnehmung, Geschichtspolitik hat in den letzten Jahren einen erheblichen Bedeutungszuwachs erfahren, nach innen wie nach außen. Das gilt auch für die neue selbstbewusste Außenpolitik Russlands, insbesondere gegenüber den früheren Mitgliedern des
Warschauer Pakts, die sich mittlerweile selbst mit neuen nationalen Narrativen versorgt haben, aber auch gegenüber der EU. Die Auseinandersetzung um die Definitionshoheit über das heutige und zukünftige Europa findet zu einem beträchtlichen Teil auf dem Feld der Geschichtspolitik statt.
Über die Neubewertung der Geschichte, das neue russische Nationalbewusstsein, die Gründe für die aktuelle Stalin-Nostalgie in Russland und ihre Auswirkungen auf das russisch-europäische
Verhältnis unterhält sich Ralf Fücks, Vorstand der Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, mit dem bekannten russischen Schriftsteller Viktor Jerofejew, der einleitend aus seinem autobiographischen Werk lesen wird.
Die Veranstaltung wird simultan russisch-deutsch übersetzt. Eine Anmeldung ist nicht erforderlich.
Fachkontakt: Robert Sperfeld, Referat
Südosteuropa/Osteuropa/Kaukasus,
Tel. 030-285 34 387, sperfeld@boell.de
ARTIKEL: Spiegel-Online zu Abchasien
GEORGISCHE PROVINZ ABCHASIEN
Kosovo auf dem Kaukasus
Auf dem Kaukasus spitzt sich die Lage zu: Georgien und Russland könnten bald Krieg um die Provinz Abchasien führen. Der historische Konflikt in der Region wirft eine zentrale Frage auf: Ist es rechtmäßig, den Abchasen die Unabhängigkeit zu versagen, die das Kosovo erst kürzlich bekommen hat? Von Uwe Klußmann, Moskau mehr...
ZUM THEMA AUF SPIEGEL ONLINE
Kaukasus: Georgien und Russland rasseln mit den Säbeln (06.05.2008)
Veto-Drohung: Georgien will Russlands WTO-Beitritt blockieren (30.04.2008)
ART: tbilisiDEEPART magazine7 (with Nina Chubinishvili)
tbilisiDEEPARTmagazine, an art transport project by patricia london ante paris
subscribe now at tbilisideepart@yahoo.de
dear friends,
goethe-institut in tbilisi would like to show all DEEPARTeditions before my departure in july.
All artists could be invited, maybe they bring a video, an object or drawing and we all could have a nice evening with the motto "art as a party decoration".
love and aloha,
patricia
tbilisiDEEPART magazine7 >>>
with Nina Chubinishvili (costume designer, artist)
ART: tbilisiDEEPART magazine6 (with Tamuna Gurchiani)
tbilisiDEEPARTmagazine, an art transport project by patricia london ante paris
subscribe now at tbilisideepart@yahoo.de
dear friends!
i am in tbilisi without technical equipment and without the enormous and patient help of ika and his internetcafe on 18 rustaveli avenue tbilisiDEEPART wouldn't be deep, but just shallow.
aloha!
patricia
tbilisiDEEPART magazine6 >>>
with Tamuna Gurchiani (philologist, cultural manager)
ART: tbilisiDEEPART magazine5 (with Mamuka Japharidze)
tbilisiDEEPARTmagazine, an art transport project by patricia london ante paris
subscribe now at tbilisideepart@yahoo.de
dear friends,
wish you fun and happy soul with nr 5
aloha! patricia
tbilisiDEEPART magazine5 >>>
with Mamuka Japhardize (artist)
ART: tbilisiDEEPART magazine4 (with Koka Ramishvili)
tbilisiDEEPARTmagazine, an art transport project by patricia london ante paris
subscribe now at tbilisideepart@yahoo.de
dear friends,
this is nr4 of tbilisiDEEPARTmagazine.
it is in the attachment,
aloha!
patricia
tbilisiDEEPART magazine4 >>>
with Koka Ramishvili (artist)
WISSENSCHAFT: Historische Hintergründe und politische Motive des abchasischen Separatismus in Georgien
Von Tamar Janelidze
Kurzfassung
Das Problem des abchasischen Separatismus existiert in Georgien, seit die Kaukasus-Region an das Russische Imperium angegliedert wurde. Der Separatismus hat tiefe Wurzeln und ist politisch bedingt. Da der Separatismus einen Störfaktor für die Beilegung des Konfliktes in Abchasien darstellt, möchte ich in dieser Arbeit dieses Phänomen aus historischer und politischer Perspektive untersuchen. Die vorliegende Arbeit soll zeigen, dass der abchasische Separatismus von der zaristischen Administration der Kaukasus-Region begründet wurde, wobei er durch die 70 Jahre andauernde sowjetische Regierung systematisch gefördert wurde. In dieser Arbeit soll versucht werden, die Methoden der Sowjetregierung zur Förderung des abchasischen Separatismus im Einzelnen darzulegen und sie in Bezug auf die erfolgreiche Durchsetzung der politischen Interessen Moskaus in Georgien und damit in der gesamten Kaukasus-Region zu untersuchen. Der abchasische Separatismus wurde von der Regierung der Russischen Föderation als Instrument gegen die Staatlichkeit und Unabhängigkeit Georgiens in den 90er Jahren des 20. Jahrhunderts eingesetzt.
pdf-Format:
Dokument 1.pdf (772 KB)
Saturday, May 10, 2008
PHOTOGRAPHY: Nia In The Window
Photo am 3. Mai 2008 von Vaniko Goliadze
Fotostream von Vaniko Goliadze
INTERVIEW: Russia not to blame for Caucasus war threat
Published: Thursday 8 May 2008
Speaking to EurActiv on the day the new Russian President Dmitry Medvedev took office, Vladimir Chizhov, the Russian ambassador to the EU, put the full blame on Georgia for the military build-up in the South Caucasus and portrayed his country as a whistleblower for the region.
The Russian Ambassador downplayed the Russian military build-up in Abkhazia, describing it as a legitimate response to "a continued and increasing illegitimate military presence of Georgia in the upper Kodori gorge, the only part of Abkhazia under Georgian control".
There is a threat of war in South Caucasus, Chizhov said, but he firmly placed the blame on Georgia for trying to solve by force its conflicts with the breakaway regions Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Chizhov dismissed statements by the deputy Prime Minister of Georgia Temur Iakobashvili, who said in Brussels on 6 May that Georgia was very close to war with Russia. Instead, he presented his country as a whistleblower, drawing the EU's attention to the problem, as Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov did, in his words, on the occasion of his meeting with the EU Troika on 29 April.
Chizhov also denied that Russia had triggered tensions in Abkhazia as a response to Kosovo's independence. He rather blamed the Kosovo precedent for spin-offs as far as Bolivia.
Commenting on the inauguration, on the same day, of President Dmitry Medvedev, Chizhov said he believed that "later, this day will be called historic". He dismissed speculation about a possible future power struggle between the new president and Putin, who is set to be sworn in as the new prime minister today.
"You will not live to see this happen," Chizhov said, stressing the excellent relations and the shared values between Putin and Medvedev.
The ambassador also downplayed the fact that the negotiations over a new legal base between the EU and Russia are blocked because of objections by Lithuania on a number of issues, including legacies from the common past between the two countries.
"It seems that some of the newcomers brought their ghosts of the past into the European Union. And they have succeeded in testing European solidarity. I have nothing against European solidarity. What I don't like is when my country is being used as a testing ground for that principle," Chizhov said.
Interview: Russian Ambassador: 'You will not live to see Putin and Medvedev in conflict'
Other related news:
EU made enormous investment in Serbia
Interview: EU did 'right thing' ahead of Serbian elections
Serbia's EU course turns into question of life and death
EU in quest to secure Middle East gas supplies
Interview: 'NATO sent the wrong signal to Russia'
PHOTOGRAPHY: Mount. Kazbek (5068m), Georgia - By Roma Lomidze
Mount. Kazbek (5068m), Georgia
Chaukhi, Georgia 
Mount. Kazbek (5068m), Georgia 
Gegregi Glacier, 4800m, Near Kazbegi, GeorgiaPhotos by Roma Lomidze (Alpinist, Photographer, Doctor...)
NACHRICHTEN: Zum Konflikt um Abchasien
Russland: Untersuchung wegen Abschuss georgischer ... FOCUS Online - vor 21 Stunden gefunden
Abchasien gehört völkerrechtlich zwar zu Georgien, ist aber wirtschaftlich von Russland abhängig.
EU schickt Delegation nach Georgien PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung)
USA fordern Russland im Streit mit Georgien zum Nachgeben auf Reuters Deutschland
USA schalten sich in Konflikt Georgien - Abchasien ein russland-aktuell.ru
EU-Außenminister reisen wegen Abchasien-Streit nach Georgien Reuters Deutschland - 9. Mai 2008
Ljubljana (Reuters) - Mehrere EU-Außenminister wollen sich kommende Woche in Georgien um einen Abbau der Spannungen mit Russland über die abtrünnige Provinz ...
EU schickt Vermittlungsmission nach Georgien AFP
EU reist nach Tiflis Wiener Zeitung
Opposition in Georgien übt harte Kritik an US-Außenstaatssekretär Georgien Nachrichten - 9. Mai 2008
Der für Georgien zuständige US-Außenstaatssekretär Mathew Bryza ist bei einem Besuch in Georgien mit führenden Vertretern der Opposition zusammengetroffen.
Abchasien-Konflikt: US-Außenstaatssekretär Bryza warnt vor ... RIA Novosti - vor 43 Minuten gefunden
Nach seinen Worten ist Georgien berechtigt, die Aufklärungsdrohnen nach Abchasien zu schicken. "Georgien befürchtet nämlich, dass Russland Schritte ...
Zündeln im georgisch-abchasischen Konflikt NZZ Online
Abchasien-Konflikt: US-Außenstaatssekretär Bryza in Suchumi ... RIA Novosti
Abchasien-Konflikt: Georgien kündigt Luftabwehr-Vertrag mit ... RIA Novosti
REISE: Die Reise nach Ushguli beginnt mit einem Flug über die Berggipfel des Kaukasus.
Zwischen Europa und Asien
Georgien, verborgene Pracht im Kaukasus
Text und Fotos von Ute Müller
Georgien ist touristisch wenig erschlossen, dabei hat das Land viel zu bieten. Hier findet man nicht nur eine faszinierende Kulturgeschichte, sondern auch eine der majestätischsten Bergwelten unseres Planeten. In einigen Kaukasusregionen begeben sich Besucher auf eine regelrechte Zeitreise.
mehr >>>
Reisetipps für Georgien
STUDIES: Das Kosovo-Problem - kein Ende in Sicht?
Dr. Geert-Hinrich Ahrens im Gespräch mit Dr. Ulrich Schiller
Die Probleme auf dem Balkan werden mit der Unabhängigkeit des Kosovo kaum zu Ende sein. Es ist zu hören, die Serben Bosnien-Herzegowinas könnten den Anschluss an Serbien, die dortigen Kroaten den an Kroatien fordern, und es gibt Äußerungen, der neue Staat Kosovo werde von Männern regiert, die in organisierte Kriminalität verwickelt seien, und könne sich zu einem "serbischen Palästina" entwickeln. Wie ernst sind solche Befürchtungen zu nehmen?
Auf solche und viele weitere Fragen werden ausgewiesene Balkan-Spezialisten versuchen Antworten zu geben.
Dr. Geert-Hinrich Ahrens war in den 1990er Jahren als Sonderbotschafter intensiv in die internationalen Bemühungen um die Lösung der Jugoslawienproblematik einbezogen. Er war von 1991-1996 an den beiden Jugoslawienkonferenzen beteiligt. Ferner 1999 EU-Sondergesandter der Europäischer Präsidentschaft in Mazedonien; 1999-2002 Leiter der OSZE-Mission in Albanien; Aug. 2004 - März 2008 OSZE-Leiter der Wahlbeobachtungsmissionen in der Ukraine, Aserbeidschan, Belarus, Georgien, Serbien, Armenien u.v.a.
Dr. Ulrich Schiller, eh. Korrespondent für ARD und DIE ZEIT in Jugoslawien, der Sowjetunion und den USA, Autor der Bücher "Zwischen Moskau und Jakutsk. Die Sowjetunion im Wettlauf gegen die Zeit" (1970) und "Macht außer Kontrolle. Geheime Weltpolitik von Chruschtschow bis Busch" (2003).
UKB: 5,- ? / 2,5 ? LKF-Mitglieder, Schüler, Studenten und ALG-II-Empfänger
Friday, May 09, 2008
JOURNAL: Russia and the “Frozen Conflicts” of Georgia
Russian Analytical Digest, May 8
Georgia’s Secessionist De Facto States: From Frozen to Boiling
Stacy ClossonRelations between Russia and Georgia have reached a new low. At the center of their quarrel are Georgia’s secessionist regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. As Russia and Georgia accuse the other of troop movements in and around the secessionist territories, the UN, EU, OSCE, and NATO meet to determine their response. Critical to these deliberations are several underlying developments, which would benefit from an independent review. These include economic blockades of the secessionist territories, Russia’s military support for the secessionists, the issuance of Russian passports to secessionist residents, and declarations of independence by secessionist regimes. In these circumstances, it has become difficult to contain the conflicts without resolving them. However, as conflict resolution has proven impracticable, it is time to consider altering present arrangements in order to prevent an escalation of violence.
A Russian Perspective: Forging Peace in the Caucasus
By Sergei Markedonov
Although frequently described as “frozen conflicts,” the situations in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which seek independence from Georgia, are in fact deteriorating quickly. The precedent of Kosovo heartened the leaders of the break-away regions and spurred Georgia to take action to reintegrate its lands. In reaction to the West’s recognition of Kosovo’s independence, Russia began to institutionalize its support for South Ossetia and Abkhazia and formally lifted trade sanctions against them. This article argues that helping to unfreeze the conflicts is a bad policy for Russia. Instead, Russia would be better off trying to stabilize the conflict areas and only discussing the status of the various territories once their economic situation is secure.Opinion Poll Russian Popular Opinion Concerning the Frozen Conflicts on the Territory of the Former USSR
A Georgian Perspective: Towards “Unfreezing” the Georgian Conflicts
By Archil Gegeshidze
Since the early years of independence, Georgia has been negotiating terms of political status with the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, although the process has often reached a deadlock. The existing formats of political negotiation and peacekeeping have proved ineffective and the Georgian side has requested a comprehensive review of the entire peace process. There are many factors that hinder the process of conflict settlement. Topping the list are images of the other as the “enemy” and a deep mistrust among the sides. The primary impediment, however, is Russia’s manipulative policies in the conflict zones aimed at preventing Georgia from acceding to NATO. A comprehensive strategy to break the deadlock needs to be devised and doing so requires the deeper involvement of European institutions in “unfreezing” the conflict.
An Abkhaz Perspective: Abkhazia after Kosovo
By Viacheslav Chirikba
The Kosovo case opens up a new chapter in the modern history of admitting states into the international community, as this province was recognized against the will of its mother state, Serbia. Now, after Kosovo, one can hardly off er any more or less reasoned explanation as to exactly why the already 15 year-long de facto independence of Abkhazia, unlike the independence of Kosovo, cannot be recognized by the international community.
more: http://tinyurl.com/5k55s9
NEWS: EurasiaNet Weekly Update 05-09-08
THE FOLLOWING STORIES APPEARED ON EURASIANET OVER THE PAST WEEK:
CASPIAN BASIN: NO WAY TO HALT STURGEON POACHING
Momentum is building among Caspian Basin governments for a moratorium on sturgeon fishing, in order to protect the lucrative caviar trade. Informal discussions with fishermen, however, suggest that an official ban would be unlikely to halt the dangerous depletion of sturgeon
stocks.
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav050808.shtml
ARMENIA: ADMINISTRATION, OPPOSITION TAKE TENTATIVE STEPS TOWARD OPENING DIALOGUE
By Marianna Grigoryan
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav050808a.shtml
GEORGIA'S LIGHTER TAX BURDEN COMES WITH POTENTIAL PITFALLS FOR TAXPAYERS
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav050708a.shtml
GEORGIA: OPPOSITION POLITICIANS COMPLAIN ABOUT INTERNATIONAL ELECTION MONITORS
By Molly Corso
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav050608a.shtml
AZERBAIJAN: STATE MEDIA EMBROILED IN GAY BASHING CONTROVERSY
By Mina Muradova
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav050608.shtml
OLDEST TEMPLE ON EARTH DISCOVERED IN TURKEY
By Nicholas Birch
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/rp050508.shtml
AZERBAIJAN: RUSSIAN NUCLEAR PLANT EQUIPMENT RELEASED TO IRAN
By Rovshan Ismayilov
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav050508.shtml
ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROVING TRICKY FOR GEORGIA'S MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE
By Molly Corso
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav050208b.shtml
AZERBAIJAN: READY FOR STURGEON FISHING BAN, THOUGH RELUCTANT TO FOLLOW RUSSIA
By Rovshan Ismayilov
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav050208a.shtml
ARMENIA: TIME FOR A CHANGE ON KARABAKH?
By Gayane Abrahamyan
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav050208c.shtml
GEORGIA: RUSSIAN PEACEKEEPER BUILDUP IN ABKHAZIA "ILLEGITIMATE" --
OFFICIAL
By Molly Corso
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav050108b.shtml
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NEWS: Georgia News Digest 05-09-08
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)
Conflicts news
1. Georgia warns of war risk with Russia
2. Georgia talks of war as tensions with Russia escalate
3. Kremlin source raps Saakashvili for saying war possible
4. Minister says police operation in Abkhazia possible - Russian agency
5. Abkhazia ready to retaliate if Georgia attempts invasion - Deputy Defense Minister
6. President denies Georgia to attack breakaway regions
7. Defense Minister denies war plans
8. Georgian foreign ministry blames Russian defense ministry for spreading misinformation
9. Georgia concentrates over 7,000 servicemen on Abkhazia's border
10. Russia ready for peacekeepers at their limit
11. Russian military says more Abkhazia peacekeepers possible; Georgian leader warns of war
12. Additional Russian peacekeepers in Abkhazia monitoring area - Defense Ministry statement
13. Georgia assertion that peacekeepers number exceeds quota denied
14. Russia gives some details on troop increase in Abkhazia
15. Defense Minister condemns Russia’s ‘foolish moves’
16. Georgia not build up troops near Abkhazia, South Ossetia - David Kezerashvili
17. Georgia warns Russia over dispatch of extra troops
18. Abkhazia says fifth Georgian drone downed, Tbilisi denies claim
19. video: Abkhazia claims another Georgian spy plane
20. Georgia denies loss of unmanned aircraft
21. Some debris of Georgian spy drone found in Abkhazia
22. Separatists' minister hosts Cossacks' delegation
23. Abkhazia says it is bound for independence
Georgia-Russia relations
24. Georgia seeks to bring closer armed forces to NATO standards – minister
25. Patriarch says misconstrued on NATO
26. Tbilisi's desire to join NATO rooted in Russia's unfriendly policy - defense minister
27. Georgia to sign non-aggression agreement with Abkhazia
28. Georgia not to recognize Kosovo's independence – president
29. Russian Ambassador: You will not live to see Putin and Medvedev in conflict [excerpt]
30. Medvedev met with skepticism in Georgia
31. What the new president of Russia has in the Caucasus and what he will have there
32. Georgian authorities seek for ties with Russia’s new president – Bokeria
33. Storm clouds over Russian presidential handover
International views
34. US concerned that tensions between Russia and Georgia could escalate
35. U.S. worries Russia-Georgia dispute may get violent
36. Moscow's policy toward Abkhazia, S. Ossetia jeopardizes Georgia's integrity - U.S. ambassador
37. UNOMIG press release
38. United Nations briefing [excerpt]
39. Head of OSCE doesn't see temperature in Georgia’s separatist region as boiling
40. Sweden says 4 EU ministers traveling to Georgia to discuss Abkhazia crisis
41. UK backs Georgia's territorial integrity
42. ‘Chief-Pioneer' for Georgia
43. Politicians' disagreement on forming Lithuania’s stance on Georgia
Commentary and analysis
44. journal: Russia and the “Frozen Conflicts” of Georgia
45. Georgia’s offer
46. video: Interview: Evgeny Bazhanov
47. War with Moscow "very close"
48. Abkhazia cleaves closer to Russia
49. The west can respond more effectively to Russia’s assault on Georgia: part ii
50. Turning Abkhazia into a war
51. What side are we on?
52. Detained in South Ossetia: A reporter’s non-ordeal
Politics and elections
53. Opposition politicians complain about international election monitors
54. Elections polling
55. Opposition slams government for ''destructive reforms''
56. Senior MP on French decision to grant Okruashvili asylum
57. Nugzar Abulashvili: “Who not with me goes to jail!”
58. Repression of MP candidate
59. Head of the election HQ of the united opposition detained in Tsalenjikha
60. Member of National Movement seeks closure of newspaper
61. A forced meeting with the National Movement
62. Hard lost elections: 93 people registered in one flat!
63. Faithful and dearly departed voters in Kutaisi
64. Batumi before elections
65. Teachers barred from meeting opposition candidates
66. Raising the dead for parliamentary elections
67. Precinct election commissions members forced to resign
68. Black list of voter riggers -Giorgi Mosidze names exact people
69. Republicans speak about repression in Kutaisi
70. On May 5-6 working meeting was organized for practicing lawyers in the field of human rights in Telavi
71. Single mandate candidate from opposition party speaks of repression
72. Kakha Kukava shares infamous video over national single deputy candidate
73. Vakhtang Khmaladze request eradication of election list violations
Misc.
74. Saakashvili held the government session in Kutaisi
75. Georgia will not to refuse Russian investments!
76. Georgian & Azerbaijani companies connect networks
77. Soft drink exports down
78. The amount of credits released under the program of cheap credits totals over gel 15 million
79. The Government of Georgia has no intention to prevent any company from investing in Georgia
80. Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) appealed to the court against Tbilisi City Hall
81. Prisoner found hanged in jail
82. Imedi TV Company lawyers prepared the suit to be filed in the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg
83. 63 Percent of IPReasearch survey respondents find TV-debates interesting
84. Georgian policeman kills fleeing man
85. Prime minister met with winemakers in Sagarejo district
86. Giorgi still most popular name in Georgia
87. Murderers of Giorgi Gamtsemlidze will be punished
88. video: God’s sign for Georgian peace?
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
