“Akaki Asatiani: Not time to divide votes!”

Leader of the oppositional Traditionalists party Akaki Asatiani has ruled out a presidential bid in the January elections, according to Akhali Taoba.

On November 14, Georgian media reported that Asatiani was considering running for president.

“I want to say that I am not going to run for the presidency. This is not the time to divide votes [among opposition candidates], it is vitally important the whole opposition spectrum unites behind one candidate,” Asatiani explained.

The United National Council, a coalition of nine opposition parties, named MP Levan Gachechiladze as their joint presidential candidate on November 12.

“Zurab Noghaideli and Aleksandre Khetaguri leave for Turkey”

Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli and Energy Minister Aleksandre Khetaguri left for an official visit to Turkey on November 14, according to Rezonansi.

Noghaideli will meet with Turkish counterpart Rejeb Tayyip Erdogan to speak about deepening cooperation between the two states.

Afterwards, a joint press conference will be held.

Noghaideli will also meet with Turkish President Abdullah Gul, parliamentary chairs and other officials.

Energy and economic issues will be the focus of the meetings.

“The Association of Commercial Television in Europe protests Imedi TV blackout”

Akhali Taoba reports that a lobbying group for European television networks, the Association of Commercial Television in Europe (ACT), has released an open letter of protest against Georgia’s media restrictions under emergency rule and the shutdown of Imedi TV.

Association members called on EU institutions to explain to Georgia’s government that clamping down on independent media is not acceptable in Europe.

ACT director general Ross Biggam said, in a democratic society, no amount of evidence could justify destroying an independent TV network with special forces troops, as Imedi representatives say happened to their station.

“Media plurality is a basic component of European democracy. I hope that EU institutions will ban this totally unacceptable activity and Georgia will regain the European course of democratic development soon,” Biggam stressed.

“NATO fuel workshop opened in Tbilisi”

Sakartvelos Respublika reports that a NATO-related fuel workshop opened in Tbilisi on November 14. 19 representatives from NATO and partner states came to Georgia to attend the two-day conference.

A working group from the NATO Pipeline Committee explained NATO’s single fuel policy to workshop participants.

In the meeting, the Georgian side presented the current logistical system of the country’s armed forces, and the key aspects of its fuel supply system.

Participants discussed ways to improve the military’s fuel supply system.