News in Brief
Wednesday, November 21
Russian CEC to count Abkhazia and South Ossetia as voting districts for Russian citizens
Russian citizens living in the breakaway regions of South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Transdnistria will be permitted to vote in the December Russian parliamentary elections, according to Central Election Committee (CEC) Chairman Vladimir Churov.
“We are obliged to guarantee all citizens their constitutional rights,” Churov told reporters.
He added that the CEC would not require assistance from local authorities during the election.
“They offered us their services, but we intend to oversee the voting ourselves, with our own funding,” he said.
Churov added there are some 80 000 Russian citizens residing in Abkhazia and Transdnistria and a further 28 000 in South Ossetia.
The CEC chairman also said that an official letter had been sent to the Georgian government requesting permission to organize the election districts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
“We have not received an answer, but we will go ahead with organizing the election districts there anyway,” he said.
(Black Sea Press)
Georgian opposition organize protest near US embassy in Brussels
Representatives from the Georgian political opposition organized a protest at the incumbent Georgian government outside the US Embassy in Brussels on November 20.
A press release from the organizers said the protest involved Georgian political figures “who have to hide in different European countries from persecution.”
It also said the demonstration would protest US support of an undemocratic and corrupt government.
(Black Sea Press)
Poland to assist in mediation between government and opposition
Poland has offered assistance in mediating between the Georgian government and opposition, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski stated.
Sikorski said that the Polish government would join the negotiating process in Tbilisi, upon request of the US government and Javier Solana, the EU’s foreign policy chief, the RIA Novosti news agency reports.
Polish President Lech Kaczynski will visit Tbilisi on Friday, November 23, according to a Polish radio station.
(Black Sea Press)
Azerbaijan to sell 10 000 tons of flour to Georgia
Azerbaijan is to sell 10 000 tons of flour to Georgia at world market rates, according to the news agency Trend.
“Ten thousand tons of flour, which Georgia has requested, is not a large amount for Azerbaijan,” said Azerbaijani Agricultural Minister Ismat Abbasov.
In October, Zurab Nogaideli, prime minister at the time, stated that Georgia was negotiating with Azerbaijan on the purchase of flour.
Abbasov said the trade was with private, not state-owned, flour companies in Azerbaijan.
Georgia is also negotiating with Ukraine and Kazakhstan to secure more flour and wheat.
(Prime News)
Construction of Akhalkalaki gas pipeline inspected
Zurab Janjghava, director general of the Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation, inspected construction works conducted on the Akhalkalaki gas pipeline on November 20.
The six-kilometer-long pipeline will provide seven villages in the region of Akhalkalaki with natural gas.
Janjghava said the project will promote socioeconomic development in the region, and provide locals with a new heating source.
(Prime News)
Russian citizens living in the breakaway regions of South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Transdnistria will be permitted to vote in the December Russian parliamentary elections, according to Central Election Committee (CEC) Chairman Vladimir Churov.
“We are obliged to guarantee all citizens their constitutional rights,” Churov told reporters.
He added that the CEC would not require assistance from local authorities during the election.
“They offered us their services, but we intend to oversee the voting ourselves, with our own funding,” he said.
Churov added there are some 80 000 Russian citizens residing in Abkhazia and Transdnistria and a further 28 000 in South Ossetia.
The CEC chairman also said that an official letter had been sent to the Georgian government requesting permission to organize the election districts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
“We have not received an answer, but we will go ahead with organizing the election districts there anyway,” he said.
(Black Sea Press)
Georgian opposition organize protest near US embassy in Brussels
Representatives from the Georgian political opposition organized a protest at the incumbent Georgian government outside the US Embassy in Brussels on November 20.
A press release from the organizers said the protest involved Georgian political figures “who have to hide in different European countries from persecution.”
It also said the demonstration would protest US support of an undemocratic and corrupt government.
(Black Sea Press)
Poland to assist in mediation between government and opposition
Poland has offered assistance in mediating between the Georgian government and opposition, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski stated.
Sikorski said that the Polish government would join the negotiating process in Tbilisi, upon request of the US government and Javier Solana, the EU’s foreign policy chief, the RIA Novosti news agency reports.
Polish President Lech Kaczynski will visit Tbilisi on Friday, November 23, according to a Polish radio station.
(Black Sea Press)
Azerbaijan to sell 10 000 tons of flour to Georgia
Azerbaijan is to sell 10 000 tons of flour to Georgia at world market rates, according to the news agency Trend.
“Ten thousand tons of flour, which Georgia has requested, is not a large amount for Azerbaijan,” said Azerbaijani Agricultural Minister Ismat Abbasov.
In October, Zurab Nogaideli, prime minister at the time, stated that Georgia was negotiating with Azerbaijan on the purchase of flour.
Abbasov said the trade was with private, not state-owned, flour companies in Azerbaijan.
Georgia is also negotiating with Ukraine and Kazakhstan to secure more flour and wheat.
(Prime News)
Construction of Akhalkalaki gas pipeline inspected
Zurab Janjghava, director general of the Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation, inspected construction works conducted on the Akhalkalaki gas pipeline on November 20.
The six-kilometer-long pipeline will provide seven villages in the region of Akhalkalaki with natural gas.
Janjghava said the project will promote socioeconomic development in the region, and provide locals with a new heating source.
(Prime News)