President promises to double teachers’ salaries

Mikheil Saakashvili has promised to double teachers’ salaries.

The Georgian president made the comments when he opened a vocational training centre in Rustavi.

He also said teachers would receive state medical insurance.

The new center is part of the president’s national training program. 400 students will be trained there using state-of-the-art techniques and methodology.

Graduates from the center will be employed by Rustavi Metallurgical Factory, Rustavi Cement Factory, the “Azoti” Mechanical Factory, and other companies.

Georgian and American experts drew up the program shaped the retraining of teachers. (Prime News)



Citrus-processing plant opens in Chakvi

A new citrus-processing plant opened in Chakvi on Saturday.

The USD 160 000 factory was made possible by financial support from USAID.

Petre Tsiskarishvili, the Minister of Agriculture, told journalists the ultramodern plant could process 15 000 tons of citrus fruit a year, all of which would be sold abroad.

Western Georgia is expected to produce 100 000 tons of citrus fruit in 2007. (Prime News)



Azerbaijani-Georgian border commission to meet by end of the year

The Azerbaijani-Georgian commission on border demarcation is scheduled to hold their next meeting by the end of the year, according to the head of the Azerbaijani state commission on land and cartography, Garib Mammadov.

Mammadov says about 170 kilometers of the border between Georgia and Azerbaijan still needs to be defined.

Almost the entire border with Russia has been agreed upon, Mammadov adds, with the exception of three small areas. An Azerbaijani-Russian commission will continue work on an agreement in December. (Prime News)



Subeliani meets refugees near Tbilisi Sea

Koba Subeliani, the new Minister for Refugees and Resettlement met with refugees living near Tbilisi Sea.

Some 152 Georgian families displaced from Abkhazia have been living in the suburb of Tbilisi city for the past fifteen years.

Subeliani told journalists he will press for a rise in allowances for the refugees, and said he would use all resources at his disposal to assist in their welfare. (Prime News)



Mercury found in village poses no threat to health

The Ministry of Environment Protection and Natural Resources has confirmed that traces of mercury were discovered in soil at the village of Skra, in Gori district, but says it poses no health threat.

There have been reports of mercury detection elsewhere in the Shida Kartli province. (Black Sea Press)



Parliament approves new cabinet

On November 22 parliament unanimously approved the new cabinet.

The proposed cabinet was formally presented by the president on November 19.

Lado Gurgenidze, the former chief of the Bank of Georgia was inaugurated as prime minister, taking over from Zurab Noghaideli.

Maya Miminoshvili has replaced Alexander Lomaia as Education Minister and Koba Subeliani replaced Giorgi Kheviashvili as Minister of Refugees and Resettlement. (Black Sea Press)



Over one thousand seats damaged in Tbilisi National Stadium at Georgia–Lithuania match

Over one thousand seats were damaged at Boris Paichadze National Stadium in Tbilisi during the Georgia–Lithuania match on November 22, according to the stadium management.

Around 30 000 fans attended the match.

The stadium management has called on fans to display better conduct during matches. (Black Sea Press)