Georgian Media Council to publish daily monitoring report

The Georgian Media Council will publish daily monitoring reports, it was announced after acting president Nino Burjanadze met with media council representatives and journalists.

“No one should cast doubt on the fairness of these election conditions. Our task is to make conditions in the pre-election period absolutely transparent. We are ready to discuss additional mechanisms with journalists to promote a normal election process,” Burjanadze said.

The acting president added that the Media Council would perform a useful function in the run-up to parliamentary elections next year. (Black Sea Press)



Budget committee discuss 2008 draft budget

The 2008 draft budget was discussed at a Budget and Finance Committee session yesterday, December 11. Proposed amendments to the tax code were discussed.

The draft budget was submitted to parliament in October by former prime minister Zurab Noghaideli. New Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze recently said the 2008 budget would focus on social issues, and that cuts in defense spending are a possibility.

Next year’s budget targets will be announced on December 14. (Prime News)



Georgian MPs comment on presumed successor to Russian presidency

Georgian MPs have commented on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s December 10 endorsement of Dmitry Medvedev as the country’s next president.

Nino Nakashidze, chair of the parliamentary Committee on European Integration, told journalists that if Medvedev is elected Russia’s policy toward Georgia would not change. “It will be the same as Putin’s Russia,” she said.

Shota Malashkhia, chair of the interim parliamentary Commission on Restoration of Territorial Integrity said the question of Putin’s successor does not concern Georgia’s plans to settle its two internal conflicts.

“We have our own plan of restoration of territorial integrity in the country, and its implementation cannot be prevented by any Russian president,” Malashkhia said. (Black Sea Press)



Opposition say Medvedev certain to be next Russian president

New Rights opposition leader and presidential candidate Davit Gamkrelidze stated that he is sure that Medvedev will become Russia’s next president.

“If Putin backs Medvedev, it means that he will become president,” he said, before underscoring the importance of normalizing Russian-Georgian relations.

Levan Gachechiladze, leader of the United National Council, a coalition of opposition parties, said only knew Medvedev was pro-Putin and did not comment further.

Presidential candidate Gia Maisashvili says it does not matter to him who becomes the next president of Russia. “We shall be able to defend Georgia’s interests and normalize relations with Russia [no matter who succeeds Putin],” Maisashvili said. (Black Sea Press)



Foreign Minister meets BSEC Secretary-General

Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili welcomed Leonidas Chrysanthopoulos, secretary general of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) organization, at the 30th plenary session of the BSEC Parliamentary Assembly in Tbilisi on December 11.

The Foreign Ministry said multilateral economic projects were discussed at the December 11 session, as well as regional developments. (Prime News)