The News in Brief
Wednesday, June 25
FM: Russian, Georgia presidents to meet in Astana next month
President Mikheil Saakashvili will meet Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev in the Kazakhstani capital on July 6, according to Georgia’s foreign minister.
“Protocol issues are being settled now and this meeting will be probably held, though the format of the meeting has not been specified yet,” said Foreign Minster Eka Tkeshelashvili.
She said both presidents will be there for celebrations of Astana’s 10th anniversary as the renamed capital. (Black Sea Press)
Georgian friends meet in Warsaw
A group of Georgian allies is to meet today in Warsaw, with Foreign Minister Eka Tkeshelashvili in attendance.
The Polish foreign minister will chair the meeting of the ‘New Group of Friends of Georgia,’ which will include representatives from Lithuania, Estonia, the Czech republic, Romania, Sweden, Latvia, Bulgaria and the United States, as well as NATO and EU officials. Black Sea Press)
Abkhaz military exercises continue near Kodori
Abkhaz battalions are conducting military exercises near Georgian-controlled Kodori Gorge.
Three battalions are being trained: land forces, reservists and a motor rifle brigade.
Tanks and mortars are also being used. Merab Kishmaria, the de facto Abkhazian defense minister, is personally supervising the trainings and says the Abkhaz army can fight back any aggression. (Prime News)
President holds meetings in Germany
President Mikheil Saakashvili is meeting with a number of civil society and government representatives in Germany.
Together with Georgia’s foreign minister, deputy foreign minister and ambassador to Germany, he met with a group of German journalists yesterday. Meetings with government officials including Bundestag leaders are to follow.
He is to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel today. (Black Sea Press)
Landslide kills three in Kakheti
Three people, including one child, were killed by a landslide in the Akhmeta district of the eastern province of Kakheti yesterday.
Television station Rustavi 2 reported the landslide killed father and son Omar and Arbi Achishvili, who were in a forest gathering firewood. Another man, a resident of Pankisi Gorge, was also killed.
The province’s deputy governor said the local government will provide monetary support to the families of the victims. (Black Sea Press)
Georgian-Turkish seminar opens at Tbilisi university
A Georgian-Turkish seminar to promote friendly relations and academic cooperation opened at Tbilisi State University yesterday.
The seminar will survey past and future relations of all stripes between Turkey and Georgia. The Turkish ambassador, NATO representatives and the president of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies will all participate.
The seminar is put together by the local NATO public relations department and Tbilisi State University. (Prime News)
Parliament approve new vice-speakers
MPs were to vote in three new parliamentary vice-speakers yesterday.
Gigi Tsereteli, who held the same post in the previous parliament, and newly-elected MPs Rusudan Kervalishvili and Pridon Todua were picked by the ruling party.
Vice-Speaker Mikheil Machavariani was nominated for the post of first vice-speaker.
This parliament will have nine vice-speakers, three of which are to be opposition lawmakers. (Prime News)
Georgian FM in Italy
Georgian Foreign Minister Eka Tkeshelashvili met on June 23 with the first deputy chair of the Italian chamber of deputies.
They discussed Georgian-Italian relations, and the Italian official affirmed Rome’s full support for Georgia. (Black Sea Press)
President Mikheil Saakashvili will meet Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev in the Kazakhstani capital on July 6, according to Georgia’s foreign minister.
“Protocol issues are being settled now and this meeting will be probably held, though the format of the meeting has not been specified yet,” said Foreign Minster Eka Tkeshelashvili.
She said both presidents will be there for celebrations of Astana’s 10th anniversary as the renamed capital. (Black Sea Press)
Georgian friends meet in Warsaw
A group of Georgian allies is to meet today in Warsaw, with Foreign Minister Eka Tkeshelashvili in attendance.
The Polish foreign minister will chair the meeting of the ‘New Group of Friends of Georgia,’ which will include representatives from Lithuania, Estonia, the Czech republic, Romania, Sweden, Latvia, Bulgaria and the United States, as well as NATO and EU officials. Black Sea Press)
Abkhaz military exercises continue near Kodori
Abkhaz battalions are conducting military exercises near Georgian-controlled Kodori Gorge.
Three battalions are being trained: land forces, reservists and a motor rifle brigade.
Tanks and mortars are also being used. Merab Kishmaria, the de facto Abkhazian defense minister, is personally supervising the trainings and says the Abkhaz army can fight back any aggression. (Prime News)
President holds meetings in Germany
President Mikheil Saakashvili is meeting with a number of civil society and government representatives in Germany.
Together with Georgia’s foreign minister, deputy foreign minister and ambassador to Germany, he met with a group of German journalists yesterday. Meetings with government officials including Bundestag leaders are to follow.
He is to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel today. (Black Sea Press)
Landslide kills three in Kakheti
Three people, including one child, were killed by a landslide in the Akhmeta district of the eastern province of Kakheti yesterday.
Television station Rustavi 2 reported the landslide killed father and son Omar and Arbi Achishvili, who were in a forest gathering firewood. Another man, a resident of Pankisi Gorge, was also killed.
The province’s deputy governor said the local government will provide monetary support to the families of the victims. (Black Sea Press)
Georgian-Turkish seminar opens at Tbilisi university
A Georgian-Turkish seminar to promote friendly relations and academic cooperation opened at Tbilisi State University yesterday.
The seminar will survey past and future relations of all stripes between Turkey and Georgia. The Turkish ambassador, NATO representatives and the president of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies will all participate.
The seminar is put together by the local NATO public relations department and Tbilisi State University. (Prime News)
Parliament approve new vice-speakers
MPs were to vote in three new parliamentary vice-speakers yesterday.
Gigi Tsereteli, who held the same post in the previous parliament, and newly-elected MPs Rusudan Kervalishvili and Pridon Todua were picked by the ruling party.
Vice-Speaker Mikheil Machavariani was nominated for the post of first vice-speaker.
This parliament will have nine vice-speakers, three of which are to be opposition lawmakers. (Prime News)
Georgian FM in Italy
Georgian Foreign Minister Eka Tkeshelashvili met on June 23 with the first deputy chair of the Italian chamber of deputies.
They discussed Georgian-Italian relations, and the Italian official affirmed Rome’s full support for Georgia. (Black Sea Press)