The News in Brief
Thursday, December 11
Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia meets Russian President
Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II met Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow on December 9. Georgian sources said the meeting lasted 45 minutes, though the Kremlin said simply that the meeting had been held.
“I have met President Medvedev. He is very well disposed towards [resolving] the problems which we have [in relations]. I think we will have good results,” Ilia II told journalists after the meeting.
Ilia II was visiting Moscow to attend the funeral of Russia’s late Patriarch Alexey II. Ilia II conducted a prayer at the funeral ceremony in Moscow’s Christ the Saviour Cathedral. (The Messenger)
EU, OSCE representatives to hold talks in Sokhumi
Representatives of the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe are expected to hold talks with Abkhaz Government officials on Wednesday, ahead of international discussions in Geneva on security in the South Caucasus, Abkhaz media sources report.
EU Special Representative for the Crisis in Georgia, Pierre Morel, Special Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece to the OSCE Haralampos Christopoulos and Permanent Representative of Greece to the OSCE Alexis Katsareas will participate in the talks. The third round of Geneva discussions is scheduled for December 17-18.
The delegation will meet the Minister of Foreign Affairs of breakaway Abkhazia Sergey Shamba. Abkhaz Foreign Minister is also expected to hold a separate meeting with the UN Secretary-General’s Representative Johan Verbecke, to discuss the further operations of the UN Observer Mission in the Abkhaz conflict zone. An EU/OSCE delegation is expected to visit Gali on Thursday, December 11. (Black Sea Press)
Bakradze claims renewal of Georgian Government will continue
The Georgian Government will be renewed again, depending on the problems the country will face, Davit Bakradze has told a Rustavi 2 TV reporter in Washington.
“Of course, there will be changes in the future as well, but I cannot say that those changes will occur soon. The Government will be renewed and there will be changes, but the timeframe and progression of those changes will depend on the specific problems and concrete issues Georgia faces,” Bakradze told Imedi TV.
Chairman of the Georgian Parliament Davit Bakradze has been paying a three-day working visit to the USA since December 8. According to the Parliamentary Press Office, he is expected to meet with representatives of the U.S. Congress and Administration. (Black Sea Press)
Georgian Vice-Premier leaves for the Netherlands
State Minister of Georgia for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Vice-Premier Giorgi Baramidze, began his official visit to the Netherlands on Wednesday, Black Sea Press was told in the State Minister’s Press Office.
Baramidze had previously been in Brussels, where he participated in the 9th session of the EU-Georgia Cooperation Council. During his visit, Baramidze is expected to hold meetings with the representatives of executive and legislative branches of the Dutch Government. He will return to Georgia on December 14. (Black Sea Press)
Blast reported close to the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone
A Georgian police car hit a remote-controlled mine on Pkhveni Bridge, which connects Nikozi village with the Smaller Liakhvi Gorge (Tskhinvali district), at 6 a.m. on Wednesday. The police car, which was patrolling the area and driving at high speed, was damaged in the incident, but no casualties were reported.
Shida Kartli (Eastern Georgia) regional police officials confirmed this information. EU monitors are expected to arrive at the blast scene. As Black Sea Press was told in the regional police directorate, mine clearing operations had been conducted on the bridge some days before the blast. Presumably the mine was very recently planted.
The Ministry of Interior of Georgia has also confirmed the report. “This morning at 06:00, a remote controlled explosive device went off on Pkhveni Bridge, near the village of Nikozi, Gori district, while officers of the Shida Kartli Patrol Police were patrolling the mentioned area. As a result of the explosion there are no casualties, although the patrol police car was damaged,” the Interior Ministry press release reads. (Black Sea Press)
Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II met Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow on December 9. Georgian sources said the meeting lasted 45 minutes, though the Kremlin said simply that the meeting had been held.
“I have met President Medvedev. He is very well disposed towards [resolving] the problems which we have [in relations]. I think we will have good results,” Ilia II told journalists after the meeting.
Ilia II was visiting Moscow to attend the funeral of Russia’s late Patriarch Alexey II. Ilia II conducted a prayer at the funeral ceremony in Moscow’s Christ the Saviour Cathedral. (The Messenger)
EU, OSCE representatives to hold talks in Sokhumi
Representatives of the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe are expected to hold talks with Abkhaz Government officials on Wednesday, ahead of international discussions in Geneva on security in the South Caucasus, Abkhaz media sources report.
EU Special Representative for the Crisis in Georgia, Pierre Morel, Special Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece to the OSCE Haralampos Christopoulos and Permanent Representative of Greece to the OSCE Alexis Katsareas will participate in the talks. The third round of Geneva discussions is scheduled for December 17-18.
The delegation will meet the Minister of Foreign Affairs of breakaway Abkhazia Sergey Shamba. Abkhaz Foreign Minister is also expected to hold a separate meeting with the UN Secretary-General’s Representative Johan Verbecke, to discuss the further operations of the UN Observer Mission in the Abkhaz conflict zone. An EU/OSCE delegation is expected to visit Gali on Thursday, December 11. (Black Sea Press)
Bakradze claims renewal of Georgian Government will continue
The Georgian Government will be renewed again, depending on the problems the country will face, Davit Bakradze has told a Rustavi 2 TV reporter in Washington.
“Of course, there will be changes in the future as well, but I cannot say that those changes will occur soon. The Government will be renewed and there will be changes, but the timeframe and progression of those changes will depend on the specific problems and concrete issues Georgia faces,” Bakradze told Imedi TV.
Chairman of the Georgian Parliament Davit Bakradze has been paying a three-day working visit to the USA since December 8. According to the Parliamentary Press Office, he is expected to meet with representatives of the U.S. Congress and Administration. (Black Sea Press)
Georgian Vice-Premier leaves for the Netherlands
State Minister of Georgia for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Vice-Premier Giorgi Baramidze, began his official visit to the Netherlands on Wednesday, Black Sea Press was told in the State Minister’s Press Office.
Baramidze had previously been in Brussels, where he participated in the 9th session of the EU-Georgia Cooperation Council. During his visit, Baramidze is expected to hold meetings with the representatives of executive and legislative branches of the Dutch Government. He will return to Georgia on December 14. (Black Sea Press)
Blast reported close to the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone
A Georgian police car hit a remote-controlled mine on Pkhveni Bridge, which connects Nikozi village with the Smaller Liakhvi Gorge (Tskhinvali district), at 6 a.m. on Wednesday. The police car, which was patrolling the area and driving at high speed, was damaged in the incident, but no casualties were reported.
Shida Kartli (Eastern Georgia) regional police officials confirmed this information. EU monitors are expected to arrive at the blast scene. As Black Sea Press was told in the regional police directorate, mine clearing operations had been conducted on the bridge some days before the blast. Presumably the mine was very recently planted.
The Ministry of Interior of Georgia has also confirmed the report. “This morning at 06:00, a remote controlled explosive device went off on Pkhveni Bridge, near the village of Nikozi, Gori district, while officers of the Shida Kartli Patrol Police were patrolling the mentioned area. As a result of the explosion there are no casualties, although the patrol police car was damaged,” the Interior Ministry press release reads. (Black Sea Press)