The News in Brief
Thursday, January 15
Patriarch wishes Happy New Year, courage and peace to nation
“There is no situation from which one cannot find the way out,” Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II said at Holy Trinity Cathedral after the liturgy conducted on the Orthodox New Year.
His Holiness wished everyone a Happy New Year, peace, courage and the return of the separated territories to the people of Georgia. The Patriarch conducted the liturgy of the feast of the Circumcision of Christ, which is also celebrated on January 14th/1st. (The Messenger)
Extending OSCE Mission to Georgia to be discussed in Vienna
The Permanent Council, one of the main regular decision-making bodies of the OSCE, will convene in Vienna tomorrow under its new Chair, the Greek Foreign Minister. Georgian Ambassador Victor Dolidze will deliver a speech at the meeting which will raise the issue of extending the OSCE Mission to Georgia. The mandate of the international mission was suspended in December 2008 after Russia insisted that it include South Ossetia and Abkhazia in its title and treat them as separate states.
The Georgian side maintain it is trying to maintain the OSCE Mission but not in a way which will violate Georgian national interests. “We will keep working on maintaining the OSCE Mission to Georgia in any form,” Sergi Kapanadze, the head of the Department for Relations with International Organizations of the Georgian Foreign Ministry, said. (The Messenger)
Labour Party accuses Kaztransgas of terrorizing subscribers
The Georgian Labour Party is accusing the Tbilisi gas distribution company Kaztrangas of terrorizing its subscribers.
Members of the opposition party assert that the company is forcing consumers to change their gas meters at a cost of 125 lari. Paata Jibladze of the party says the Energy Regulatory Commission fined the company 15,000 lari for a similar act on December 15 2008. Jibladze presented the document which prohibits Kaztransgas from obliging its subscribers to buy new meters. (The Messenger)
Two New Year traditions
January 14 is the Day of Georgian Theatre. It has been celebrated as such since the 80s of the 19th century when the first play by Giorgi Eristavi was performed.
Yesterday the theatre world assembled in the city of Gori to attend events dedicated to this day. Minister of Culture Nika Rurua, famous film and theatre director Giga Lortkipanidze and other faces famous in theatrical circles attended the events and the Kote Marjanishvili, Sandro Akhmeteli and Veriko Anjaparidze prizes were bestowed on their winners.
The Parliament of Georgia did not change its tradition and this year as usual hosted IDP children in Parliament at the New Year tree yesterday. David Janiashvili, head of the Parliamentary staff, brought them gifts, sweets and toys. David Janiashvili congratulated the children on David Bakradze, the Parliament Chairman’s behalf, and wished them peace and wellbeing. (The Messenger)
Kervalishvili visits IDP families bearing gifts
Rusudan Kervalishvili, Deputy Chair of the Parliament of Georgia, has visited IDPs living in the village of Tserovani and given them presents donated by the UN Population Fund. 2,000 IDP families were given essential items, hygiene items and warm clothes.
Temur Grigalashvili, Governor of the Isani-Samgori district, also bestowed gifts. (The Messenger)
“There is no situation from which one cannot find the way out,” Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II said at Holy Trinity Cathedral after the liturgy conducted on the Orthodox New Year.
His Holiness wished everyone a Happy New Year, peace, courage and the return of the separated territories to the people of Georgia. The Patriarch conducted the liturgy of the feast of the Circumcision of Christ, which is also celebrated on January 14th/1st. (The Messenger)
Extending OSCE Mission to Georgia to be discussed in Vienna
The Permanent Council, one of the main regular decision-making bodies of the OSCE, will convene in Vienna tomorrow under its new Chair, the Greek Foreign Minister. Georgian Ambassador Victor Dolidze will deliver a speech at the meeting which will raise the issue of extending the OSCE Mission to Georgia. The mandate of the international mission was suspended in December 2008 after Russia insisted that it include South Ossetia and Abkhazia in its title and treat them as separate states.
The Georgian side maintain it is trying to maintain the OSCE Mission but not in a way which will violate Georgian national interests. “We will keep working on maintaining the OSCE Mission to Georgia in any form,” Sergi Kapanadze, the head of the Department for Relations with International Organizations of the Georgian Foreign Ministry, said. (The Messenger)
Labour Party accuses Kaztransgas of terrorizing subscribers
The Georgian Labour Party is accusing the Tbilisi gas distribution company Kaztrangas of terrorizing its subscribers.
Members of the opposition party assert that the company is forcing consumers to change their gas meters at a cost of 125 lari. Paata Jibladze of the party says the Energy Regulatory Commission fined the company 15,000 lari for a similar act on December 15 2008. Jibladze presented the document which prohibits Kaztransgas from obliging its subscribers to buy new meters. (The Messenger)
Two New Year traditions
January 14 is the Day of Georgian Theatre. It has been celebrated as such since the 80s of the 19th century when the first play by Giorgi Eristavi was performed.
Yesterday the theatre world assembled in the city of Gori to attend events dedicated to this day. Minister of Culture Nika Rurua, famous film and theatre director Giga Lortkipanidze and other faces famous in theatrical circles attended the events and the Kote Marjanishvili, Sandro Akhmeteli and Veriko Anjaparidze prizes were bestowed on their winners.
The Parliament of Georgia did not change its tradition and this year as usual hosted IDP children in Parliament at the New Year tree yesterday. David Janiashvili, head of the Parliamentary staff, brought them gifts, sweets and toys. David Janiashvili congratulated the children on David Bakradze, the Parliament Chairman’s behalf, and wished them peace and wellbeing. (The Messenger)
Kervalishvili visits IDP families bearing gifts
Rusudan Kervalishvili, Deputy Chair of the Parliament of Georgia, has visited IDPs living in the village of Tserovani and given them presents donated by the UN Population Fund. 2,000 IDP families were given essential items, hygiene items and warm clothes.
Temur Grigalashvili, Governor of the Isani-Samgori district, also bestowed gifts. (The Messenger)