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Girgvliani's
killers go free six months early, Supreme Court rules
On July 31, the Supreme Court reduced the jail sentences for the
killers of Sandro Girgvliani by six months. The four former Interior
Ministry officers were convicted in the 2006 beating death of
28-year-old banker Girgvliani last year. (more)
Conflict settlement
negotiations at a "stalemate," says Semneby
The EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus hopes Tbilisi's
launch of the South Ossetia status determination commission will
yield good results. However, Peter Semneby adds, the Georgian
government must ensure inclusive dialogue in the commission if
it wants to work its way out of a "stalemate" in the
resolution process. (more)
Bagapsh: International
recognition of Abkhazia sure to follow Kosovo precedent
The frequently referenced "uniqueness" of the Kosovo
case is "unsound," but an impending recognition of Kosovo
independence will accelerate the same process for Abkhazia and
South Ossetia, claims Sergey Bagapsh, secessionist leader of Abkhazia,
in a July 31 interview with the Russian daily Kommersant. (more)
Customs overhaul
to bring down costs and corruption, Finance Ministry says
By launching a number of reforms on August 1, the Ministry of
Finance hopes to streamline customs procedures and renovate infrastructure
at Georgian border checkpoints. (more)
News
in Brief
UN myth ends
for Georgians?
Yesterday marked Georgia's 15th year of UN membership. When the
country joined amid the first clashes in Abkhazia, Shevardnadze's
administration promised a panacea. The UN would protect a weak
Georgia, lift Russian pressure, promote justice, support Georgia's
territorial integrity, and provide a host of other desperately
needed assurances. (more)
Public
opinion: Most acute problems for Georgia
245 houses
being built in Georgia
245 houses are currently under registered construction in the
country, about 90 percent of which are in Tbilisi. There are around
70 construction companies in Georgia, according to the newspaper
24 Saati. (more)
Azerbaijan
negotiating with regional neighbors on shared energy grid
Azerbaijan is leading negotiations with Georgia, Russia and Turkey
to create a unified energy system, announced vice president of
Azerenergy Marlen Askerov at a recent press conference. (more)
Will Gotsiridze
stay on as National Bank president?
After the parliamentary majority laid into the annual report presented
in June by Roman Gotsiridze, the president of the National Bank
of Georgia (NBG), rumors began to fly that Gotsiridze would soon
be out of a job. (more)
Most Turks
think the US is a possible military threat to their country
Polling conducted by the Washington, D.C.-based Pew Research Center
found that over two-thirds of Turks have a very wary view of the
United States. 77 percent of respondents said the US is a potential
military threat to Turkey, according to the news agency Regnum-11
percent more than in 2005 surveys. (more)
Yerevan denies
purchasing arms from Albania
The Azerbaijani foreign affairs minister fired off a salvo of
letters to his Albanian counterpart, his Pakistani counterpart,
and the secretary general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference,
criticizing a purported Albanian arms shipment to Armenia, which
was reportedly turned away from a Turkish port. (more)
Press scanner
Today in history
Birthdays
Georgian words
of the day
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Wednesday,
August 1, 2007, #145 (1412)
