Thursday, October 18, 2007, #199 (1466)

News in Brief:

Defense and Security Committee pushes for more defense spending
The parliamentary Defense and Security Committee session discussed the possibility of increasing the defense ministry’s portion of the 2008 state budget to GEL 1.1 billion from GEL 922 million.
Deputy Defense Minister Batu Kutelia said the defense ministry budget for 2008 had to provide for increasing the wages of Georgian soldiers by GEL 100.
“The key priority of the defense ministry consists of developing infrastructure, improving the living conditions of soldiers and modernizing armaments to meet NATO standards; as well as improving the quality of the participation of the Georgian contingent in peacekeeping operations,” Kutelia declared.
(Black Sea Press)

Representatives of Georgian Orthodox Church hold protest at Azerbaijani embassy
On October 16 representatives of the Georgian Orthodox Church held a protest in front of the Azerbaijani embassy in Georgia.
The protest was a reaction to reports that a Georgian Orthodox church had been forcibly closed in Qax district, Azerbaijan.
Georgian Human Rights Ombudsman Sozar Subari has sent a letter to Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Suleymanova to push for measures against the closure of the church.
“If these reports are true, it is an encroachment of freedom. We address you not only because this right is guaranteed by the 94th article of the European Human Rights Convention, but also because of the many centuries of friendship between our people, and the mutual understanding between our institutions, and we ask you to take the appropriate measures,” the letter reads.
Khazar Ibragim, press secretary of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, denied the reports that Azerbaijani authorities closed the church.
(Black Sea Press)

Kutaisi City Council elects city mayor
On October 16, the Kutaisi City Council elected Nugzar Shamugia, former director of Kutaisi Motor Works, to the position of city mayor, according to Imedi TV.
“I am eager for Kutaisi to become as successful as other towns in Georgia. I believe that this is likely given the attitude of the Georgian authorities and the parliamentary speaker. They have provided huge moral and material aid to us,” Shamugia told journalists.
Opposition representatives did not take part in the elections and pointing out that Shamugia was the seventh Kutaisi mayor since the Rose Revolution and suggested the role is always assumed by figures which are sympathetic to the administration.
They also suggested that Shamugia has links with Speaker of Parliament Nino Burjanadze.
(Black Sea Press)

Tbilisi police brace for Georgia–Scotland football match
The Tbilisi police force was ready for the Georgia–Scotland game on Wednesday, stated Patrol Police chief Giorgi Grigalashvili on Tuesday.
“I hope that we show hospitality to our guests and protect public order,” stated Grigalashvili.
Around 2500 Scottish fans were expected to attend the match.
However, it emerged yesterday that FIFA President Joseph Blatter and UEFA Chief Michele Platini, who were due to attend the match, have postponed their trip to Georgia.
(Black Sea Press)

Abkhaz government-in-exile offers humanitarian aid to refugee children
The Ministry of Public Health and Social Affairs of the Abkhaz government-in-exile will render humanitarian assistance to refugee children from the breakaway region of Abkhazia.
Dalila Khorava, Minister of Public Health and Social Affairs, was due to meet refugee children yesterday, October 17, which was the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
(Prime News)



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