Thursday, October 25, 2007, #204 (1471)

News in Brief:

Parliamentary speaker discusses political situation with foreign ambassadors
On October 23, Parliamentary Speaker Nino Burjanadze met with foreign diplomats to discuss the current political situation in Georgia, the progress of democratic development and ongoing reforms, according to parliament’s press office.
Burjanadze, speaking after the session, said the foreign delegations expressed willingness to hold similar meetings in the future.
 “The ambassadors were also interested in the issue of holding a dialogue between the government and the opposition,” the parliamentary speaker added.
The same day, Burjanadze called on the opposition to partake in dialogue but warned them to avoid issuing ultimatums.
 “I welcome any processes that have a legal constitutional grounding,” she declared, adding, “I urge the opposition not to issue ultimatums, as this will only hinder the dialogue and not allow for consensus.”
Opposition leaders have said that rescheduling parliamentary elections for April 2008 are a precondition for dialogue with the government.
 (Black Sea Press)

Shamba accuses Georgia of deploying unmanned surveillance drones
Sergey Shamba, de facto foreign minister of the breakaway region of Abkhazia, accused the Georgian government of deploying unmanned aircraft over Kodori Gorge.
Shamba made the accusations during a meeting with representatives of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Russian news agencies reported.
Shamba warned that de facto Abkhaz authorities would shoot down any such aircraft, and suggested that Georgia has no intention of settling the conflict through peaceful means.
(Prime News)

Four buses hijacked in Gali 
Four buses en route to Tbilisi-controlled Zugdidi were reportedly hijacked in the Gali region of breakaway Abkhazia.
Masked assailants assaulted the bus drivers, stealing GEL 30 000 worth of nuts, jewellry, cash and mobile phones.
The attack was carried out by the criminal group known as the “Rukhi Wolves,” according to Tornike Kilanava, a member of the Abkhaz government-in-exile and coordinator of the Gali region.
The incident reportedly occurred near a checkpoint of Russian peacekeepers.
(Prime News)

Subari: poor prison conditions for detained youth activists
Human Rights Ombudsman Sozar Subari commented on the poor prison conditions of four detained activists of the Youth Against Violence movement who were arrested for violating the public order on October 16.
 “The conditions in which the detainees are kept are poor and do not meet international standards,” Subari commented, calling on the prison warden to address the hygiene conditions of the prison and to increase the access inmates have to exercise.
On October 17 the activists were sentenced to 20 days detention. They were arrested for trying to obstruct traffic on Rustaveli Avenue during a protest.
(Black Sea Press)



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