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

Press Scanner
Prepared by Diana Dundua

“Bidzina Gujabidze: ‘A provocation is being prepared against me!’”
Akhali Taoba writes that opposition MP Bidzina Gujabidze of the Democratic Front claims the authorities are preparing a fake recording of a telephone conversation to discredit him.
An Interior Minister staffer warned him about the plans, Gujabidze said.
“Three days ago an employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs which works with wiretapping approached me. He told me a doctored telephone recording is being prepared to use against me,” the MP continued.
Gujabidze could not give any details of what would be in the alleged recording, but said that other opposition leaders face the same threat.

“Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II asks US President Georgia Bush to help unite Georgia”
Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II sent a letter of gratitude to US President George W. Bush, Rezonansi writes, expressing his hope that the US would help Georgia restore its territorial integrity.
“In the letter of gratitude his Holiness Ilia II mentioned that the renewal of the country’s territorial integrity… will play a huge role in establishing regional stability,” said a spokesperson for the Georgian Orthodox Church. “He also stressed that with US support this issue could be easily solved.”

“Abkhaz de facto president asks businessmen to support development of Sokhumi”
Sakartvelos Respublika reports that the Abkhaz separatist leadership met with representatives of the business community in breakaway Abkhazia.
De facto president Sergey Bagapsh asked the businessmen to help him in developing Sokhumi, the de facto capital of the secessionist region.
“Everyone with serious business in Sokhumi should be interested in the city’s conditions, and must invest money in developing Sokhumi. Businessmen’s offices look luxurious, and I want to ask them to pay attention to the facades of those less spectacular houses ten meters away from their offices,” Bagapsh stated.
Most of the top leadership of the de facto authorities was present at the meeting, including the de facto prime minister and parliamentary speaker.

“The IMF finishes its mission in Georgia”
Rezonansi reports that the IMF is wrapping up its mission in Georgia. According to the Ministry of Economic Development, the organization will finish working in the country by the end of the year.
“The IMF approved of the liberal reforms implemented by the Georgian government, and given the huge growth in the country’s economic sector, the organization sees no point in staying in the country any longer,” a ministry spokesperson said.
This is a good sign for Georgia’s economic prospects, the spokesperson continued.
“This fact strengthens the opinion that Georgia has worthwhile investment environment potential,” the newspaper quotes the spokesperson as saying.   



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