News in Brief
Thursday, November 15
Russian MFA: Closure of Batumi base shows Russia wants to normalize relations with Georgia
The recent closure of a Russian military base in Batumi shows that Russia wants to normalize relations with Georgia, said Russian Foreign Ministry representative Mikheil Kaminin, according to the news agency RIA Novosti.
On November 13 a document was signed in Batumi stipulating that Russian troops and military hardware would be removed from the No. 12 military base by November 15.
“The Russian side is fulfilling its obligations,” Kaminin said, adding “We are not surprised that all our steps, including the closure of Batumi base, are not seen by Tbilisi as the demonstration of Russia’s willingness for bilateral relations with Georgia to return to normal.” (Black Sea Press)
Meskhetian Turks repatriation advocacy group holds presentation in Tbilisi
A presentation of the International Fund for Promoting the Repatriation of Meskhetian Turks is planned for December, according to senior adviser of the European Center for Minorities Rights (ECMR) Temur Lomsadze.
Lomsadze said the fund was established on October 17.
“Leaders of organizations of Meskhetians, acting in practically every country where they now reside, are founders of the fund,” he said.
“The decision to set up the fund was made at an international conference on issues of Meskhetian repatriation on October 12–13 in Gudauri,” he added.
An international working group to advise on the repatriation process was also established at the conference.
On July 11 parliament passed a law which allows for the resettlement of Meskhetian Turks, deported from Georgia in 1944. (Black Sea Press)
Civil Registration Agency hands out birth certificates
The Civil Registration Agency (CRA), part of the Justice Ministry, issued birth certificates to ten orphaned children at the Tskneti Children’s Home on November 14.
CRA head Giorgi Vashakidze told journalists that the recipients now had the documents to prove they were Georgian citizens, adding that the CRA would continue its efforts to provide birth certificates to everyone who is in need of one.
The Iavnana Fund appealed to the CRA to issue children at the Tskneti Home with documents. (Prime News)
Finance Ministry offers internships to South Ossetia residents
The Finance Ministry will receive another batch of interns from South Ossetia.
The Finance Ministry said the internship program was part of an effort at economic rehabilitation of the region.
Interns will work at regional branches of the Finance Ministry and will be based in Kurta, a Georgian-controlled village very near the de facto secessionist capital of Tskhinvali. (Prime News)
Military chief visits Brussels
Col. Zaza Gogava, Chief of Joint Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces, is on a three-day visit to Brussels.
He is due to meet with NATO officials to discuss NATO-led operations currently underway—in particular the ISAF mission in Afghanistan and the KFOR mission in Kosovo—as well as partnership issues. (Prime News)
State allocates USD 12 million to pay for January elections and plebiscite
USD 20 million will be allocated from the state budget to finance the upcoming presidential election and accompanying referendum parliamentary election schedules, Finance Minister Nika Gilauri stated at a press conference on November 13.
That same day, he said, the ministerial cabinet decided on an initial expenditure of GEL 5.5 million. More money will be spent as needs are determined, he added.
The money will come out of the government’s reserve fund and from the state budget. (Black Sea Press)
The recent closure of a Russian military base in Batumi shows that Russia wants to normalize relations with Georgia, said Russian Foreign Ministry representative Mikheil Kaminin, according to the news agency RIA Novosti.
On November 13 a document was signed in Batumi stipulating that Russian troops and military hardware would be removed from the No. 12 military base by November 15.
“The Russian side is fulfilling its obligations,” Kaminin said, adding “We are not surprised that all our steps, including the closure of Batumi base, are not seen by Tbilisi as the demonstration of Russia’s willingness for bilateral relations with Georgia to return to normal.” (Black Sea Press)
Meskhetian Turks repatriation advocacy group holds presentation in Tbilisi
A presentation of the International Fund for Promoting the Repatriation of Meskhetian Turks is planned for December, according to senior adviser of the European Center for Minorities Rights (ECMR) Temur Lomsadze.
Lomsadze said the fund was established on October 17.
“Leaders of organizations of Meskhetians, acting in practically every country where they now reside, are founders of the fund,” he said.
“The decision to set up the fund was made at an international conference on issues of Meskhetian repatriation on October 12–13 in Gudauri,” he added.
An international working group to advise on the repatriation process was also established at the conference.
On July 11 parliament passed a law which allows for the resettlement of Meskhetian Turks, deported from Georgia in 1944. (Black Sea Press)
Civil Registration Agency hands out birth certificates
The Civil Registration Agency (CRA), part of the Justice Ministry, issued birth certificates to ten orphaned children at the Tskneti Children’s Home on November 14.
CRA head Giorgi Vashakidze told journalists that the recipients now had the documents to prove they were Georgian citizens, adding that the CRA would continue its efforts to provide birth certificates to everyone who is in need of one.
The Iavnana Fund appealed to the CRA to issue children at the Tskneti Home with documents. (Prime News)
Finance Ministry offers internships to South Ossetia residents
The Finance Ministry will receive another batch of interns from South Ossetia.
The Finance Ministry said the internship program was part of an effort at economic rehabilitation of the region.
Interns will work at regional branches of the Finance Ministry and will be based in Kurta, a Georgian-controlled village very near the de facto secessionist capital of Tskhinvali. (Prime News)
Military chief visits Brussels
Col. Zaza Gogava, Chief of Joint Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces, is on a three-day visit to Brussels.
He is due to meet with NATO officials to discuss NATO-led operations currently underway—in particular the ISAF mission in Afghanistan and the KFOR mission in Kosovo—as well as partnership issues. (Prime News)
State allocates USD 12 million to pay for January elections and plebiscite
USD 20 million will be allocated from the state budget to finance the upcoming presidential election and accompanying referendum parliamentary election schedules, Finance Minister Nika Gilauri stated at a press conference on November 13.
That same day, he said, the ministerial cabinet decided on an initial expenditure of GEL 5.5 million. More money will be spent as needs are determined, he added.
The money will come out of the government’s reserve fund and from the state budget. (Black Sea Press)